UEFA Nations League: 5 takeaways from the first round of games

When UEFA introduced the idea of the UEFA Nations League last year, it elicited groans and moans. The negative reactions were about the perceived increase in the number of games. However, one week in and the story is different.

As an answer to the eternal club versus country debate, the UEFA Nations League was created. Too many times, clubs had been reluctant to allow players go for pointless friendlies. This is a problem that the new competition has solved.

Surprisingly, all the involved teams have taken it very seriously. The format which sees equally-ranked teams playing each other has been its main selling point. There has been a competitive feel to all the matches although attendance by fans has not been the best.

The sight of smaller nations being tonked has been almost non-existent due to the format of the competition. It has been an eye-opener in many respects; here are 5 takeaways from the first week of action:

#5 Europe’s minnows aren’t half-bad

The competition has helped teams like Kosovo compete

One of the more unseemly sights of football on the continent has been the thrashing of smaller European nations by the big teams. Whether for European Championship or World Cup qualification, these smaller nations have been on the end of high-margin defeats many times.

This problem does not exist in the UEFA Nations League. Due to the classification of teams based on things like history, current ranking, and the competition has an egalitarian feel to it.

Freed from the burden of playing the likes of Spain, Germany et al, Europe’s smaller teams have come alive. Occupying the League D ladder, these nations have embraced the competition wholeheartedly.

FYR Macedonia, Luxembourg and Georgia have all secured maximum points from the two games played so far. Europe’s youngest nation, Kosovo secured its first ever international win; a 2-0 home win over the Faroe Islands.

The standard of football has been reasonably good among these teams. The confidence they will gain from competing against their equals will stand them in good stead when the qualifiers for EURO 2020 kick off in 2019

#4 Italy’s rebuilding will be long and painful

Mancini's rebuilding process for Italy will be long and painful

If the evidence presented in its first two UEFA Nations League games is anything to go by, Italy has a long and difficult climb to look forward to.

In Roberto Mancini’s first two competitive games, the Azzurri looked a long way off being a top tier side. Italy dominated by teams i.e. Poland and Portugal which moved the ball faster and had an identity.

Were it not for woeful finishing by the Poles, the team would be bottom with no point at this moment. Credit to Mancini, he has tried different things to make the team click faster.

However, the atrophy that set in a long time ago will take a while to heal. The lack of game time at club level is not helping Mancini's cause. Davide Zappacosta is a perennial bench warmer at Chelsea yet seems to be the team’s first choice right-back. Same goes for club-mate Emerson Palmieri.

There were good performances by the likes of Gigi Donnarumma, Jorginho and others. However, the Azzurri are a long way off from the dominant giants they once were. It’s going to take concerted efforts to get them back into the top echelon.

#3 England’s pedestrian midfield continues to cause issues

England's midfield continues to be a problem

Only one game into the UEFA Nations League, it might seem premature to analyze the English team. However, it should be said that the Three Lions’ showing in Russia does seem like a lucky coincidence.

At the World Cup, England won only 3 games (3 losses and the shootout win over Colombia). However, these were against Panama, Tunisia, and Sweden. In the games against Belgium (twice) and Croatia, England was comfortably second best.

This pattern of struggle against the big teams continued against Spain. It was a poor performance by Gareth Southgate’s team that the disallowed Danny Welbeck goal does not disguise.

The team struggled to cope with the superior passing and intelligence of the Spanish players all through the match. Once again, the sole central midfielder, Jordan Henderson was overrun by the Spanish pair of Thiago Alcantara and Saul Niguez.

When the game entered the crucial stages, there was no one in the England midfield who could get onto the ball and dictate the tempo like their opponents were doing. The lack of a world-class central midfielder has been one of the most glaring fails of the English football system.

However, the Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard experiment need to end. The duo did little to help out Henderson defensively; attacking-wise, they were also of little use. Unfortunately for Southgate, he can only work with what he has. The likes of Phil Foden may be the answer in future but for now, England’s midfield looks set to continue struggling.

#2 France have gears to go through

France still has a lot of gears to go through

As world champions, France’s manager Didier Deschamps knows that there is a huge target on their backs. However, he will be heartened by the understanding that his young team still has a lot of gears to go through.

Against Germany in its opening UEFA Nations League clash, Les Bleus were too relaxed. Playing at an almost leisurely pace, France never forced the issue and had to rely on goalkeeper Alphonse Areola to bail it out.

In the second game against the Netherlands, the team upped its tempo and duly dispatched the Oranje by 2-1. Over the course of the two games, Deschamps would have seen how his players generally continued their excellent World Cup form.

There is the feeling that this French team is still playing within itself. Deschamp's conservative tactics (starting Blaise Matuidi and Olivier Giroud) provide balance. Unfortunately, this reduces the attacking verve with fewer chances being created. The sudden increase in tempo and verve after the Dutch equalized shows that the team has much more to give. The speed with which Les Bleus then attacked shows just how devastating they could be when the need arises.

#1 New-look Spain look very tasty in UEFA Nations League

Spain has started the competition like a house on fire

Nobody in the Spanish setup emerged with credit from the World Cup fiasco. The RFEF president; Luis Rubiales’ decision to sack Julen Lopetegui was a stupid one and the team paid dearly for it.

However, things have changed since the farce in Russia. The Golden Generation is on its last legs (David Silva, Andres Iniesta, and Gerard Pique have retired). The appointment of Luis Enrique as manager meant that an evolution of sorts beckoned.

Expectations were muted ahead of the UEFA Nations League clashes against England and Croatia. Most fans of La Furia Roja would have been content with signs of progress under the new manager. Nobody foresaw the quick acceptance of Enrique’s methods though.

In its match against England, Spain showed resilience and class. The 2-1 scoreline flattered the English and had Enrique’s men forced the issue, they could have scored more. Against Croatia, after enduring a wobbly first 15 minutes, the team’s class kicked in and what followed was majestic.

Putting 6 goals past the World Cup finalists was an amazing feat. What made it even more amazing was the performance itself. Faster, more incisive and quicker in thought and movement; Spain’s quality shone through in every aspect of the game.

Saul Niguez has long been one of Europe’s more underrated midfielders. His performances in both UEFA Nations League games have put that notion to rest permanently. All across the pitch, the new-look La Furia Roja shone brightly.

Suddenly, the future looks very bright once again for Spain. With a lot of younger talents chomping at the bits to get a taste, the team looks set to achieve great things.