What is the situation of the German national soccer team in the Nations League?
After the 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in Amsterdam and the 0-1 draw against Greece in Augsburg, Germany beat Serbia 2-0 in Munich on Thursday. After the first half of the season, Jürgen Klopp's team is in third place with four points. The Serbs have lost all their games, the Greeks are undefeated and seven points ahead; The Dutch have not lost a game yet and currently have five points.
Which games are still coming up for Germany?
At the end of the new international block of four games, this Sunday (8.45 p.m. in the F.A.Z. live ticker for the Nations League and on RTL) will be against Greece in Thessaloniki. In the event of a defeat, first place is unattainable, because in the event of a tie, the direct comparison counts, which the Greeks would have won with two wins. The other second legs will take place later. On November 13th, the German Football Association (DFB) team will play against Serbia in Belgrade, and the final game will be against the Netherlands in Berlin on November 16th. All games start at 8:45 p.m.
What happens after the group games?
The first two teams in the final tables of the four groups of four in the Nations League move into the quarter-finals. These will be played in return matches on March 25th and 30th, 2027. The winners qualify for the “Final Four” with semi-final games on June 9th and 10th. Only one game will be played here, just like the game for third place and the final on June 13th. The host country of the “Final Four” is a participant. In the summer of 2025, games took place in Stuttgart and Munich. However, Germany lost both games under Julian Nagelsmann and finished fourth.
So it doesn't matter whether Germany comes first or second?
No. The first team in the group plays away in the quarter-finals and has home advantage in the second leg. In addition, there is a joker hidden in the first place finish that could still be important in the European Championship qualification. But more on that later.
What happens if Germany doesn't end up in the top two places?
The short answer: Then the “Final Four” will take place without Klopp’s team. The long answer is more complicated. The European Football Union UEFA is reforming the Nations League for the next edition, which starts in September 2028. Then there are no longer groups of four, but groups of six. Therefore, the promotion and relegation mode is now changing.
What consequences would third place have for the German team?
If the Germans are among the two better third parties in the four groups, they will remain in the highest category (League A) of the Nations League, which in the future will consist of 18 instead of 16 teams. Then they start qualifying for the European Championship in March. If the Germans are one of the two worse third parties, they will have to go into relegation in March and will face a group runner-up from League B in the first and second legs. They only stayed in League A as the winner of the duel, otherwise they would be relegated to the new League B, which will also play with 18 teams, divided into three groups of six.
And what happens if the Germans come last in the group?
Here again it is crucial whether they are one of the two better or worse fourth places. The worse ones are relegated directly to League B, the better ones also play in relegation against the runners-up in the current League B.
What consequences does the Nations League have for European Championship qualification?
The start time of qualification for the European Championship finals, which will be played in June and July 2028 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, depends for each team on whether there are still Nations League matches to be played - in the quarter-finals, in the final tournament or in the relegation. These teams get a group of four teams for the European Championship qualification. Otherwise they will compete in a group of five teams and start in March. Even more important: The twelve best teams in League A of the Nations League are in the pot of the best teams in the draw for the European Championship qualification groups on December 6th in Belfast.
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And who will qualify for the European Championships?
As has been usual since 2016, 24 teams will take part in the final round. 20 of them qualify through the European Championship qualification. The winners of the twelve groups have their place just as secure as the eight best runners-up. As mentioned, because of the Nations League there are six groups with four and five teams.
Aren't the host countries automatically qualified again?
No. Due to the final round in Ireland and the United Kingdom with the teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (however, there are no European Championship games there), that would mean five places. UEFA rules allow a maximum of two. Therefore, all teams compete in the qualification, in different groups. Host countries that do not qualify there can then receive an automatic ticket - but no more than two further host places will be awarded this way.
How will the four still free European Championship places be allocated?
Whether there are four at all depends on the number of host tickets. There may only be two spots left. These are awarded in play-off games. Who qualifies for this is very complex.
And what about the bonus for first place in the Nations League?
The Nations League group winners of leagues A, B and C can still make it into the play-offs if they have not managed otherwise. This is how Sweden got to the World Cup last summer. As the last place in the group without a win in the World Cup qualification, first place in the Nations League helped us into the play-offs. That would also be a final joker for Germany if all else fails in the European Championship qualification. But under no circumstances should we lose this Sunday in Greece...
