UEFA Women’s Nations League
Off the backs of the 2022 UEFA Women’s European Championship and the transformative 2023 Women’s World Cup, the European international windows in 2023 and 2024 bring the inaugural season of the UEFA Women’s Nations League. With the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics rapidly approaching, and only two more European spots available, 51 countries are playing to lift the trophy and make it to Paris in July. Last week closed out the October international window, and we have already been left with some surprises as the group stage comes to a close.
League A Group 1 houses the Netherlands, England, Belgium, and Scotland. After winning the Euros in July 2022 and losing by a small margin in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final back in August, England were the favorites to win their group. However, the Lionesses' growing list of injuries seems to have set them back as they are currently placed 3rd in their group and run the risk of not qualifying for the Olympics as team Great Britain. The Dutch have risen in the ranks as their star striker Vivianne Meidema returns for international duty after being out since December 2022 with an ACL injury. The Dutch have always been a strong force, they have won the Euro, reached a World Cup final and quarter-final, and have made it to the knockout stages of the Olympics all in the span of 6 years. It is no surprise that they are succeeding in first place of their group. As for Belgium, they have shocked viewers seeing that they have beaten both England and the Netherlands in the group stage and they sit comfortably in the second spot. Scotland trails behind in last place.
League 1 Group B holds France, Austria, Portugal, and Norway and their standings are in that respective order. Unexpectedly, the only team to make it out of the group stage in the World Cup, Norway, has fallen to last place. Norway has the level of skill within their players to be a powerhouse like they once were, however, their management has disappointed them and they are slowly becoming less of a contender.. The French team also has the players and although they failed to make it out of their group in the World Cup, they will more than likely win their group and make it to the knockout stage of this tournament.
There is not much to talk about with the 3rd Group in League A. They are a quiet group with Denmark, Germany, Iceland, and Wales and the teams to watch are sitting in the first and second spots of the group. Many expect Germany to take the throne with this group, and while they made it to the 2022 Euro Final, they lost to England and did not make it out of the group stages in the World Cup being upset by Colombia and Morocco. However, with two games left to play in December, they will probably slot into second place following the undefeated Danes. We could be watching the downfall of the Germans.
Now comes the final and most entertaining group in League A, Group 4. This group houses the World Cup winners, Spain, the team with probably the most bronze medals for a World Cup, Sweden, a team that should be better than they are, Switzerland, and a team on the come-up, Italy. Spain is the only team that has been undefeated for their last eight matches and they are the team to watch. They have recently switched management following the repercussions of allegations and actions against the former coach, Jorge Vilda, and the infamous non-consensual kiss between Luis Rubiales and Jennifer Hermoso following their win this past summer. Spain has a total of three Ballon D’ors on their team after Monday’s ceremony and they are the favorites to win their group. They might even win the whole competition taking into account the other teams' performances across the board. Sweden is a team that has both the management and the players, however, they can never seem to clinch the victory in recent years. They might be looking to finally get over the hump and upset the whole tournament.
Although there are two more Leagues each having four groups of four, and the fourth league having one group of three teams, they are there more for exposure and to further develop their programs. No one can say for sure who they think will win in this tournament as it is just too early in the competition. Some of the big names in Europe had a promising season ahead of them, however as women’s football is gaining popularity, more money is being put into the programs, the teams are catching up in skill. The next few years will be exciting in the world of women’s football.