The European Football Union (UEFA) has decided to introduce a new competition called the Nations League. After the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, international friendlies will be replaced by a new competition providing an alternative route into the pan-European UEFA EURO 2020. The exact format has not yet been finalised and will be detailed over the coming months.
Using country coefficients, teams will be divided into four divisions (A to D) with four subgroups each containing three or four sides that will play four to six matches between September and November 2018. The Nations League champions will be crowned at the 2019 Final Four Tournament at which the division winners and four subgroup winners from Pool A will compete. This tournament will also determine promotion and relegation between the divisions.
As only 20 teams will directly qualify in 2019 for EURO 2020, due to be held in 13 countries for the first time, four further teams in the Nations League who have not qualified will have the chance to contest EURO play-offs in March 2020.
Niersbach: "We're following developments out of solidarity"
"I don't deny that the DFB has been opposed to the Nations League throughout the course of discussions on the matter," said DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach. "Nevertheless, we accept and respect the stated wishes of almost all UEFA member associations to create a new competition within the existing international calendar."
The chairman of the UEFA National Team Competitions Committee continued: "These wishes have arisen from an awareness that international friendlies have lost their appeal and value in almost every European country. Fortunately, the DFB has not experienced this problem. Nevertheless, we are following developments out of a sense of solidarity, as we believe the competition represents a major step for the significance of international competitions in Europe."
DFB General Secretary Helmut Sandrock added: "We support this decision to play Nations League matches in parallel to qualifying matches. However, there are still many details to be confirmed, and these must be negotiated and developed with UEFA and the national football associations. Fans must also be informed of the new format during this process."
Löw: "We'd always prefer to play against the biggest teams"
[bild1]
The European Football Union (UEFA) has decided to introduce a new competition called the Nations League. After the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, international friendlies will be replaced by a new competition providing an alternative route into the pan-European UEFA EURO 2020. The exact format has not yet been finalised and will be detailed over the coming months.
Using country coefficients, teams will be divided into four divisions (A to D) with four subgroups each containing three or four sides that will play four to six matches between September and November 2018. The Nations League champions will be crowned at the 2019 Final Four Tournament at which the division winners and four subgroup winners from Pool A will compete. This tournament will also determine promotion and relegation between the divisions.
As only 20 teams will directly qualify in 2019 for EURO 2020, due to be held in 13 countries for the first time, four further teams in the Nations League who have not qualified will have the chance to contest EURO play-offs in March 2020.
[bild2]
Niersbach: "We're following developments out of solidarity"
"I don't deny that the DFB has been opposed to the Nations League throughout the course of discussions on the matter," said DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach. "Nevertheless, we accept and respect the stated wishes of almost all UEFA member associations to create a new competition within the existing international calendar."
The chairman of the UEFA National Team Competitions Committee continued: "These wishes have arisen from an awareness that international friendlies have lost their appeal and value in almost every European country. Fortunately, the DFB has not experienced this problem. Nevertheless, we are following developments out of a sense of solidarity, as we believe the competition represents a major step for the significance of international competitions in Europe."
DFB General Secretary Helmut Sandrock added: "We support this decision to play Nations League matches in parallel to qualifying matches. However, there are still many details to be confirmed, and these must be negotiated and developed with UEFA and the national football associations. Fans must also be informed of the new format during this process."
Löw: "We'd always prefer to play against the biggest teams"
Germany coach Joachim Löw said: "We'd always prefer to play against the biggest teams in world football, even outside the World Cup and European Championship. It can only help us to further develop our game. If the Nations League can guarantee this and enable us to measure up against the best teams in Europe, we can live with that from a sporting perspective. But we would also like to continue to play against countries outside Europe, and it certainly won't be easy to find dates and opportunities to do that."
National team manager Oliver Bierhoff added: "Of course, we cannot and do not wish to isolate the DFB within UEFA and have to keep looking beyond our own horizons. The Nations League will also provide an exciting opportunity for smaller associations in particular. Football is continuing to evolve rapidly both on and off the pitch, and I’m in favour of openly addressing innovations. However, we all have a responsibility to avoid going too far."
