UEFA’s New Baby

Aside from being simultaneously illicit in and completely oblivious to the formation of a European Super League, UEFA seem to have done something right. That thing would be the UEFA Nations League which seems, at an early stage, to have been a success.

First off, there’s the dispatching of the dull dredge that is international friendlies. These feckless and stodgy fixtures are not something to be missed. With the usual six or so substitutions on the 50 minute mark killing any vague rhythm that has managed to be found in these games, can anyone really complain at getting rid of a majority of them?

They have been replaced with matches that have a newly constructed worth to them. Nations League games have an end goal and a purpose to them - be it promotion, a tournament or relegation. And in turn, international sides have come at them with considerable spirit.

An advantage also lies in that while they are games with a competitive edge, they do not quite have the same bearing that tournament matches do. There is some room and leeway to experiment, an obvious example being England and their continued evolution through the implementation of a 4-3-3 system.

The footballing lives of smaller nations, too, needs to noted. Countries such as Gibraltar and Kosovo - previously condemned to lose all their ‘competitive’ matches in qualifiers by painstaking score lines - now have the chance to win fully competed fixtures. Indeed, Gibraltar have sauntered their way to two consecutive wins, although at the time of writing they have just been taken a 6-2 beating from Armenia. Still, they won two games!

And of course, what couldn’t be funnier than seeing a footballing giant relegated. The Netherland’s 2-0 victory over France has condemned Germany to such a fate without Die Mannschaft even playing their final game. What’s not to love?

Further thrills and spills have, too, been thrown up closer to home. Croatia’s Thursday night victory over Spain has thrown England’s group wide open. Spain are safe from relegation, but after a dazzling start they face not qualifying for the semi-finals. Meanwhile, England and Croatia face off in a do or die final match. The winner will take a spot in June’s finals, while the loser will be relegated to League B.

Club managers are, obviously, distressed at the thought of their precious commodities potentially playing with a bit of fire in the international matches but really, it feels like international football will always be at the displeasure of top club managers. Fans, on the other hand, are being treated to some competitive and well matched games, all played with some kind of stake.

So while UEFA may be being submissively duped into allowing Europe’s elite clubs to form a breakaway league, they can be happy with the success of their own little project. What started off looking like a farcical, over complex and unwanted competition has turned out rather nicely. And for that, you have to give UEFA the most minor and begrudging of hat tips.

(Photo: FourFourTwo)