PARIS: It has plunged Germany into renewed crisis, provoked scenes of jubilation in Kosovo and Gibraltar, and set up what could be an exciting week of international football in a summer usually bereft of competition for European countries.

The UEFA Nations League might not have been welcomed by some clubs across the continent — Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp called it “the most senseless competition in the world of football” — but it has generated plenty of intriguing story lines to pique interest in its inaugural year.

The competition has reached its final set of qualifying matches, and results over the next week will determine which teams will feature in a Final Four mini-tournament in June when the first Nations League champion will be crowned. Currently, France, Belgium, Portugal and Spain are favorites to be the finalists.

The upcoming matches will also establish which of the lower-ranked teams qualify for the Nations League playoffs, from which one place at the 2020 European Championship will be awarded.

Kylian Mbappe can carry world champions France into the finals on Friday with a draw against the resurgent Netherlands in Rotterdam.

“We are going there for the win,” coach Didier Deschamps warned. “We are the world champions and we will behave like it.”

France beat the Dutch 2-1 in September after PSG star Mbappe scored the opener and Chelsea target man Olivier Giroud clinched the three points after Ryan Babel had equalised.

Since then the Netherlands have thrashed Germany 3-0 and drew 1-1 in Belgium as Ronald Koeman rebuilds the Dutch squad that failed to reach this year’s World Cup.

Deschamps will be missing stars Paul Pogba and Benjamin Mendy but has recalled Moussa Sissoko, the versatile Tottenham man who was one of their stars in their run to the Euro 2016 final.

A victory for the Dutch means they can then qualify by beating or potentially even drawing with Germany in the group closer in Gelsenkirchen on Monday.

Germany have struggled to put a disastrous World Cup behind them and face the prospect of relegation from Group A1 having taken a solitary point so far. They have to beat the Netherlands to avoid dropping down a division.

Coach Joachim Loew, who retained his job despite the first-round World Cup exit, has begun to dispense with the 2014 World Cup-winning players including Jerome Boateng and bring in fresh blood like Manchester City’s Leroy Sane.

Belgium, the side that were only stopped at the World Cup by France, will reach the finals with a Group A2 win against Switzerland in Lucerne on Sunday. In fact, a draw would be enough if the Belgians avoid defeat against Iceland on Thursday.

There is an added emphasis on which of Portugal or Italy advance from Group A3, considering the team that qualifies from this group will host the Final Four in June. Portugal are the favourites after winning their first two games, without needing Cristiano Rona­ldo, and need only a point away to Italy on Saturday to guarantee first place.

If Italy win, Portugal can still finish top with a home win on Tuesday over Poland, who have already been relegated after picking up just one point from its first three games.

World Cup finalists Croatia are hunting a first Nations League win when they host Spain, with revenge foremost in their minds after losing 6-0 to them in September.

“We are in much better shape than then. It was a debacle and we need to look for revenge... with three points,” their coach Zlatko Dalic said.

The goalless Group A4 draw against England was played behind closed doors, so the game in Zagreb will be the first time Luka Modric has run out in front of a home crowd since inspiring Croatia to the World Cup final, a feat that makes him favourite to win the Ballon d’Or next month.

After a superb year that also landed him the FIFA player of the year award, the Real Madrid midfielder is nearing full fitness, Dalic said.

“He is the leader and he will be at a high level,” the coach said.

Spain looked on course to qualify comfortably the group, also containing England, after beating both teams in its first two games. Losing to England 3-2 in Sevilla last month, in arguably the standout match of the entire group stage so far, has kept things alive.

If Spain lose to Croatia in Zagreb on Thursday, England can finish first with a win over the Croats at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Ukraine became the first country from League B to secure promotion to Group ‘A’ for the second Nations League, in 2020. Bosnia and Russia are well clear in their groups and need one point from their final matches, against Austria and Sweden respectively, to also ensure promotion.

In the other group in League B, Wales and Denmark are fighting for first place. They meet in Cardiff on Friday, when a Welsh win would guarantee them top spot.

The Nations League also offers a second chance to qualify for the European Championship in 2020. The 16 group winners in Leagues A, B, C and D or the next best-placed teams who have not already qualified via the European qualifiers starting in March will progress to the playoffs to compete for the last four qualifying places.

It means the so-called minnows of Europe have something tangible to play for.

No League C teams have won their group so far, though Finland are close after winning their first four games in Group C2 and need one point from their last two.

In Group C1, Israel and Scotland are batting for first place; in Group C3, Norway and Bulgaria are tied on points with two games left; and in Group C4, there is a three-way fight between Serbia, Montenegro and Romania.

In League D, containing Europe’s weakest countries, Gibraltar and Kosovo — two of the newest members of UEFA — have claimed their first ever competitive international wins.

Kosovo are top of Group D3, two points clear of Azerbaijan with two games left. Gibraltar are second behind Macedonia in Group D4. Georgia have won Group D1, and Luxembourg and Belarus appear to be fighting for first place in Group D2.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2018