The Nations League returns in the midst of a season of soccer season busy soccer season, which has led to frustrations among elite players due to the demanding schedule.
The Frustration of Elite Players
Some have even hinted at the possibility of strikes due to the pressure on their bodies. While the Nations League is an important competition, it appears to be a lower priority this year for certain players and national teams.
One notable absentee from this year's Nations League is Kylian Mbappé, captain of the French national team. Mbappé has opted not to participate, and Antoine Griezmann-his usual replacement-cannot fill the role due to his recent retirement from international soccer.
Other high-profile players, such as Romelu Lukaku, have also decided not to join their national teams, citing their desire to focus on fitness and recovery with their clubs.
Injuries have further weakened top players in the Nations League. Spain's Dani Carvajal and Germany's Marc-André ter Stegen are among the top players sidelined with injuries, forcing their respective teams to turn to less experienced players.
These absences, while unfortunate, provide an opportunity for new faces to gain valuable international experience.
Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco has embraced this period of player absences as an opportunity to experiment. He has called up four potential debutants, a move he recognizes would not be possible during more critical competitions, such as World Cup qualifying.
With the next round of World Cup qualifiers scheduled for 2025, Tedesco sees this as an ideal time to test his team.
The Weight of the World Cup
The impending 2026 World Cup, to be held in North America, is already influencing national team plans. Nations League matches being played this week and next will have a significant impact on the teams' seedings for the World Cup qualifying draw, scheduled for December 13, 2024, in Zurich.
Teams like Norway and Slovenia are particularly focused on improving their FIFA rankings, hoping to secure a place in the second pool of teams for the draw.
Erling Haaland and Benjamin Šeško are two standout players for Norway and Slovenia, respectively, as their teams prepare to meet in Oslo. Haaland has been in superb form this season, scoring 11 goals in 10 games for Manchester City and contributing the decisive goal in Norway's 2-1 win over Austria last month.
Šeško has also impressed, scoring six goals in nine games for RB Leipzig, including a hat-trick in the Champions League and a standout performance in a 3-0 win over Kazakhstan.
The match between Norway and Slovenia on Thursday is crucial for both teams as they battle for first place in their League B group. Although the result will not decide promotion, it will give the winning team a halfway advantage in the group stage.
France's Agenda
Meanwhile, France is preparing to play Israel in Budapest, marking the first time since 2016 that France will take the field without Mbappé and Griezmann. The game, relocated to Hungary due to the ongoing conflict in Israel, comes at a time when Mbappé's absence from the national team has drawn some criticism.
The French star was in action for Real Madrid just days before, fueling speculation about his decision to skip the Nations League.
With Mbappé out, France coach Didier Deschamps has named Aurélien Tchouaméni as captain. The 24-year-old Real Madrid midfielder will lead the French national team in their matches, with an important clash against Belgium on the horizon on Monday.
Italy, on the other hand, are at the top of their Nations League group after two impressive victories in September, including a 3-1 win over France and a 2-1 win over Israel.
Italy's rejuvenated squad, which combines youth and experience, now prepares for back-to-back home matches against Belgium in Rome and Israel in Udine. A win on Monday could secure Italy a place in the quarterfinals of the Nations League, scheduled for March 2024.
Teams that advance to the Nations League Final Four in June will face a delayed start to their World Cup qualifying campaign. FIFA plans to place these teams into smaller groups of four teams, beginning their qualifiers in September 2024.
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German Team Decisions
Germany faces a goalkeeping dilemma as it prepares for its Nations League matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Netherlands. With Manuel Neuer retired and Marc-André ter Stegen injured, Germany will turn to Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nübel and Janis Blaswich as possible options in goal.
The German team is also without key players such as Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Niclas Füllkrug, who are all dealing with injuries, which weakens the squad considerably.
Spain, the reigning Nations League champions, will face Denmark on Saturday. Denmark, under new coach Lars Knudsen, has won its first two matches without conceding goals, setting the stage for a difficult clash against Spain.
Elsewhere, Georgia and Albania are set to renew their rivalry in a second-tier Nations League match on Monday. Georgia, currently leading their group, earned a 1-0 victory over Albania last month. The group also includes the Czech Republic and bottom-placed Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to play at Hampden Park in Glasgow for the first time in his career when Portugal face Scotland. Ronaldo scored his 132nd international goal in a 2-1 win over Scotland last month and remains a key figure for Portugal in their Nations League campaign.
In another highly anticipated clash, Poland will face Croatia, where two veterans, Robert Lewandowski and Luka Modrić, will square off as captains of their respective teams.
Despite being in their mid-30s, both players continue to play key roles in their national teams as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup.