​Only 16 matches remain in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League and the competition has continued to produce some wonderful football. Here’s where things stand ahead of the remaining matches.

Finals

England, Portugal and Switzerland will all be playing finals in June of next year after finishing top of their respective groups in League A.

England and Croatia played out a thrilling match – a 2-1 win in favour of the Three Lions at Wembley. Andrej Kramarić opened the scoring before Jesse Lingard and Harry Kane scored two in 10 minutes, helping England finish top of the group; the loss sends Croatia down to League B.

Switzerland beat Belgium 5-2 to top Group 2 and make the finals in what was a remarkable match. The Belgians were 2-0 up in the opening 20 minutes with the Swiss then scoring five unanswered goals including a Haris Seferović hat trick.

Portugal’s scoreless draw with Italy ensured that it would feature in June’s finals. The team still has one match to play against Poland who will be relegated to League B.

The last spot in the finals comes down to the match between the Netherlands and Germany. The 2014 World Cup champions will be relegated but the French will be hoping they can pull a win out of the bag; a German win sees France progress to the finals.

Any points for the Netherlands will see them travel to Portugal for the finals.

Promotion

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark and Ukraine will all be playing in League A after topping their respective groups in League B. The only group still up in the air is Group 2. Russia and Sweden will play for the final spot in League A.

Sweden need to win big to have any chance of being promoted. Russia seem the more likely to move up as there are more permutations which benefit them.

Finland are the only confirmed promoted team from League C to League B at this stage. Scotland and Israel will play off for promotion in Group 1, while Norway and Bulgaria will be looking for wins in their matches against Cyprus and Slovenia respectively.

Serbia look likely to move up and a win over Lithuania will confirm that. However, there is still a chance for Romania to be promoted, however they would need a win against Montenegro and a favour from Lithuania.

Belarus and Georgia will be playing in League C after earning promotion. The remaining League D promotion hopefuls are Kosovo and Azerbaijan who will play in a winner takes all match. Macedonia can secure promotion with a win over Gibraltar which looks likely. It is still mathematically possible for Armenia to be promoted but they would need a Macedonian loss and a win themselves over Liechtenstein.

Relegation

Croatia, Germany, Iceland and Poland have all been relegated from League A. Northern Ireland, Turkey and the Republic of Ireland will all move down to League C, Czech Republic and Slovakia will battle it out to stay in League B in the final match of Group 1.

Estonia, Lithuania and Slovenia will all be playing in League D. Albania will finish third in the three-team Group 1 but will only be relegated if their record is worse than the other third placed teams in League C which appears likely.

Rick D'Andrea
ricdan85@gmail.com