League C is the third-tier of the UEFA Nations League pyramid.
All 4 teams function 4 groups who will play each-other dwelling and away.
The 4 group winners can be promoted to League B.
The 4 bottom-placed groups will compete in relegation play-outs in March 2024 with the 2 losers relegated to League D.
Group 1: Turkey, Luxembourg, Lithuania & Faroe Islands
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – OCTOBER 11: Ozan Kabak (22) of Turkey reacts through the UEFA Nations League B – Group 3 match between Russia and Turkey at Dinamo Stadium in Moscow, Russia on October 11, 2020. (Picture by Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Company through Getty Photos)
Following their embarrassing relegation in 2020, Turkey are aiming to spend as little time as potential in League C.
Two years in the past, the Crescent-Stars received simply one among their six Nations League video games, ending backside of a bunch containing Hungary, Russia and Serbia.
Extra broadly, it’s been a tricky interval for Turkey, who additionally misplaced all three matches at Euro 2020 earlier than lacking out on World Cup qualification.
Stefan Kuntz’s aspect did sneak right into a Qatar 2022 play-off place, however then noticed their goals shattered by a 3-1 defeat to Portugal in March.
Nonetheless, Turkey must be far too robust at this stage and are heavy favourites to take high spot.
Don’t write off Luxembourg although after they collected 9 factors from eight World Cup qualifiers final yr.
The Crimson Lions beat Republic of Eire in Dublin and Azerbaijan twice, securing their strongest-ever qualification marketing campaign, by way of factors per recreation.
Within the Nations League, Luc Holtz’s group have received six of 12 matches up to now, narrowly lacking out on promotion behind Montenegro in 2020.
Whereas Luxembourg can be hoping to problem Turkey for high spot, the opposite two groups want to keep away from coming dead-last.
Faroe Islands received promotion to this tier two years in the past, going via their League D marketing campaign unbeaten.
If Håkan Ericson’s aspect are to keep away from the dreaded relegation play-outs, they’ll in all probability be trying to pip Lithuania to 3rd.
This’ll be Lithuania’s third consecutive season in League C, successful simply two of 12 matches up to now, shedding eight of them.
Valdas Ivanauskas’ group have solely crushed Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Albania in aggressive video games since to October 2016, so may very well be at risk.
Prediction: 1st- Turkey. 2nd- Luxembourg. Third- Faroe Islands. 4th- Lithuania.
Group 2: Northern Eire, Greece, Kosovo & Cyprus
Greece’s followers wave the Greek nationwide flag through the World Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match Belgium vs Greece on March 25, 2017 on the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels. / AFP PHOTO / Belga / YORICK JANSENS / Belgium OUT (Picture credit score ought to learn YORICK JANSENS/AFP through Getty Photos)
Former European Championship winners Greece are the headline act in Group 2.
Between 2004 and 2014, the Sky Blues and Whites featured at six main event, notably successful the European Championships 18 years in the past.
Nevertheless, since going out of Brazil 2014 to Costa Rica on penalties, they’ve didn’t qualify for all 4 World Cups and Euros.
In Nations League phrases, this’ll be Greece’s third successive season in League C, ending two factors behind group-winners Slovenia two years in the past.
New Head Coach Gus Poyet will definitely be concentrating on promotion this time, with Northern Eire prone to be their largest challengers.
That is the Inexperienced and White Military’s first marketing campaign at this stage having suffered relegation in 2020.
In truth, Northern Eire have by no means received a match on this competitors in ten makes an attempt, one thing Ian Baraclough’s group can be trying to put proper.
Having ended 2021 with a goalless draw towards European Champions Italy, they arrive into this League C marketing campaign in assured temper.
Cyprus nearly survived at this stage final day trip, ousting Estonia 2-0 within the relegation play-outs in March.
That huge victory in Larnaca is simply Cyprus’ third win from 14 Nations League video games, type that’ll actually want to enhance.
Kosovo, who full the quartet, solely simply survived at this stage too, beating Moldova 1-0 on matchday six in Pristina two years in the past.
The Dardanians have solely received two of their final 17 aggressive matches, so are prone to be preventing Cyprus, with each making an attempt to keep away from the play-outs.
Prediction: 1st- Northern Eire. 2nd- Greece. Third- Kosovo. 4th- Cyprus.
Group 3: Slovakia, Belarus, Azerbaijan & Kazakhstan
Slovakia supporters wave the nationwide flag through the Euro 2016 group B soccer match between Slovakia and England on the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Étienne on June 20, 2016. / AFP / PAUL ELLIS (Picture credit score ought to learn PAUL ELLIS/AFP through Getty Photos)
On paper, Group 3 comprises one clear front-runner alongside three weaker sides, all of whom can be content material to not end backside.
Slovakia are the overwhelming favourites to win promotion after they have been relegated final time spherical.
The Falcons have solely received two of ten Nations League matches up to now however, now competing at a decrease stage, this ratio is prone to vastly enhance.
If Štefan Tarkovič’s aspect don’t win this group at a canter, it might be a significant shock.
Under them, there’s little or no to separate the opposite three sides.
Kazakhstan solely survived at this stage by the pores and skin of their tooth, beating Moldova in March’s relegation play-out after a nerve-shredding penalty shootout.
Extra broadly, the Hawks have solely received seven of their final 55 aggressive internationals, relationship again to September 2013.
Equally, Azerbaijan solely received as soon as on this competitors two years in the past however, nearly, survived, ending two factors away from Cyprus.
Gianni De Biasi’s aspect come into this version winless in 12 aggressive fixtures, solely successful one among their final 25.
Given all of this, Belarus can be assured of staying up, regardless of having misplaced their final seven matches, conceding 22 targets within the course of.
On this competitors although, the White Wings have truly received seven of their 12 video games up to now, together with beating Kazakhstan dwelling and away in 2020.
Georgi Kondratiev’s group can be handicapped by the actual fact they’re taking part in all dwelling matches behind closed doorways at Stadion Karađorđe in Serbia.
That is as a result of nation’s involvement within the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Prediction: 1st- Slovakia. 2nd- Belarus. Third- Kazakhstan. 4th- Azerbaijan.
Group 4: Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Georgia & Gibraltar
Ezgjan Alioski celebrates with teammates after scoring his group’s first objective through the UEFA EURO 2020 Group C match between Ukraine and North Macedonia at Enviornment Națională in Bucharest on June 17, 2021. (Picture by MARKO DJURICA / POOL / AFP) (Picture by MARKO DJURICA/POOL/AFP through Getty Photos)
In distinction, high spot in Group 4 may be very a lot up for grabs.
North Macedonia have loved unparalleled success within the final couple of years, making their main event debut at Euro 2020.
The Crimson Lynxes truly certified through their efficiency within the Nations League and, up to now, have received seven of 12 fixtures on this competitors.
Final time spherical, they missed out on back-to-back promotions, pipped to high spot by Armenia, ending up a mere two factors beneath.
Extra lately, Blagoja Milevski’s aspect virtually certified for the World Cup, astonishingly knocking out Italy in Palermo throughout March’s play-offs.
Nevertheless, North Macedonia couldn’t fairly full the fairytale, taking place 2-0 to Portugal at Estádio do Dragão within the remaining 5 days later.
So, regardless of being the top-seeds, Bulgaria are usually not the favourites to achieve promotion straight again to League B.
The Lions are presently with out a victory in 9 Nations League video games, shedding 5 of them, and have been relegated with simply two factors in 2020.
Yasen Petrov’s kick off by welcoming North Macedonia to Razgrad on 2 June; this’ll be an early litmus check of each’s promotion credentials.
In the meantime, Gibraltar are the rank-outsiders on this part after they have been promoted from League D two years in the past.
Julio César Ribas’ aspect collected eight factors towards Liechtenstein and San Marino, however must up their recreation additional in the event that they’re to outlive.
Equally, Georgia breezed via League D in 2018, however discovered life at this stage more difficult two years later.
The Crusaders solely misplaced as soon as however solely received as soon as in 2020 so, on the very least, can be trying to stay at this stage this as soon as extra.
Prediction: 1st- North Macedonia. 2nd- Bulgaria. Third- Georgia. 4th- Gibraltar.