UEFA Nations League: Germany Vs Portugal And Spain Vs France In Semis

News18

2 days ago

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Germany faces Portugal in Munich, while Spain plays France in Stuttgart for the Nations League semis.
The Nations League semi-finals commence on Wednesday, with Germany, Spain, France, and Portugal seeking to refine their squads a year before the World Cup.
Germany, the host nation, plays Portugal in Munich on Wednesday, while reigning champions Spain face France in Stuttgart on Thursday.
The victors will contest the final in Munich on Sunday.
Inaugurated in 2018, the Nations League lacks the established history and prestige of major football tournaments and has drawn criticism for adding to an already congested schedule.
However, as Spain and France have demonstrated in recent years, the competition can provide an ideal platform for future success.
France's 2021 Nations League triumph preceded their journey to the World Cup final in Qatar, where they were defeated by Lionel Messi's Argentina on penalties.
Spain, runners-up to France in 2021, overcame Croatia on penalties to secure the 2023 Nations League title and subsequently became Euro 2024 champions the following year.
While some leading nations have experimented with their line-ups, recent winners have utilised the tournament for squad development and enhancement.
Of the final four, only Germany is yet to claim a Nations League title, with Portugal winning the inaugural competition in 2019.
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich will earn his 100th international cap on Wednesday. The Bayern Munich midfielder becomes the 14th German player to reach this milestone but will be the only member of the 100-cap club without a World Cup victory.
Kimmich indicated on Monday that he believes he still has opportunities to alter this. He highlighted the Nations League's importance in assessing Germany's progress after a difficult decade.
'If it's enough for the really big titles, we don't know. It depends on many factors."
Germany, World Cup winners in 2014, exited the last two World Cups in the group stage. Their best performance since then has been reaching the Euro 2016 semi-finals and a quarter-final exit against Spain in Euro 2024.
Kimmich stated, 'We want to enter the World Cup well-prepared. Preparation doesn't begin two weeks before the tournament; it starts now. If we succeed in these internationals, we can show we're on the right path."
Coach Julian Nagelsmann echoed Kimmich's view on Friday, saying, 'We would love to win titles and boost our confidence. Even if it's a small title, it's significant for us as a group. Confidence and trust are fragile and need constant reinforcement."
Each of the four finalists is contending with injuries at the culmination of a long club season.
Germany is already without Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rudiger, and Nico Schlotterbeck, and recently lost Jonathan Burkardt, Nadiem Amiri, and Yann Bisseck to injury.
France is missing key defenders Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, and Jules Kounde, as well as Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, with six players joining the squad after Saturday's Champions League final.
Spain chose to omit Rodri from their squad to allow him further recovery time from his cruciate injury.
Portugal's veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, is included despite missing recent matches for Al Nassr due to muscle problems.
Four players, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Goncalo Ramos, will join the Portuguese squad after their Champions League victory with Paris Saint-Germain.
Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves acknowledged the strain on elite players but emphasised the focus on winning the Nations League, stating, 'At this level, tiredness takes a back seat. Our main goal is to win both games and the Nations League. We have all the tools to perform at our best."
(With inputs from AFP)
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