The League of Nations: The Main International Tournament of the Summer

On Wednesday, the main international tournament of the summer starts in the Netherlands.

Tournament of the Year

In recent years, it sometimes felt like football fans were even overfed with delicacies in the form of major tournaments at the national team level. Especially in 2021, when the world is catching up on what was lost during the pandemic. The European Championship, the America’s Cup, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Olympic tournament – that summer flew by in one breath. Then there was the “Final Four” of the previous draw of the League of Nations.

Thanks UEFA for the Nations League. This is really a great tournament.

Last year began with the Africa Cup of Nations and ended with the first-ever Winter World Cup. 2023 against this background is somehow quite modest. The Asian Cup, which was supposed to be hosted by China in the summer, was not only moved to Qatar due to the refusal of the host country due to covid restrictions, but also moved to the winter of next year. So the League of Nations – without any reservations – is the main tournament of the year at the level of national teams. And this is clearly not the case when the saying about lack of fish comes to mind.

Photo Global Look Press

Although some four years ago, not everyone understood what kind of tournament it was and what it was eaten with. Especially – just a few months after the brightest World Cup 2018. At first, the only 100% working argument was that friendly matches that had bothered everyone were replaced by games with a tournament component. Moreover, countries with a low football rating were inspired, having got a chance to break into the European Championship in a dispute with equals in class.

France is back to rule. Ingenious Benzema and VAR brought the world champions victory in the League of Nations

However, one draw was enough to taste the League of Nations and admire many things. Firstly, the games of the top teams in League A on a daily basis. Secondly, interesting experiments of trainers. Thirdly, tournament intrigues. Finally, the attitude to the trophy. So, the first Final Four gave Cristiano Ronaldo the opportunity at home to enjoy the second trophy at the national team level.

And how cool was the decisive stage of the second tournament, where, as it turned out, it was possible to see the attacking combination for the last time Benzema — Mbappe! Moreover, the “tricolor” presented two crazy stories at once. In the semi-finals, they fought back with 0:2 against Belgium (3:2), and in the decisive match they gave another comeback with Spain (2:1). There is, however, an important clarification. Due to the shift of Euro 2020 a year ahead, the Final Four was held not in the summer, but in October, and all participants were at their peak.

Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema.

Photo Global Look Press

Motivation

Looking back, you understand that it turned out to be a rehearsal of the Qatari World Cup in miniature. Now you are afraid of the echo of the world championship, which stretched out the season, making it extremely eventful and difficult. Will the participants have enough strength and emotions? On the other hand, the rest of the teams will play Euro 2024 qualifiers in parallel. This is quite a familiar schedule for European football, and only the standard dates for the games of national teams have moved forward by a week.

Lovren helped Croatia reach the Final Four and send Rangnik to League B, the Dutch ruled out the Belgian miracle

And the applications of the teams that will play in Rotterdam and Enschede speak for themselves. The same Modric could well have gone on vacation, and everyone would have understood him, but the 37-year-old Luka – like the rest of the Croats – is not enough bronze at the 2022 World Cup. I would like to win the title, although the Netherlands is extremely motivated on the way.

Netherlands – Croatia

Still, the Orange, whose squad will be weakened by the absence of the injured de Ligt, are the hosts of the tournament. Four years ago, they already stopped on the verge of triumph in the League of Nations, restarting the national team, which was in the deepest crisis. So both the Netherlands and personally the one who returned to the national team have an unclosed gestalt Ronald Koeman. The coach then stopped halfway, leaving everything for the sake of his dream job at Barcelona. And he has something to prove after France’s 0-4 draw at the start of Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Morata left Ronaldo without the Final Four, the 39-year-old goalkeeper did not let Ukraine into League A, Spertsyan’s goal did not save Armenia from relegation

The second semi-final between Spain and Italy is a real European classic and a remake of a meeting two years ago at the same stage of the League of Nations. The Red Fury that won then (2:1) is in the process of restructuring. Luis de la Fuente, who led it, won the youth (U-19) and youth championships of Europe and definitely will not give up the first trophy already at the head of the adult team.

Spain — Italy

In addition, after the March loss to Switzerland (0:2), the coach needs to answer the critics. The specialist who started rejuvenating the national team this time remembered the veterans, inviting not only Jordi Alba, but also 37-year-old Jesus Navas, who, together with Sevilla, once again conquered the Europa League. And de la Fuente did not forget about the new faces, for the first time inviting Real Madrid newcomer Fran Garcia to the national team.

Naturally, not without surprises and Roberto Mancini. So we are waiting for the debut of defender Baschirotto, who has had a great season at Lecce and has not played in Serie A before. As well as the return of Turkish champion Zaniolo and Immobile, who had not played for the national team for more than a year. Ciro has not been called up since that match against Macedonia that left Italy without a World Cup.

The ingenious Donnarumma pulled Italy into the Final Four, England and Germany staged a scoring thriller

That wound has not yet healed, so the wounded pride of the Azzurra Squadra has not gone away. As, however, and failed at the World Cup in Spain. And in the selection for the Euro, both teams have already lost once. And each such fact increases the degree of motivation, which means that a cool and interesting tournament awaits us again.