Why England Are Playing in Nations League B

England lost their second consecutive European Championship final in the summer, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat to Spain in Berlin. After the game, Gareth Southgate announced that he was ending his eight-year tenure as manager of the Three Lions. Lee Carsley, who won the European Under-21 Championship as head coach in 2023, took over as the interim manager while the team waits for Thomas Tuchel’s arrival as permanent manager in the new year.

Carsley’s first game was a trip to the Republic of Ireland – the first time they travelled to Dublin for an international match in nine years – and the side came out with an impressive 2-0 win. The Three Lions then followed that up with another 2-0 victory, this time over Finland, thus completing the first two of six matches in the UEFA Nations League B after they were relegated from League A in 2022. Here is how England were relegated two years ago, with a look at their final two opponents.

How England Were Relegated

The Nations League began in 2018 in an attempt by UEFA to replace international friendly matches with competitive games between countries of similar ability. From the 2020/21 campaign, the competition has been structured into four leagues (A, B, C and D), with the top three divided into four groups of four teams and League D featuring two groups of seven.

League A consists of the best footballing nations in Europe, but if you finish bottom of your group of four, teams are relegated to League B. England found this out during the 2022/23 edition of the competition when they were put in a group alongside Italy, Hungary and Germany.

The Three Lions started their group against Hungary at the Puskas Arena and were punished for a disappointing display as Dominik Szoboszlai’s 66th minute penalty was the only goal of the game. Draws with Germany and Italy in their next two matches saw improved performances, but on 14th June, Southgate’s side lost again to Hungary. This time it was a 4-0 defeat at Molineux Stadium, meaning that the 1966 World Cup winners had gone four games without a win for the first time since 2014.

Things didn’t get much better for England in their next group stage match as they travelled to the San Siro. A defeat to Italy would mean relegation with a game to go. England were unable to respond to Giacomo Raspadori’s 68th minute strike, condemning them to relegation to UEFA Nations League B. After the match, Southgate said:

The Three Lions put in an improved display in their final Nations League A group match, playing out a six-goal thriller with Germany at Wembley Stadium. England managed to come back from 2-0 down and looked set to secure their first win in six matches, but a late Kai Havertz goal denied them all three points.

Related

Predicting Lee Carsley’s First England Starting 11

Carsley will lead England out to take on the Republic of Ireland on Saturday in his first match as interim boss.

Who Will England Play in UEFA Nations League B

Carsley’s tenure as interim manager began with an away match against the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. Their last meeting was back in 2020 at Wembley Stadium, when England ran out 3-0 winners in a friendly. In fact, the Three Lions have only played the Republic of Ireland three times in the 21st century, with their last trip to the Aviva Stadium in 2015. Goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish were enough to sell all three points this time around.

Three days later they hosted Finland at Wembley, a nation they have not played since 2001, and ran out 2-0 winners again, with a brace from Harry Kane enough to secure a victory at home. The October international break saw England face off against Greece, losing 2-1 in a shock defeat at home. They bounced back in positive fashion just three days later though when they overcame Finland 3-1, leaving them still in the hunt for promotion.

England finish their campaign in November with a trip to Greece and their final group stage match against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on 17th November. If they top the group of four, they will be promoted back to the top league. However, if they finish second, they still have the chance to be promoted, as UEFA have introduced promotion and relegation play-offs for the 2024/25 edition. The runners-up of each group in League B will face the third-placed teams in League A in a two-legged tie. Whoever wins enters League A, and the loser goes into League B. These two matches will be played in March 2025.

Related

Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Ollie Watkins Withdraw From England Squad

Lee Carsley will be without three Euro 2024 stars for his first competitive week in charge of England.

Information gathered from Transfermarkt – Correct as of 14/11/2024.