The first ever winner of UEFA’s Nations League will be decided this week in Portugal.
The four League A winners – Portugal, Holland, England and Switzerland – face-off in two semi-finals, and then a final to see who claims the inaugural Nations League.
The Nations League, to be played every two years, was introduced to get rid of meaningless international friendlies and it has proved popular.
After the four winners were decided, Portugal were chosen as hosts before the semi-final draw was made. Portugal will take on Switzerland in Porto on June 5th, whilst England take on Holland in Guimaraes the following day. The two losers will face off for third place in Guimaraes, whilst the final will be in Porto.
We take a look at each squad, their coach and their odds…
ENGLAND
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Leicester City), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Michael Keane (Everton), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Chelsea), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Declan Rice (West Ham)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)
Coach: Gareth Southgate: “The fact that it is so long since we won anything, first and foremost. We want to be in big matches.
“We have got thousands of fans who are going and looking forward to enjoying the growth of the team and it is an important step for us ahead of next summer as well.
“We are still trying to blood some young players into the group, but the more they experience winning and playing and winning big matches, the better.
“We want them to be excited about the England games and that’s the feeling I have when I travel around the country.”
Tournament odds with bet365: 9/4
HOLLAND
Goalkeepers: Marco Bizot (AZ Alkmaar), Jasper Cillessen (Barcelona), Kenneth Vermeer (Feyenoord)
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Bournemouth), Daley Blind (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Internazionale Milano), Denzel Dumfries (PSV), Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax), Hans Hateboer (Atalanta), Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Davy Propper (Brighton and Hove Albion), Kevin Strootman (Marseille), Donny van de Beek (Ajax), Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord), Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool)
Forwards: Ryan Babel (Fulham), Steven Bergwijn (PSV Eindhoven), Luuk de Jong (PSV Eindhoven), Memphis Depay (Lyon), Quincy Promes (Sevilla)
Coach: Ronald Koeman: “Results have been encouraging, and the fans now see in the players the kind of happiness that they expect from those who represent the national team.
“With Ajax especially doing well in the Champions League, there is a really positive feeling in the country again.”
Tournament odds with bet365: 5/2
PORTUGAL
Goalkeepers: Beto (Goztepe), Jose Sa (Olympiacos), Rui Patrício (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Defenders: Joao Cancelo (Juventus), Nelson Semedo (Barcelona), Jose Fonte (LOSC Lille), Pepe (Porto), Rúben Dias (Benfica), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Mario Rui (Napoli)
Midfielders: Danilo (Porto), Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers), William Carvalho (Real Betis), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting CP), Joao Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Pizzi (Benfica)
Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Joao Felix (SL Benfica), Gonçalo Guedes (Valencia), Rafa Silva (Benfica), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Dyego Sousa (Braga)
Coach: Fernando Santos: “There is one thing I always say to my players, which is that we are no better than anyone else, but hardly anyone is better than us. We have to prove that we have the capacity to win.
“I am convinced that we will have unconditional support in Porto [where Portugal will play Switzerland]. The country is thrilled with its national team and we will try to give back to it.
“With the public behind us, it is easier.”
Tournament odds with bet365: 15/8
SWITZERLAND
Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer (Monchengladbach), Yvon Mvogo (Leipzig), Jonas Omlin (Basel)
Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Dortmund), Loris Benito (Young Boys), Nico Elvedi (Monchengladbach), Michael Lang (Monchengladbach), Kevin Mbabu (Young Boys), Jacques-François Moubandje (Toulouse), Ricardo Rodríguez (Milan), Fabian Schar (Newcastle)
Midfielders: Edimilson Fernandes (Fiorentina), Remo Freuler (Atalanta), Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool), Djibril Sow (Young Boys), Renato Steffen (Wolfsburg), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Denis Zakaria (Monchengladbach), Steven Zuber (Stuttgart), Noah Okafor (Basel)
Forwards: Josip Drmic (Monchengladbach), Haris Seferovic (Benfica), Albian Ajeti (Basel)
Coach: Vladimir Petkovic: “Our goal should be to win the tournament.”
Tournament odds with bet365: 6/1
We also spoke with bet365’s Steve Freeth about the tournament
England were 20/1 shots for Nations League success before their trip to face a Spain side that were unbeaten in competitive games on their own turf for 15 years, but that first half showing in Seville had backers of that price licking their lips.
The Three Lions are now 9/4 and face the Dutch, another side seemingly on the up, in what should be an entertaining clash with a number of talented footballers on show – it should be a cracker