The Nations League might not carry the same importance as the World Cup or European Championships, but it is still a massive week ahead for England.
Gareth Southgate’s side sit bottom of their group and are in real danger of relegation with games against European giants Italy and Germany coming up.
Finishing bottom would not only see the Three Lions drop down a tier the next time the competition comes around, but would also have a knock-on effect for the European Championships.
There are big questions to be answered across the rest of Europe as well, with France also facing relegation, Scotland challenging for promotion, and the final four spots in next summer’s mini-tournament to decide the winners of the Nations League still to be decided.
Sportsmail takes a look at the state of play heading into the final games of the Nations League group stage.
Gareth Southgate’s England side sit bottom of their Nations League group and face relegation
England have big tests ahead with matches against Italy and Germany which also prove to be their final matches before the squad gets back together for the World Cup in November
England and France face relegation
Before the inception of the Nations League, national teams never had to worry themselves about the embarrassment of relegations like in club football.
But just four years after France lifted the World Cup, and just over 12 months since England lost in the Euro 2020 final to Italy, both of the European giants are facing exactly that terrifying prospect.
Gareth Southgate’s side endured a miserable summer in which they were held to draws against both Italy and Germany and were beaten twice by Hungary – including a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Wembley.
This has left them three points short of third-placed Italy, in a group topped by the Hungarians on seven points.
Defeat to their Euro 2020 conquerors Italy at the San Siro on Friday would seal their relegation to the second tier of the Nations League for the next time the competition comes around.
A draw would give them a small glimmer of hope, but only just that, due to England’s inferior goal difference (-5) to Italy (-2) ahead of their final games with Germany and Hungary respectively.
Victory would put them level on points with the Italians, who didn’t make this winter’s World Cup, though their opponents arguably have an easier final game in the form of group leaders Hungary.
Like England, 2018 World Cup winners France failed to get a winner in the summer’s four opening games to the Nations League.
France suffered a 2-1 defeat to Denmark, could only get one point out of their two games with Croatia and were held by Austria.
Didier Deschamps’ will hope his side can avoid relegation with positive results against Austria at home and Denmark away.
England failed to win any of their four Nations League games in the summer which was rounded off by a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Hungary at Wembley
France, like England, failed to win any of their four Nations League group games in the summer
What relegation would mean?
Relegation would not only have a knock-on effect for the next time the Nations League is contested, but also for the qualifiers for the 2024 European Championships.
Instead of facing Europe’s elite, those relegated could face the likes of Greece, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Georgia – all of whom are on the verge of promotion from the third tier of the Nations League.
It would also have a detrimental impact on their chances of qualifying for Euro 2024.
England could be drawn against the likes of Italy (pictured), Spain, Germany and Portugal in their Euro 2024 qualifying group with relegation from the Nations League
The qualifying group stage draw will be held on October 9 in Frankfurt, and teams will be seeded based on their ranking in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League.
With 16 teams in League A – the top tier of the Nations League – ten teams will make up the top seeding which should mean avoiding one of Europe’s biggest giants.
France and England though currently sit 14th and 15th respectively in the overall rankings, meaning they could be drawn against the likes of Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands in their qualifying group.
Though two teams will qualify from each group in the qualifiers for Euro 2024, if England were to be relegated from the Nations League and draw a European giant, it would mean the Three Lions have less room to slip up against tricky lower seeded teams.
Scotland chase promotion
It’s a big month for Scotland who could earn themselves promotion into the top tier of the Nations League.
Steve Clarke’s side currently sit second in their group, one point behind Ukraine, with the two countries squaring off twice in the upcoming weeks.
Scotland will be seeking revenge on their opponents, after Ukraine beat Scotland 3-1 in the World Cup play-offs – before the Ukrainians’ hopes of reaching Qatar were ended by Wales.
Sandwiched between their two games with Ukraine, is a game with the Republic of Ireland, who are third in the table and are also still in contention.
Scotland have three games this month which could see them earn promotion to the highest tier of the Nations League
It’s an uphill task though for Stephen Kenny’s side who have played a game more than Scotland and Ukraine and will have to hope other results go their way.
Promotion for Scotland would see them battle with Europe’s elite the next time the Nations League group stage takes place. Depending on their results, as well as those of other sides, Clarke’s side could also get a second seeding for the Euro 2024 qualifying draw.
This would give Scotland a chance of reaching their second consecutive European Championships.
Elsewhere, Wales are bottom of their group and are facing relegation to the second tier of the Nations League, while Northern Ireland will look to avoid a relegation play-off which could see them drop to the bottom tier of the competition.
Nations League finalists to be decided
It’s all still to play for in the race to reach the Nations League finals next summer.
The teams that finish top of their respective groups in League A, will advance in a mini-tournament in June, to follow France and Portugal as winners of the competition.
In Group A1, Denmark are in pole position, and their match with Croatia on Thursday could be decisive, with the Danes then hosting France who are already out of contention.
Teams are battling to qualify for next summer’s Nations League finals to follow in the footsteps of previous winners France
All four teams in Group A2 are still in with mathematical chance, though it’s likely to come down to Spain or Portugal, with the two European heavyweights set to battle it out on September 27.
Hungary are shockingly topping Group A3 ahead of Germany, Italy and England. With just two points between the top three, all is still to play for in this group, and it would be a huge achievement for the Hungarians to make the finals with tricky games against Italy and Germany to come.
Group A4 will likely come down to the clash between the Netherlands and Belgium on September 25, with Louis van Gaal’s side topping the group by three points with two games left.
Hungary’s two victories over England puts them in shock contention to make the finals
Other sides facing relegation
As it stands, across the four Leagues across the tournament only one team will be relegated for certain and that’s Russia who were banned from the tournament due to their invasion of Ukraine.
Joining England and France in relegation danger from League A, are Wales and Switzerland who also occupy the bottom spot in their respective groups.
However, the likes of Austria, Czech Republic, Italy and Poland are still at some risk of dropping down.
Stephen Kenny’s (right) Republic of Ireland have a small chance of promotion in Scotland’s group but are also at risk of dropping down a division as they are third in their group
In League B, Russia are joined by Romania, Armenia and Slovenia as current relegation candidates.
Republic of Ireland have a small hope of promotion, but they also have a prospect of being relegated, with just point separating them and Armenia.
The teams that finish bottom of their groups in League C will go into a relegation play-off, which currently consists of Lithuania, Cyprus, Belarus and Gibraltar.
Northern Ireland though could drop below Cyprus, with the two nations set to meet off this month, while Ian Baraclough’s side also face a tricky clash with group leaders Greece.
Last chance to impress ahead of Qatar
Though a lot rides on the remaining Nations League games, those countries that have qualified for the World Cup will be more concerned about it being the last chance for players to impress before Qatar.
After a miserable summer, Southgate’s side will be keen to put things right and build momentum going into the tournament – with England’s first game in Qatar against Iran on November 21.
The likes of Eric Dier and Ivan Toney will be keen to impress Gareth Southgate in their final hurdle before the England manager chooses his squad for the 2022 World Cup
While a group of players including Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling are almost guaranteed their place on the plane, others like first-time call-up Ivan Toney will be scrapping to impress at the last hurdle and join the Three Lions’ more experienced players.
National coaches will also be praying their star players stay fit over the Nations League period, as well as the remaining club games to come between now and the start of the World Cup.
Last weekend’s fixtures alone saw the likes of England’s Kalvin Phillips and Germany’s Marco Reus’ places at Qatar come under risk after suffering injuries for their clubs.