Impact of Nations Leagues (UEFA original, Concacaf) on World Football? [Multiple R]

It's possible to use FIFA rankings for pots but restrict the draw to allow for teams to be specifically placed in groups with less teams. It will possibly be very restrictive but it can be done.

Of course its much easier just to use NL finishing positions.

 

This is interesting about Scotland under Steve Clarke:

Scotland offer a good example. Like Hungary, Israel and Serbia, they were in League C in 2018/19 yet will begin the next edition in League A. Indeed, they have the highest Nations League win percentage (62.5%) of any team...

https://www.uefa.com/uefanationslea...b4-1000--nations-league-maintaining-momentum/

 

And yet it's astonishing so many UEFA teams are in WC last 8.
They make it countries sooo easy to qualify.....

 

But it seems like we play dull football lately. Luckily these are not knock-out matches so we won't play to get to penalties. And God only knows what will team look like without Modrić and likely Perišić after Euro.

Great opportunity for me to finally visit Scotland.

 

You said dull and I agree.
But I also agree that maybe since this is a Group stage maybe it will be more free flowing and open but my gut says no. I think there will be a lot of grind 'em out type of games.

 

They didn't exactly play against the toughest teams in that stretch. Nonetheless, Scotland are one of the more improved teams in the world if we look back at the last 5-7 years. They also went from a boring team to watch (let's be honest) to a pretty fun team to watch, especially in the Nations League where there's less reason to play a cagey/defensive style.

 

They even have a third-place match ? Oh dear, football matches don't get more meaningless than that.

This week is all about the Copa America qualifiers, imo.

 

It would kind of be a waste of a FIFA Break if they only played one match.
Teams that lose the Semi match can experiment with their backups/ fringe guys that they may need for the Copa America in that third place match.
So it is not that meaningless.

 

Indeed, and it is the first time these teams have played since November.

 

I guess. Its not like a manager can only improve the team and build chemistry by playing games, but I take your point that they haven't played together since November.

I just think if either Mexico or USA are in that third-place match, it becomes totally useless preparation for a Copa America and especially for a WC. Ideally they would've arranged a friendly against a C'BOL team, because even a match against Venezuela or Bolivia is better prep than playing Panama at this stage. But I realize it might be challenging to get a C'BOL team to agree to playing an unknown C'CAF opponent. I guess this is one of the weaknesses of the Nations League concept.

 

Jamaica were missing many key players too but played their hearts out and had a good game plan created by their manager.
I tip my cap to them.

 

This Nations League thing is turning out to be a whole lot of fun.

 

The USA is living rent free in their heads.
GK Ochoa said asinine things years ago like Mexico is the mirror the US wishes to see themselves & that the USA would never be favored over Mexico in his lifetime.

(Funny enough they have not beaten the USA ever since those comments.)

 

It's a result in COVID-forced schedule adjustments that put the Nations League and Gold Cup back-to-back in the summers of 2021 and 2023. That kind of schedule was never intended when CONCACAF created the Nations League. The USA, as well as Mexico (2021) and Canada (2023), did not want to overwork their players, so they prioritized the Nations League where the players could have a big event in a single week and then have a break before returning to their clubs, and the Gold Cup got B team squads.

I also think the four-team finals at one site, planned well in advance, creates a better event for the top teams of CONCACAF.

 

It will be a bigger deal, because everyone will try to be full strength, but it will compete for attention with the Club World Cup, and I don't know how any player availability conflicts will be handled. I expect in general the Nations League will still have more consistent top-choice squads.

 

Yo Conmebol, are you interested in buying some of this Nations League stock?

Look, it is good that even Greenland wants to boogie outside of UEFA.