UEFA Women’s Nations League – Game Day 4 | OneFootball

How It Works

Much like the men’s version of this tournament, European countries are divided into three Leagues (A, B, or C) based upon FIFA ranking and performance in the previous tournament. They are then placed into four-team groups and play each team twice.

League A is the only one who can field a qualifier for the upcoming 2027 World Cup. Winners of each A group enter into a semi-final round; winners of those games compete in the final for that “golden ticket” to the World Cup. Final positions in the League matter! The lowest team is automatically relegated down a League. The third place team plays a second place team from the lower League; the winner of that will compete in the higher League in the next tournament. Clear as mud, right?

Basically, teams in League B want to promote up to A (and C to B), and avoid moving down to C. C teams can never be relegated, as there is no lower League. If you’re down there already, there’s nothing but potential!

Where We’re At

The UEFA Women’s Nations League played the fourth of six matches in their group stage today. With only two games remaining in late May and early June, we can see some trends emerging. We’ll discuss how everything looks in League A.

Group A1

Source: UEFA.com

It’s a Battle Royale between two of the heavyweights in European soccer. Germany and the Netherlands are dead even on points. They drew their first match, and next play each other on Game Day 5, Friday May 30th. Mark that date; it should be a cracker fixture.

Germany thrashed poor Scotland earlier today, scoring six goals in a 25 minute span after Carolina Weir shocked the hosts with a 40th minute goal. Selina Cerci earned her first hat-trick. The Leeuwinnen took care of Austria at home 3 – 1. All three Dutch goals came after Julia Hickelsberger snuck a cross off her left foot to the inside for Austria. A fine goal but it just served to poke the hosts into responding.

Group A2

Source: UEFA.com

France has already clinched this group. Even if they were to lose the next two games, the second place nation, Norway, is eight points behind courtesy of their 2 – 0 loss to Les Bleues earlier today. Iceland and Switzerland played a jolly good match that ended 3 – 3.

Group A3

Source: UEFA.com

We had a real stunner today, as lowly Belgium upset mighty England 3 – 2 at home in Leuven. Belgium lost 5 – 0 to the Lionesses in the reverse fixture four days ago, but wasted no time making their mark today. Tessa Wullaert scored off the break after 3 minutes, then delivered a perfect cross into Justine Vanhaevermaet in the 18th. She added her second goal to put Belgium up just before the 30th minute. They would need them all, as it turns out. Beth Mead would score off a penalty kick, and 18-year old Michelle Agyemang, making her England debut in the 80th minute, would score after one minute on the pitch, controlling a long pass off her right thigh before striking in mid-air. A truly world-class goal from someone we’ll see more of, I’m sure.

England’s loss is Spain’s gain. They fully dominated Portugal 7 – 1 to take the top spot in the group. The overall winner will likely be decided as England will host Spain on the June 3rd game day 6. DO NOT MISS IT.

Group A4

Source: UEFA.com

There was certainly some drama in this group. Sweden, entering today’s games fully in control of their destiny, had a major hiccup against Wales when they drew 1 – 1. Despite dominating in nearly every key statistic, Sweden simply could not find the net thanks to Welsh goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel, whose eight saves will probably not save her country from dropping down, but certainly made the Group more interesting.

Italy put the smack down on Denmark with a commanding 3 – 0  victory. There’s a mathematical possibility to have a four way tie by the end of the June 3rd final fixture. It’s not very likely, but in any respect both game day 5 and 6 should be must-see TV, if only to witness how this drama unfolds.