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Kuwait Times
14 hours ago
- General
- Kuwait Times
Contenders eye ‘big titles' as Nations League final four kicks off
MUNICH: The Nations League semi-finals start on Wednesday with Germany, Spain, France and Portugal seeking to fine tune their sides with the World Cup just one year away. Tournament hosts Germany face Portugal in Munich on Wednesday and title holders Spain face France in Stuttgart a day later. The winners will face off in the Bavarian capital on Sunday. Created in 2018, the Nations League lacks the history and esteem of football's major international tournaments and has been criticized for adding to an already crowded calendar. But as Spain and France have shown in recent years, the competition can be a perfect launchpad to reach greater heights. France's Nations League triumph in 2021 came just over a year before their run to the World Cup final in Qatar, where they lost on penalties to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina. Spain, runners-up against France in 2021, beat Croatia on penalties to win the 2023 Nations League; a year later, the Spanish were crowned Euro 2024 champions. While some of the larger nations have fielded experimental line-ups, recent winners have used the tournament to develop and improve. The 'big titles' Of the final four, only Germany are yet to win a Nations League title, with Portugal's success coming in the opening tournament in 2019. Germany captain Joshua Kimmich will be handed his 100th international cap on Wednesday. The Bayern Munich midfielder is the 14th Germany player to reach the milestone, but will become the only member of the 100 club not to have won a World Cup. Kimmich said Monday he 'had a couple more chances' to correct the stat and said the Nations League would show how much progress Germany had made, after a disappointing decade. 'If it's enough for the really big titles, we don't know, it depends on a lot of factors.' World Cup winners in 2014, Germany crashed out of the following two World Cups at the group stage. Their best result since a Euros semi-final in 2016 was going out in the quarters to eventual champions Spain at Euro 2024. 'We want to go into the (World Cup) well prepared. We've said a few times that the preparation doesn't start two weeks before, rather it's already started,' Kimmich said. 'When we now compete in two internationals successfully, we can show we're still on a good path.' Kimmich's sentiment was echoed by coach Julian Nagelsmann on Friday, who said 'we would love to win titles and keep feeding our self-confidence. 'Even if it's only a small title, for us as a group it's very important... Confidence and trust are fragile elements that require constant nourishment.' 'Tiredness takes a back seat' Coming at the end of a long club season, each of the final four are nursing injuries. Already without Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rudiger and Nico Schlotterbeck, Germany lost Jonathan Burkardt, Nadiem Amiri and Yann Bisseck to injury over the weekend. France are missing first choice defenders Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba and Jules Kounde, along with Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, while six players will be involved after Saturday's Champions League final. Opponents Spain elected not to name Rodri in their Nations League squad, wanting not to rush the reigning Ballon d'Or winner as he returns from his cruciate injury. Veteran Portugal talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, has been named despite missing three of his past six club matches for Al Nassr with muscle complaints. Four players will join the Portuguese squad after lifting the Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain: Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Goncalo Ramos. Portugal midfielder Rubin Neves acknowledged the strain on top players, but told the Portuguese FA on Sunday 'when we reach this type of competition, at this level, tiredness takes a back seat. Tiredness is left behind and our main focus is to win the two games and win the Nations League. 'We have all the tools available to be at our best.' — AFP
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
📹 Head to head: Germany v Portugal compared ahead of Nations League semi
Germany and Portugal will compete in the Nations League semifinals, this Wednesday (4), at 3pm (Brasília)/8pm (Lisbon). OneFootball, then, compared the two likely lineups for the duel! Check it out below! Advertisement Ter Stegen; Kimmich, Tah, Anton, Mittelstadt; Groß, Goretzka, Gnabry, Wirtz; Sané, Undav Coach: Julian Nagelsmann Diogo Costa; Dalot, António Silva, Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo; Diogo Jota, Cristiano Ronaldo Coach: Roberto Martínez This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here. 📸 Dean Mouhtaropoulos - 2024 Getty Images
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Nations League SFs: GER vs POR, ESP vs FRA ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup
The UEFA Nations League 2025 reaches its thrilling climax this week as four of Europe's biggest footballing giants — Germany, Spain, France, and Portugal — prepare for a semi-final showdown that's about more than just silverware. With the World Cup just a year away, these matches are proving grounds, battlegrounds, and perhaps — launchpads. Germany's last shot at a first title The tournament kicks off in Munich on Thursday (India time at 12:30 AM) with hosts Germany facing Portugal, followed by title holders Spain meeting France in Stuttgart on Friday (India time at 12:30 AM). The winners will collide in a blockbuster final on Sunday, back in the Bavarian capital. Despite their storied history, Germany are the only side among the final four yet to win a Nations League title. But that could change, as captain Joshua Kimmich earns his 100th cap in front of a home crowd, determined to rewrite a decade of near misses. 'If it's enough for the really big titles, we don't know. But we're on the right path,' Kimmich said Monday, reflecting on Germany's recent tournament struggles — including back-to-back group stage exits at the last two World Cups. While critics have questioned the tournament's significance since its inception in 2018, recent history tells a different story. France used their 2021 Nations League triumph as a springboard to the 2022 World Cup final, while Spain's penalty shootout win over Croatia in 2023 preceded their Euro 2024 glory. For coach Julian Nagelsmann, this is more than a warm-up. 'Even if it's only a small title, for us as a group it's very important. Confidence needs constant feeding,' he said, highlighting how these matches are vital stepping stones on the road to World Cup contention. Battle-scarred but not beaten: Injuries test squad depth All four semi-finalists enter the week carrying injuries from a long, bruising club season. Germany are without Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, and three more recent withdrawals. France too are depleted, missing core defenders and midfield dynamo Eduardo Camavinga, while several players arrive fresh off the Champions League final. Spain, meanwhile, have chosen to rest Rodri, giving the Ballon d'Or winner more time to recover from a recent cruciate injury. And though Cristiano Ronaldo, now 40, has battled muscle issues, he remains in Portugal's squad, hungry for what could be his final international title. 'Tiredness takes a back seat' Portugal's Rúben Neves summed up the mood in the camp with defiant clarity: 'When you reach this level of competition, tiredness takes a back seat. Our only goal is to win the Nations League.' Four freshly crowned Champions League winners — Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, João Neves and Gonçalo Ramos — now join Portugal's quest, adding firepower and flair to an already talented squad.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Matthäus believes Kimmich will beat his Germany caps record
Germany's Joshua Kimmich speaks during the press conference of the German national soccer team, ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Nations League semi-final soccer match against Portugal. Federico Gambarini/dpa Lothar Matthäus believes Joshua Kimmich has the potential to break his Germany caps record. Matthäus racked up 150 appearances for West Germany/Germany and Kimmich, 30, will pick up his 100th cap in the Nations League semi-final against Portugal in Munich on Wednesday. Advertisement "I said years ago, if anyone can catch up with me, it's Joshua. And I stand by that. He's still young, rarely injured and very ambitious. If he keeps going like this, he can reach 170 international caps," Matthäus told the Bild newspaper on Tuesday. The 1990 World Cup winner also wrote in a column for Sky: "I would be happy for him if he eventually breaks my record of 150 appearances." Kimmich has mainly operated at right back for Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann despite playing for Bayern Munich in midfield. Matthäus would like to see him in the centre of the park for Germany again. Advertisement "Kimmich is world-class as a right back and in midfield. I think he's most effective in the middle, where he dictates the rhythm of the game. As a right back, he's not as involved in the build-up," the 64-year-old said. "But Julian Nagelsmann doesn't have another player who fits the requirements for the right back position. I don't see another convincing solution there either."
France 24
2 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Contenders eye 'big titles' as Nations League final four kicks off
Tournament hosts Germany face Portugal in Munich on Wednesday and title holders Spain face France in Stuttgart a day later. The winners will face off in the Bavarian capital on Sunday. Created in 2018, the Nations League lacks the history and esteem of football's major international tournaments and has been criticised for adding to an already crowded calendar. But as Spain and France have shown in recent years, the competition can be a perfect launchpad to reach greater heights. France's Nations League triumph in 2021 came just over a year before their run to the World Cup final in Qatar, where they lost on penalties to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina. Spain, runners-up against France in 2021, beat Croatia on penalties to win the 2023 Nations League; a year later, the Spanish were crowned Euro 2024 champions. While some of the larger nations have fielded experimental line-ups, recent winners have used the tournament to develop and improve. The 'big titles' Of the final four, only Germany are yet to win a Nations League title, with Portugal's success coming in the opening tournament in 2019. Germany captain Joshua Kimmich will be handed his 100th international cap on Wednesday. The Bayern Munich midfielder is the 14th Germany player to reach the milestone, but will become the only member of the 100 club not to have won a World Cup. Kimmich said Monday he "had a couple more chances" to correct the stat and said the Nations League would show how much progress Germany had made, after a disappointing decade. "If it's enough for the really big titles, we don't know, it depends on a lot of factors." World Cup winners in 2014, Germany crashed out of the following two World Cups at the group stage. Their best result since a Euros semi-final in 2016 was going out in the quarters to eventual champions Spain at Euro 2024. "We want to go into the (World Cup) well prepared. We've said a few times that the preparation doesn't start two weeks before, rather it's already started," Kimmich said. "When we now compete in two internationals successfully, we can show we're still on a good path." Kimmich's sentiment was echoed by coach Julian Nagelsmann on Friday, who said "we would love to win titles and keep feeding our self-confidence. "Even if it's only a small title, for us as a group it's very important... Confidence and trust are fragile elements that require constant nourishment." 'Tiredness takes a back seat' Coming at the end of a long club season, each of the final four are nursing injuries. Already without Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rudiger and Nico Schlotterbeck, Germany lost Jonathan Burkardt, Nadiem Amiri and Yann Bisseck to injury over the weekend. France are missing first choice defenders Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba and Jules Kounde, along with Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, while six players will be involved after Saturday's Champions League final. Opponents Spain elected not to name Rodri in their Nations League squad, wanting not to rush the reigning Ballon d'Or winner as he returns from his cruciate injury. Veteran Portugal talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, has been named despite missing three of his past six club matches for Al Nassr with muscle complaints. Four players will join the Portuguese squad after lifting the Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain: Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Goncalo Ramos. Portugal midfielder Rubin Neves acknowledged the strain on top players, but told the Portuguese FA on Sunday "when we reach this type of competition, at this level, tiredness takes a back seat. "Tiredness is left behind and our main focus is to win the two games and win the Nations League.
