logo
When is the Nations League final?

When is the Nations League final?

Yahoo15 hours ago

Spain will face Portugal on Sunday in the final of the 2024-25 Nations League.
The match - to be played at the Allianz Arena in Munich - Germany will kick off at 20:00 BST.
Euro 2024 winners Spain reached the final with a dramatic 5-4 win over France on Thursday.
Advertisement
Portugal had secured their place a day earlier, coming from behind to beat Germany 2-1 thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's winner.
The two semi-final losers will meet in a third place play-off on Sunday. That match - in Stuttgart - kicks off at 14:00 BST.
How do you qualify for the Nations League final?
Lamine Yamal scored twice for Spain in their semi-final win over France [Getty Images]
The Uefa Nations League is an international competition played over a two-year cycle.
Uefa's nations are split into four leagues - League A, League B, League C and League D - with promotion and relegation at the end of each campaign.
The top three leagues are split into four groups, while League D contains two.
Advertisement
The winners in each League A group meet in one-legged semi-finals, with the victors reaching the final.
Performances in the Nations League also play a part in qualification for World Cups and European Championships.
Previous Nations League winners
In what is the fourth edition of the Nations League, finalists Spain and Portugal are both eyeing a second title.
Spain won the most recent final in 2023, beating Croatia on penalties following a goalless draw after 120 minutes.
Portugal were winners of the inaugural final in 2019, beating the Netherlands 1-0 in Porto.
2022-23 : Spain
2020-21 : France
2018-19: Portugal
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
What is Ask Me Anything?
Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.
Advertisement
We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.
The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits.
We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting events.
Our coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio.
More questions answered...

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Club World Cup team guide – Manchester City: Wounded giants primed for a new era
Club World Cup team guide – Manchester City: Wounded giants primed for a new era

New York Times

timean hour ago

  • New York Times

Club World Cup team guide – Manchester City: Wounded giants primed for a new era

The inaugural Club World Cup starts on June 14, with its 32 teams split into eight groups of four in the opening phase. As part of our guides to the sides that will feature in the tournament, Jordan Campbell gives you the background on Manchester City. City are no strangers to the FIFA Club World Cup. Indeed, they will arrive in the United States to take part this summer as its most recent champions, courtesy of their 2023 win over Brazilian side Fluminense. After winning a continental treble in 2022-23 — English football's Premier League and FA Cup, then the UEFA Champions League — they beat Spain's Europa League winners Sevilla on penalties to add the UEFA Super Cup in the August, then travelled to Saudi Arabia four months later looking to make it five trophies in the calendar year. Advertisement Their 4-0 victory in Jeddah in the final of the annual, seven-club version of the competition, now rebranded the Intercontinental Cup by football's global governing body FIFA, cemented their status as the dominant force in the sport worldwide. However, after a uniquely difficult 2024-25 season, Pep Guardiola's side are not the same force. City did, however, find enough form down the home stretch to secure Champions League football for a 15th consecutive season. So they come into this tournament in better spirits than they might have done, but this is not a swift two-game trip like last time, where they were seeded directly into the semi-finals. The greatly-expanded competition means City will need to play well in seven matches if they want to be crowned Club World Cup champions again on July 14. This would usually require little explanation but from winning an unprecedented six out of seven Premier League titles between 2017 and 2024, City suffered a collapse late last year that they did not fully arrest until April. They won just 12 out of 32 matches in all competitions between October 27 and March 30, and finished third in the Premier League on 71 points, the lowest tally of their nine-year Guardiola era. The Spaniard attempted to reframe their late rally by saying that most champions would have plummeted to mid-table once they knew the title was gone. He also played down the prospect of a rebuild this summer but, with long-time midfield star Kevin De Bruyne leaving at age 34 after 10 years, this tournament marks the start of a new chapter. 'We're going there to win it,' said City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak last month. 'This is the beginning of the new season, not the continuation of last season.' City qualify as one of the three most recent winners of the UEFA Champions League. They chased the holy grail of European football for over a decade but suffered many bruising losses in the knockout stages: a Monaco comeback in 2017, humbled by Liverpool in 2018, a dramatic defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in 2019, upset in a pandemic-enforced one-off tie by Lyon in 2020, heartbreak in the final against Chelsea in 2021, two stoppage-time goals conceded in the semi-final with Real Madrid to somehow miss out again in 2022. It felt that the trophy was destined never to arrive at the Etihad Stadium but in 2023, City avenged that defeat to Madrid at the same semi-final stage, then beat Inter 1-0 in Istanbul thanks to a goal from Rodri. Guardiola has evolved so often as a coach but the overarching theme of his football has been dominant positional football and intense pressing. It is a combination that slowly suffocates opposing teams, although last season they lost that grip of old, with their build-up being disrupted and their pressing game losing its edge. Advertisement This tournament could offer an insight into Guardiola's next planned evolution. So often, other coaches have followed Guardiola's first move but it feels like he is having to adapt to the shifting sands of the Premier League. His football has been methodical and about players positioning themselves exactly where he wants them. Could we be about to see a more free-hand variation of his football? Guardiola has remodelled football several times and has been a serial winner in all his jobs, since he first took over at Barcelona in 2008, having played for the Spanish club and then managed their B team. But this is somewhat uncharted territory for him. He has never stayed so long at any club as he has at City, and he has never had to recover after such a tumultuous period in which his team lost their invincibility. It looked like the stress was getting to him early during City's poor run around the turn of the year but his genius has been about reinvention and driving the next evolution in the sport. Can he do it again? Rodri. It is tempting to choose goal-machine striker Erling Haaland but midfielder Rodri last season received the Ballon d'Or award as the game's best player worldwide over the previous 12 months, shortly after suffering an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) knee injury that would keep him out of action until May. If there was any doubt that he is this team's guiding star, their struggles in his long absence underlined just how pivotal he is. It is difficult to imagine City would have looked so disjointed or been so vulnerable to teams running through their midfield had the Spaniard been fit. His vision and passing range set the tempo for the team, while his physical presence and reading of the game help City pin opponents in and prevent counter-attacks. Advertisement At his best, Rodri plays with an aura that comes from very few opponents ever being able to get close to him. In his last couple of seasons, he started adding goals — big, important ones — to his game: a final-day equaliser against Aston Villa in 2022 to set up another Premier League title, the curling strike against Bayern Munich during their triumphant Champions League run and that side-foot finish against Inter in the final. His return in their final home match of the season was huge news for City, who will hope that these games in the U.S. will also get him ready for when the Premier League starts again in August. Nico O'Reilly. City's academy has been extremely productive in recent years, with Phil Foden the shining light, but Rico Lewis, James McAtee, Oscar Bobb and O'Reilly are all now established squad players. Many more youngsters developed at City have been sold on to other clubs for seven- and eight-figure sums, such as Liam Delap and Cole Palmer, who found it difficult to earn regular minutes under Guardiola. In his 2024-25 debut season, however, O'Reilly showed he has the ability and athleticism to vault that bar. He made his debut in the Community Shield win over Manchester United in August and went on to make 19 appearances across all competitions. The now 20-year-old's ascension towards the first team was curtailed by an ankle injury at the start of the 2023-24 season, which kept him out for several months, but he took advantage of the absences of Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and John Stones in the next one. Guardiola chose to reinvent O'Reilly, from an attacking midfielder into a left-back, due to the team's injury troubles and he put in some stellar performances, especially against Bournemouth in March when his rampaging runs set up two goals. He has a wide passing range, can dribble, tackle and score — the full package of skills — and plays with the maturity of someone much more experienced. Blue Moon, a ballad first composed by Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart in 1934, is City's club anthem, though their rendition is a revved-up version perfect for the terraces. It is the song that fills the Etihad Stadium air at kick-off on a matchday and it blares out regularly during games too. Advertisement Sung for over 30 years by City fans, folklore says it was first adopted in ironic fashion. City were not used to winning in that era and were relegated from the top flight in 1987 without a single away victory all season. Attempting to make light of their travails, it is believed some fans drew parallels with the phrase 'once in a blue moon' and sang the song. It has stuck ever since, but the irony in 2025 is that City have barely been able to stop winning in the past decade. Manchester United. Having been in the shadow of their hugely-successful neighbours for so long, the period of dominance they have enjoyed over the past decade is in stark contrast to the turmoil that has plagued United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as manager in 2013. City have flipped the fear factor that used to exist when Ferguson was in charge of United and have inflicted several embarrassing losses upon them. Since a 6-1 away win at Old Trafford in 2011, they have won Manchester derbies by a three-goal margin or more another five times. United have still, despite their differing form, won 10 of those matches since Guardiola's summer 2016 arrival, including the 2023-24 FA Cup final. It is why City's fans are revelling in the current struggles of their rivals. On the final day of last season away to Fulham, a new chant parodying a popular modern United song was heard: 'Ruben Amorim… they're never gonna win again… they're crying in the Stretford End… the Reds are going down…'. If you are the sort of person who watches the first two Rocky movies and finds themselves rooting for Apollo Creed, then you are going to love City's Club World Cup group. Up against the third-best team from Morocco last season, Wydad AC, and United Arab Emirates' fifth-strongest force for the same campaign, Al Ain, there are plenty of Davids for Goliath fans to wish ill upon. Advertisement Beyond the group stage, providing City navigate their way past that hazardous terrain, neutrals may find the prospect of them winning the tournament as the perfect precursor for a Premier League season in which there could be the widest number of credible title-challengers in years. (Top photos: Getty Images; design: Kelsea Petersen)

After 6-year absence, Isco returns to Spain's squad for Nations League semifinal. Rodri still out
After 6-year absence, Isco returns to Spain's squad for Nations League semifinal. Rodri still out

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

After 6-year absence, Isco returns to Spain's squad for Nations League semifinal. Rodri still out

MADRID (AP) — Isco is back with Spain's national team after a six-year absence, while Rodri remains out after a long injury layoff. Coach Luis de la Fuente on Monday named 26 players for the Nations League semifinal against France on June 5 in Stuttgart. Germany and Portugal will play in the other semifinal on June 4 in Munich. Advertisement The 33-year-old Isco, the former Real Madrid player who is now with Real Betis, hadn't been called up for Spain since 2019. His solid performances for Betis in the Spanish league earned him a spot in the national team again. 'I've never paid attention to how long they've been away," De la Fuente said. "It was the right time for Isco to return, he'll be there and he'll contribute, because if I had thought otherwise, he wouldn't have been there.' Rodri recently returned for Manchester City after a long layoff because of a serious knee injury, but De la Fuente felt it was too soon to bring him back to the national team. 'He's very important but has been out for eight months and played only 10 minutes," De la Fuente said. 'I've spoken with him and we thought it wasn't the time to take any risks.' Advertisement The coach did select midfielder Gavi, who also sustained a serious knee injury but played often for Barcelona this year. 'He's at a high level and has room for improvement,' De la Fuente said. 'He has to keep working to maintain the level he was at a little over a year ago.' Included in the list, as expected, were Barcelona players Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Dani Olmo. Athletic's Nico Williams also was called up. Some of those missing were defenders Iñigo Martínez of Barcelona and Raúl Asencio of Real Madrid. ___ Squad: Goalkeepers: David Raya (Arsenal), Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad), Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao) Advertisement Defenders: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Óscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Robin Le Normand (Atletico Madrid) Midfielders: Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Gavi (Barcelona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Aleix García (Bayer Leverkusen), Pedri (Barcelona), Isco (Real Betis). Forwards: Álvaro Morata (Galatasaray), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Samu Omorodion (Porto), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Dani Olmo (Barcelona). ___ AP soccer: Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press

Spain vs France – Predicted lineup and team news
Spain vs France – Predicted lineup and team news

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Spain vs France – Predicted lineup and team news

Spain take on France in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League this evening. The European champions and current Nations League holders face France in Stuttgart, with the winners to meet Portugal in Sunday's final. Advertisement It's the first meeting between the teams since Euro 2024, when La Roja eliminated France in the last four on route to tournament success. Luis de la Fuente's side will be aiming for a repeat, as the Spanish look to maintain their status as Europe's finest. Spain vs France – Predicted lineup and team news Spain team news La Roja remain without Rodri, who missed the majority of the 2024/25 campaign with an ACL injury. The Ballon d'Or winner returned during the Premier League run-in but will remain with Manchester City as he steps up his fitness ahead of the Club World Cup. There are returns to the squad for Isco and Gavi after long absences, with the former in contention to make his first international appearance since 2019. The veteran impressed as part of the Real Betis side that reached the Europa Conference League final. Advertisement Elsewhere, Barcelona forward Ferran Torres is ruled out after undergoing surgery last month. Dean Huijsen is back involved, with the newly-signed Real Madrid defender hoping to add to his two senior caps. Spain predicted lineup Spain predicted XI: Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Le Normand, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Pedri, Ruiz; Yamal,N. Williams; Morata. When is Spain vs France? Spain face France in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League on Thursday 5th June 2025. Kick-off in Stuttgart is 20:00 BST. What TV channel is Spain vs France? Viewers can watch the Nations League match live on Amazon Prime, with coverage of the game available to watch on pay-per-view for £2.49. Advertisement Read – Five international debuts to look out for this month See more – The Premier League transfer stories to watch this week Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store