In the midst of a hectic football schedule leading up to the winter World Cup in Qatar, the UEFA Nations League returns this week with 55 countries concluding their respective group-stage campaigns.
The 2022-23 edition began with four rounds of matches in June and will culminate with two remaining fixtures in the closing stages of September.
While there is plenty of optimism for Scotland, who kicked off the action on Wednesday with a victory over Ukraine, the remaining three home nations are under the cosh to salvage something from their underwhelming campaigns to date.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the permutations for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland ahead of their final two group games.
ENGLAND
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After narrowly missing out on Euro 2020 glory, England had high hopes for their Nations League campaign and were looking to improve on their third-placed finish last time around. However, the Three Lions are instead fighting against relegation with two games remaining.
Gareth Southgate's men suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat away against Hungary in their opening game before playing out draws against Italy and Germany. A heavy 4-0 loss at Molineux against Hungary – albeit with a rotated side – then rounded off a disappointing set of results for England, who now sit rock bottom of League A Group 3 with only two points.
England, who mathematically cannot reach the semi-finals, are three points behind Italy in third and should they lose to the Azzurri at San Siro, they will be relegated to League B. The Three Lions can only guarantee survival if they claim maximum points from their final two fixtures, but securing at least four points could be enough to avoid the drop.
Should England and Germany both lose their penultimate fixtures on Friday, the two nations will battle it out for survival in their final game against each other at Wembley Stadium next Monday.
League A Group 3 Fixtures:
Italy vs. England & Germany vs. Hungary – Friday, 23 September
England vs. Germany & Hungary vs. Italy – Monday, 26 September
WALES
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Wales have understandably found it tough in a challenging League A Group 2 against Belgium, Netherlands and Poland, and like England, they are also at risk of relegation from the top tier after failing to win any of their first four matches.
The Dragons rescued a point to draw against Belgium in Cardiff, but home and away defeats to the Netherlands as well as a loss on the road to Poland – conceding crucial goals beyond the 85th minute in all three defeats – means that Rob Page's side are rooted to the foot of the group with just one point.
Wales, who were promoted from League B in the last Nations League campaign, will make a swift return to the second tier if they lose away against Belgium on Thursday and if third-placed Poland avoid defeat against the Netherlands.
However, should Wales avoid defeat in Brussels and Poland fail to beat the Netherlands, an enthralling fight for survival between the bottom two nations will take place in the Welsh capital on Sunday.
League A Group 4 fixtures:
Belgium vs. Wales & Poland vs. Netherlands – Thursday, 22 September
Wales vs. Poland & Netherlands vs. Belgium – Sunday, 25 September
SCOTLAND
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Meanwhile, Scotland are flying high at the top of League B Group 1 and have put themselves in a strong position to secure promotion to the first tier.
As mentioned earlier, the Tartan Army picked up maximum points on Wednesday against Ukraine, winning 3-0 at Hampden Park, moving them onto nine points from four games after beating Armenia both home and away in June. Their only defeat came at the hands of relegation-threatened Republic of Ireland, who won 3-0 in Dublin.
Steve Clarke's side will be seeking revenge against Ireland on Saturday, and not only would victory guarantee promotion as group winners, but it would also see them better their points tally of 10 from the last campaign with a game in hand.
Ukraine, who sit two points behind Scotland in second, are still in with a chance of claiming top spot, but they need to beat Armenia and hope that the Tartan Army drop points against Ireland before locking horns with Clarke and co in what could be a top-of-the-table decider in their final game next week.
League B Group 1 fixtures:
Scotland vs. Republic of Ireland & Armenia vs. Ukraine – Saturday, 24 September
Ukraine vs. Scotland & Republic of Ireland v Armenia – Tuesday, 27 September
NORTHERN IRELAND
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Northern Ireland are in danger of back-to-back relegations after accumulating only two points from their first four matches in League C Group 2.
The Green and White Army have failed to win each of their 14 Nations League games since the competition was introduced in 2018, including defeats against Greece and Kosovo this time around. Draws home and away to Cyprus have at least given Ian Baraclough's men a glimmer of hope to avoid the drop.
Finishing fourth would not be the end of the road for Northern Ireland, however, as they would enter a relegation playoff with the three other basement teams from League C to decide which two nations demote to the fourth tier.
Northern Ireland currently sit third in the group on goal difference ahead of fourth-placed Cyprus, and they simply have to better Cyprus' results in their final two fixtures to guarantee survival.
League C Group 2 fixtures:
Northern Ireland vs. Kosovo & Cyprus vs. Greece – Saturday, 24 September
Greece vs. Northern Ireland & Kosovo v Cyprus – Tuesday, 27 September
Oliver Thomas
