Nations League games offer last chance to prepare for World Cup

A hectic schedule of club football ahead of the World Cup is interrupted this week as national teams get a last chance to finetune their preparations before travelling to Qatar for the start of the tournament on November 20.

Holding the World Cup in the middle of the European season is having major consequences for clubs but also for coaches of national teams.

While domestic competitions bear the brunt of the upheaval to the calendar as they are forced to halt a week before the opening game in Qatar, that also means there will be next to no time for squads to work together before beginning their World Cup campaigns.

Extra importance is therefore placed on events over the next week, as European sides complete the UEFA Nations League group stage while other contenders play friendly matches, including back-to-back games for Brazil on French soil against Ghana and Tunisia.

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French concerns

Reigning world champions France are preparing to defend the crown they won in Russia in 2018 while simultaneously trying to avoid being relegated from the top tier of the Nations League.

Les Bleus, who won the Nations League last year, host Austria on Thursday and visit Denmark on Sunday needing to win both games to be sure of remaining in League A.

But France coach Didier Deschamps has numerous issues, not least injuries to key players including Paul Pogba -- he is recovering from a knee operation which has left him facing a race against time to be fit for Qatar.

"He will do everything to try to be fit as quickly as possible, despite the lack of time," Deschamps told broadcaster TF1 on Sunday.

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It is also too early to say if a dispute between Kylian Mbappe and the French Football Federation over image rights could impact squad morale, with the Paris Saint-Germain star refusing to take part in a photo shoot on Monday.

France's latest squad features several new faces who are hoping to seize their chance to impress before final lists must be submitted to FIFA by November 13.

Toney gets England chance

England manager Gareth Southgate has handed an opportunity to Brentford forward Ivan Toney as the Euro 2020 runners-up play Italy and Germany in Nations League A3.

Like France, England suffered a series of poor results in June and so realistically need to win both of these games to avoid relegation to League B.

But Southgate will run the rule over an expanded 28-man squad with Qatar in mind.

"Part of the rationale is that we are very close to a World Cup and we feel, although our results were disappointing in the summer, we have picked on the basis of form and capability over a long period," Southgate said last week.

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Spain and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will warm up for the World Cup by meeting in Braga on September 27 in a game that could decide which of the Iberian neighbours advances to the Nations League finals next June.

Meanwhile, fresh from signing a new four-year deal, Wales manager Robert Page has named Los Angeles FC's Gareth Bale in his squad for games against Belgium and Poland.

Wales look set to be relegated from their Nations League group too, but that is not something that will concern them too much before they return to the World Cup stage for the first time since 1958.

Notable UEFA Nations League matches this week (kick-offs 1845 GMT)

Thursday

Group A1

France v Austria

Croatia v Denmark

Group A4

Belgium v Wales

Poland v Netherlands

Friday

Group A3

Germany v Hungary

Italy v England

Saturday

Group A2

Spain v Switzerland

Czech Republic v Portugal

Group B4

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Serbia v Sweden

Sunday

Group A1

Austria v Croatia

Denmark v France

Group A4

Netherlands v Belgium

Wales v Poland

Monday, September 26

Group A3

England v Germany

Hungary v Italy

Tuesday, September 27

Group A2

Switzerland v Czech Republic

Portugal v Spain

Group B4

Norway v Serbia