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When is the Uefa Nations League draw? Start time, how to watch, pots and best-case scenario for England

AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images
  1. Nine months on from Portugal's victory in the inaugural Uefa Nations League on home soil, the draw for the 2020 edition of the competition takes place later on Tuesday.

The reigning European champions downed the Netherlands in Porto last June courtesy of a second-half goal from Goncalo Guedes, with England eventually finishing third following a penalty shootout victory over Switzerland that came after an error-strewn extra-time display against the Dutch.

The next instalment of the Nations League - which involves a revised format - offers a place in the 2022 World Cup play-offs for the two highest-ranked group winners who did not qualify outright or reach the World Cup qualifying play-offs.

The four group winners from League A will also qualify for next summer's Nations League finals, while those in Leagues B, C and D will be eyeing promotion while trying to avoid being relegated to the league below.

Danger potentially lurks for England in the form of a star-studded League A second pot containing World Cup winners France and top-ranked Belgium, while another meeting with familiar foes Croatia could also await.

Here's everything you need to know about the Uefa Nations League draw...

When is it?

The 2020 Uefa Nations League draw takes place today (Tuesday March 3), with proceedings set to get underway at 5pm GMT.

Where is it?

The draw is taking place in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, after the 44th Ordinary Uefa Congress.

The Uefa Executive Committee also met in the city on Monday, while Wednesday will involve a series of events marking 100 days until the start of the European Championship.

How to follow?

Uefa will be showing the draw live on their official website. You can also follow the draw as it happens with Standard Sport's LIVE blog.​

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal are the current holders of the Nations League trophy (AFP via Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal are the current holders of the Nations League trophy (AFP via Getty Images)

How does the draw work?

There are 55 teams split into four leagues, with 16 teams in Leagues A, B and C and seven in League D.

Teams are sorted into four pots (two for League D), with all of these places determined by the Uefa National-Team Coefficient Rankings.

The draw starts with Group D and features no potential restrictions as things stand.​

Pots

League A

Pot 1: Portugal, Netherlands, England, Switzerland

Pot 2: Belgium, France, Spain, Italy

Pot 3: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden

Pot 4: Croatia, Poland, Germany, Iceland

England could meet world champions France in League A (Getty Images)
England could meet world champions France in League A (Getty Images)

League B

Pot 1: Russia, Austria, Wales, Czech Republic

Pot 2: Scotland, Norway, Serbia, Finland

Pot 3: Slovakia, Turkey, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland

Pot 4: Bulgaria, Israel, Hungary, Romania

League C

Pot 1: Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Georgia

Pot 2: North Macedonia, Kosovo, Belarus, Cyprus

Pot 3: Estonia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Luxembourg

Pot 4: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldova

League D

Pot 1: Gibraltar, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Liechtenstein

Pot 2: Andorra, Malta, San Marino

Best and worst case scenario for England?

England lost to the Netherlands in the semi-finals in 2019, before beating Switzerland on penalties (AFP via Getty Images)
England lost to the Netherlands in the semi-finals in 2019, before beating Switzerland on penalties (AFP via Getty Images)

Best case: England, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland

Worst case: England, France, Denmark, Germany

When are the matches played?

The initial phase of the competition takes place between September and November, before the finals in June 2021 and relegation play-off games - to determine the teams demoted from League C into the smaller League D - in March 2022.

Here is the full matchday schedule as it stands:

Matchday 1: 3–5 September 2020

Matchday 2: 6–8 September 2020

Matchday 3: 8–10 October 2020

Matchday 4: 11–13 October 2020

Matchday 5: 12–14 November 2020

Matchday 6: 15–17 November 2020

Finals: 2, 3, 6 June 2021

Relegation play-offs: 24, 25, 28, 29 March 2022

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