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The National team enters the battle of the last games of the Nations League with the goal of first place in the group. The gains from the promotion to League A and the points it claims ahead of World Cup qualifiers.
The national team go into the pace of England and Finland aiming for a good harvest with at least a draw against England and a win against Finland to finish top of their group in the Nations League.
If he succeeds and closes the obligations with a positive sign in November, Ivan Jovanovic’s team will multiply the profits it already has from its presence so far in the Nations League, both in view of the next competition and the qualifiers for the World Cup that follow.
The points claimed by Greece in the November matches
In the November games, the National Team has to play against England in the packed OAKA and Finland in Helsinki. From these games the blue and white can get a rapid rise and also a rapid fall.
At the moment, the National Team is in 20th place, having a lot of chances to enter the capacity group of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. Of course, things will be 100% clear after the completion of the Nations League, as there may be reshuffles due to the schedule.
Points claimed against England:
- Win with England: +11.61 (1499.03)
- Draw with England: +4.11 (1491.53)
- Defeat England: -3.39 (1484.03)
Against the English, the blue and white team will come out victorious in the ranking (but also in the Nations League standings) even with a draw. The same does not apply against Finland, as in case of a draw in this match Greece will receive a drop in its ranking.
Approximate scores against Finland are as follows:
- Win with Finland: +5.9 (1493.32)
- Draw with Finland: -1.6 (1485.82)
- Loss to Finland: -9.1 (1478.32)
The World Cup qualification system
UEFA’s 54 nations (not counting Russia) will be divided into 12 groups of four or five teams. The winner of each group will qualify directly for the World Cup.
The runners-up of each group will advance to the playoffs, along with the top four of the Nations League (a position claimed by Greece), who will be outside the top two in the qualifiers.
The 16 teams in the playoffs will be divided into four paths with single knockout games, semi-finals and final, with the four winners getting the ticket to the World Cup.
What does first place in the Nations League mean?
Greece has the upper hand for first place and must defend it in the last two matches. But what profits (will) it have in practice? Direct promotion to League A, the highest level of the Nations League, from which the Finals and the title holder emerge.
In addition, it gives the possibility for a second chance for the World Cup. The World Cup qualifiers will award twelve tickets directly to the winners of the twelve qualifying groups.
The twelve teams that finish in 2nd place will make playoffs together with the four best group winners in the Nations League who are not among the twelve winners or runners-up of the World Cup qualifying groups.
These 16 teams will be divided into four paths and after two single matches in Final Four style, the four winners will emerge and take the last tickets that Europe is entitled to.
If Greece manage to emerge victorious in their group, as in the previous Nations League, then there will be the possibility of being in the top four winners and securing a second place.
Which is likely given that many winners of League A (which will be ahead of the Nations League ranking) and League B will have logically secured a presence in the World Cup or the playoffs through the qualifiers.
Of course, in League A, Greece will more easily have a second chance for Euro 2028 as well. It is indicative that only three of the 16 teams of League A of the previous Nations League, did not go to Euro 2024 through the qualifiers.
- 1st, direct promotion to League A
- 2nd, promotion playoffs to League A
- 3rd, League C relegation playouts
- 4th, direct relegation to League C
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