Is anyone enjoying the Nations League?

[Pogue Mahone]

I mean, it’s better to have football to watch than no football at all. Marginally. But I can’t make myself give even the teeniest shite about any of it. It’s complicated, over long and boring. And an absolute travesty that we’re enduring this bollox instead of what we should be doing this summer, watching a World Cup.

But maybe it’s just me? Are some of ye loving all the ‘ball you’ve been watching these last few weeks?

 

[moses]

Slight improvement on the friendlies I think.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Definite improvement on friendlies. I'm only watching Ireland games though, no interest in other nations.

 

[do.ob]

It's just a side effect of the world cup that we have four of these games at the end of the season. There probably should be less international fixtures, but if we have to have them I think the NL is a big improvement over friendlies.

 

[Ralaks]

I love it, but mainly because of how we play and the buzz around us

If it was back in the Bendtner Age I'd probably not even watch

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

It is quite boring compared to watching premier league/swedish league/champions league and would have rather had a world cup this summer as we should have had.

With that said I have watched a lot of games basically every evening though. France have been a huge disappointment and England as well and those two sides are the bookies favorites to win the world cup still after Brazil.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Think it’s better than the friendlies but having said that I haven’t watched a single game of it yet and frankly don’t care. It should have been binned off this year to alleviate the ridiculous schedule but alas the footballing authorities stopped giving a shite a long time ago.

 

[FootballHQ]

Slight improvement on the friendlies I think.

Teams never played four friendlies in June even in tournament years.

Big problem for me is you'll still get the european qualifiers next year on top of this so it's just overkill. Surely if the euros goes to 32 teams as predicted in near future they'll use nations league as the actual qualifiers otherwise it will feel even more pointless than now.

Not sure why they couldn't have just ended it at weekend and played the 4th fixture in September either and given all the players a month off.

 

[RedPed]

France is pissing me right off.

 

[RedDevilQuebecois]

Slight improvement on the friendlies I think.

Not really in my book.

What I feel about the Nations League is that it's about facing the same opponents from within the same football confederation over and over again (Euros, qualifiers, sometimes the World Cup and now this). I genuinely miss cross-confederation matches where 2 nations from different continents would play against each other. For the non-European side, it's a good way to gauge themselves against some good teams outside of the World Cup. I know some people say that European nations would often win, but how can one not enjoy moments like this late winner from our own Shinji Kagawa against France 10 years ago?


That Japanese team used to defeat France and Belgium while drawing with the Netherlands, all on European soil in their build-up towards the 2014 World Cup. We need to see more of those test matches for Asian and African nations facing European sides to enjoy something different.

 

[Nicolarra90]

Enjoying it, few crap teams but better than nothing. Friendlies are nothing.

 

[Nicolarra90]

Not really in my book.

What I feel about the Nations League is that it's about facing the same opponents from within the same football confederation over and over again (Euros, qualifiers, sometimes the World Cup and now this). I genuinely miss cross-confederation matches where 2 nations from different continents would play against each other. For the non-European side, it's a good way to gauge themselves against some good teams outside of the World Cup. I know some people say that European nations would often win, but how can one not enjoy moments like this late winner from our own Shinji Kagawa against France 10 years ago?


That Japanese team used to defeat France and Belgium while drawing with the Netherlands, all on European soil in their build-up towards the 2014 World Cup. We need to see more of those test matches for Asian and African nations facing European sides to enjoy something different.

And then in the cup....
Friendlies are a waste of time.

 

[tomaldinho1]

There are still too many games but it’s ok(ish) I guess. So annoying the WC was bought by a country that couldn’t do a summer tournament.

 

[Tavern in the town]

I struggle to give a feck about all international football that isn’t the World Cup or the Euros. Literally could not care less about the Nations League.

 

[Plant0x84]

Dull as you like, especially England games. Just let the players rest for goodness sake, other wise next season and the WC will suffer too (even though that is already a stupid thing in a stupid place)

 

[Samid]

Beating Sweden twice in a week. Striker that can’t stop scoring. Loving every minute of it and couldn’t care less about what any of you sourpusses say.

 

[Mickeza]

I think it’s absurd to have 4 games at the end of the season giving players a whole 3 weeks off before pre-season begins before an early season start beginning of august due to the World Cup in fecking Qatar being in November before players start their league campaigns merely 8 days after it finishes.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Not really in my book.

What I feel about the Nations League is that it's about facing the same opponents from within the same football confederation over and over again (Euros, qualifiers, sometimes the World Cup and now this). I genuinely miss cross-confederation matches where 2 nations from different continents would play against each other. For the non-European side, it's a good way to gauge themselves against some good teams outside of the World Cup. I know some people say that European nations would often win, but how can one not enjoy moments like this late winner from our own Shinji Kagawa against France 10 years ago?


That Japanese team used to defeat France and Belgium while drawing with the Netherlands, all on European soil in their build-up towards the 2014 World Cup. We need to see more of those test matches for Asian and African nations facing European sides to enjoy something different.

Actually, yeah, that’s a good point. The fact it’s most of the same teams from the last major international tournament (and WC qualification campaigns) all over again makes it even more dull and pointless.

 

[saivet]

Generally, I have found it good but having four games at the end of a long season with a short break seems like overkill.

 

[Mike Smalling]

Savoring every moment. We have gone years of having an average or poor team, so really enjoying watching us be good.

Over the last years, it’s been the national team that has reminded me, why I’m even a football fan in the first place, while I almost feel obligated to sit through the shit United have served up.

Doesn’t matter if it’s qualifying, Nations League, a World Cup or the Euros. Just loving it.

 

[Gio]

New competition bounce has worn off and clearly nobody gives a flying feck about it now. I mean I probably should because there’s likely some possible qualification path at the end of it, but it’s that convoluted you lose the will to live trying to follow it through.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

New competition bounce has worn off and clearly nobody gives a flying feck about it now. I mean I probably should because there’s likely some possible qualification path at the end of it, but it’s that convoluted you lose the will to live trying to follow it through.

That’s Numberwang!

The final nail in the coffin was creating a sporting competition that the majority of fans don’t really know or care what’s involved in winning it. A real touch of genius by the organisers.

 

[Basa1987]

There are still too many games but it’s ok(ish) I guess. So annoying the WC was bought by a country that couldn’t do a summer tournament.

The 2026 WC is in the US. These are the temps in Dallas, TX which is supposed to be a host city in '26.

https://weather.com/weather/tenday/...ebe387a6de1b2098d40101d65836dd79c94d1dfe0c20b

And summer hasn't even officially started yet.

 

[Vidyoyo]

I find international football generally isn't exciting without the buzz of a tournament and the fans/atmosphere that go along with it.

The Nations League can't replicate what the big tournaments bring but it's a few yards better than friendlies.

 

[miked99]

It's miles better than dull friendlies. When England did well in it a couple of seasons ago it felt genuinely exciting. When it gets to the later stages it has a bit of a feel of a real competition about it.

The recent England games have been awful though, despite the opposition being exciting on paper. June isn't the best time for these kind of games. I think a lot of teams are mentally checked out, especially this season with a World Cup a few months away.

 

[Spaghetti]

Nations League gets a lot of stick but I don’t know why. It’s way better than friendlies, players get proper practice as opposed to friendlies.

And of course for the fans it’s much better. What do people want, friendlies? Or even worse, a constant EUROs tournament/league thing?

I think it’s great having this competition, which is not pretending to be something it’s not.

 

[Eriku]

Beating Sweden twice in a week. Striker that can’t stop scoring. Loving every minute of it and couldn’t care less about what any of you sourpusses say.

 

[SuperiorXI]

It's awful, so boring and unnecessary with all the games on the past couple years. Players could do with a break.

 

[tomaldinho1]

The 2026 WC is in the US. These are the temps in Dallas, TX which is supposed to be a host city in '26.

https://weather.com/weather/tenday/...ebe387a6de1b2098d40101d65836dd79c94d1dfe0c20b

And summer hasn't even officially started yet.

That’s not that hot…average for Dallas is about 25c over summer. Qatar is 41. Guess which one is a desert.

 

[marktan]

I think it’s absurd to have 4 games at the end of the season giving players a whole 3 weeks off before pre-season begins before an early season start beginning of august due to the World Cup in fecking Qatar being in November before players start their league campaigns merely 8 days after it finishes.

This.

It's a good concept for giving friendlies more parity, but it's terrible that it's being used as a money grab by UEFA / domestic FA's with no regard for the welfare of the players.

And that coming off the back of covid + the Euros, meaning some players have barely had any rest as it is. Richarlison for example I think the last actual break he had was April 2020 when the fixtures were called off for covid.

 

[Abraxas]

Not really. Maybe it's just England but it's all been at snails pace. I don't think the quality or industry has really been in the games to in anyway justify the idea that this is a big step up from friendlies. The rationale of trying to bring some meaning to more international games makes sense but I think it all comes unwound simply by virtue of the fact it's end of season and the players see it for what it is. But then again this is solely based on England's group, it's probably a bit presumptuous to slate the whole thing without having an informed opinion on the other groups.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Not keen on international football at the best of times but these meaningless matches I haven't watched a single minute of any of the matches.

 

[Basa1987]

That’s not that hot…average for Dallas is about 25c over summer. Qatar is 41. Guess which one is a desert.

Mate, I live in Texas. Kick-offs before 8 PM would mean either killing the players or games played at snail's pace.

Btw, average for Dallas is 25C in summer? Are we talking about the same place?

 

[Pretzels81]

No.

Feck FIFA.

 

[711]

Haven't watched any. Its just about UEFA getting as many games as possible under their jurisdiction, whether the players or the fans or the clubs want them or not. They can feck off.

 

[Charles Miller]

Yes. I watch those games to follow the development of new players. And i always root for the underdogs, so i'm having a good time.

 

[Tyrion]

I think it’s absurd to have 4 games at the end of the season giving players a whole 3 weeks off before pre-season begins before an early season start beginning of august due to the World Cup in fecking Qatar being in November before players start their league campaigns merely 8 days after it finishes.

It's just going to get worse. It's a game of Buckaroo were they just keep adding games. FIFA wants a bigger world cup and world club cup and UEFA wants a bigger Champions League. There doesn't seem to be any competition that's going to actually reduce its game load.

 

[golden_blunder]

It’s interfering with transfer time!

 

[RedDevilQuebecois]

Actually, yeah, that’s a good point. The fact it’s most of the same teams from the last major international tournament (and WC qualification campaigns) all over again makes it even more dull and pointless.

Exactly. Ever since the first UEFA Nations League came up, I have seen national teams playing far more matches against intra-confederation opponents rather than teams from outside their respective confederations. Totally dull and pointless.

CONCACAF (North America, Central America and Caribbean) have gone down that path with their own Nations League as well, but I see it as a nuisance for the development of the national teams when they clearly need more of those test matches against different types of opposition in order to pinpoint areas of improvement. I don't want to watch more matches against the same sides I see year after year for the qualifiers or the Gold Cup. I want Canada to improve and it will only be done by playing more test matches against European teams.

 

[Kag]

Nah, it’s dogshit. The players should be on the beach and they’re playing games in a way that amplifies this.