Spain v England and four more Nations League games actually worth watching

It’s everyone’s favourite time of the year again – and no, we’re not talking about the run up to Christmas. Still too early.

What we are talking about, without a hint of irony, is another international break. JUST WEEKS AFTER the last one, which lasted forever. Not only that, this is the most popular type of international break of them all – one filled with UEFA Nations League games. Oh joy.

Let’s be honest, it can be a tough week to get excited for. The momentum’s been taken out of the season again, and for what? These are glorified friendlies in the eyes of many, but there is something at stake for several of the teams involved as the group stages for this edition come to an end.

So here are five Nations League games worth keeping an eye on, either because there’s something at stake or, as UEFA always promised us with this competition, because it’s just a theoretically exciting meeting of two big teams. Or, in some cases, both.

Spain v England (Sunday) There might be no real jeopardy by the time Spain and England face off on Sunday. Spain are already through to the quarter-finals and England can join them there by avoiding defeat to Croatia on Thursday. Considering how England’s last game against Croatia went, it shouldn’t be too much hassle.

But there will be a lot to learn from Sunday’s game regardless. Spain are a class above the rest in international football at the moment. After winning the World Cup in the summer, they’ve been relentless in the Nations League, with four wins from four.

Any opportunity for England to test themselves against a team of that calibre is important. September’s 3-2 defeat at Wembley was an entertaining affair, offering insight into what England need to work on for the next phase of their evolution.

There’s a chance it won’t be a dead rubber at the Metropolitano Stadium either. Depending on the outcome of Thursday’s games, Spain and England could also be vying for top spot in the group, which could lead to a better draw for the quarter-finals.

We might not get another five-goal thriller, but it should be entertaining again between two teams with big ambitions – one capable of realising them, and another not just yet.

Belgium v Italy (Sunday) At the same time in Group 1, you’ll have Belgium up against Italy in Brussels – with the prospect of one of them dropping into a relegation play-off.

France are the current leaders of the group and will be widely expected to stay there. As things stand, there’s just one point separating Italy in second and Belgium in third. Belgium are away at Turkey and Italy have France at home on Thursday.

If they’re still within touching distance after those games, a head to head between Belgium and Italy should be tasty. Either one would be a big casualty if they were to drop into League B and so they should be doing everything they can to avoid the risk of going into a play-off.

Relegation would be the last thing Italy need after their prolonged aversion to even qualifying for a World Cup. It would equally be a blow for a Belgium side moving out of their golden era.

Belgium won the reverse fixture in Rome 2-0, but have lost twice since (both times to France) whereas Italy have gone three games unbeaten.

If it all boils down to Sunday, it’s going to be nip and tuck.

Germany v Netherlands (Monday) It’s already one of the biggest rivalries in international football – a bigger deal for those involved than Germany v England – but this time there could be an added element of drama.

Jurgen Klopp’s Germany are currently in the danger zone of third place in Group 2, three points behind the Netherlands and Greece.

The joint-leaders in the group face off on Friday, while Germany hope to make up ground against pointless Serbia. Say the Netherlands and Greece draw, and Germany win, and there’d be one point between three teams going into the final games. Needless to say, the stakes would be high.

Even if the Netherlands and Germany both win their penultimate games, Klopp’s side wouldn’t be able to afford to let their guards down when they meet in Berlin. They’d still be third, behind Greece due to their head-to-head record. Bettering Greece’s result against Serbia would be essential.

The Netherlands aren’t safe as houses here either. If they lose to Greece and Germany beat Serbia, they’d go into the final game level on points. It was a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, so there’d be nothing in it for the head-to-head.

There’s even a combination of results where Germany, the Netherlands and Greece all end up on 11 points, opening up a three-way head-to-head table. Every goal could carry more weight than usual.

A lot of hypotheticals in this group, then. Some of which involve too much maths to be worth working out at this stage. What we can say for sure is that the prospect of Klopp having Germany at risk of relegation within months of taking the job would be fascinating; ditto for Xavi and the Netherlands. Best beat the other to make sure it doesn’t happen.

Denmark v Norway (Tuesday) It’s easy to forget that Norway haven’t had the best of times until recently in international football; there was a time before Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard.

The World Cup this summer was their first major tournament since Euro 2000. They made a decent impression by reaching the quarter-finals, but the Nations League hasn’t been so kind.

Norway are bottom of Group 4 in League A after four games. They beat Denmark in their opening game but have had three losses since – two to Portugal and one to Wales. Dropping into League B is a genuine possibility. And while that could be good news for Nations League top scorer Haaland, getting to stat-pad against inferior teams, it’s not the direction Norway should be going in.

If Norway win at home to Wales on Saturday and Denmark lose in Portugal, the two Scandinavian sides will be facing off while level on points in hope of finishing second. Oh, and Wales would be on the same points too.

It’s another close call but it’d be up to either of these two sides to take care of what they can control and try and get the crucial win.

Hungary v Northern Ireland (Tuesday) Northern Ireland are the last remaining home nation never to have reached League A in the Nations League, but they’ve got as good a chance as ever.

After four games, they’re top of Group 2 in League B, one point above Hungary and four above Ukraine.

Avoid defeat at home to Ukraine on Saturday and they’ll be guaranteed a top-two finish. But only first place is enough for automatic promotion to League A and that could be very much still in the balance depending on how Hungary do against Georgia.

Unless Northern Ireland win and Hungary lose their fifth fixtures, in which case the former can celebrate early, it’ll be winner-takes-all in Budapest.

Unlike Northern Ireland, Hungary have been in League A before, but they’ll be just as motivated to get back there. There’s still a play-off spot on offer for the runners-up, but the chance to bypass that altogether to reach uncharted territory is a golden one for Michael O’Neill’s side.