Our betting experts look ahead to some big international football betting with our UEFA Nations League Preview.
The UEFA Nations League starts on Wednesday, June 1st with Poland v Wales kicking off the new season of the international competition.
With the Nations League working on a promotion and relegation format for the small groups, there are new things to look at this season.
In this UEFA Nations League preview, we look at what is about to shake-down in League A, the top tier.
UEFA Nations League Tips – Outright winner odds
France 7/2
Spain 6/1
England 6/1
Belgium 7/1
Italy 7/1
Germany 8/1
Portugal 8/1
Netherlands 10/1
Denmark 20/1
Croatia 25/1
50/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 21:44 GMT on 30th May 2022 at Bet365)
Who are the reigning champions?
France got their hands on the crown in 2021 with a 2-1 victory in the Final against Spain.
The Spaniards had made the first breakthrough in the match, which just spurred France into life.
Karin Benzema drew the match level just two minutes after Spain had netted their opener before Kylian Mbappe secured the title for Les Blues in the 80th minute.
When are the UEFA Nations League Finals 2022/23?
The four qualifying teams from League A will move forward to the Finals. They will be held in June 2023.
The winner of Group A4 will be the hosts of the Nations League Finals. That is because Belgium, Netherlands, Poland and Wales all submitted interest in hosting next summer and all four are in the same group.
UEFA Nations League Preview – About the competition
55 teams are in action in the UEFA Nations League, which is split into Leagues.
Leagues A, B and C all have four groups, while Group D has two groups.
Promotion is the reward for the top finisher in each group, with no relegation happening from Group D.
Promotion and relegation work on teams going to the corresponding group above or below.
For example, the League B Group 4 winner wins from last season, Wales, got promoted to League A Group 4.
Iceland who were relegated from League A Group 2, will play in League B Group 2 for the forthcoming season.
The teams in each group meet home and away for a total of six fixtures each.
The top teams from each group in League A go through to the UEFA Nations League semi-finals knockout.
The UEFA Nations League serves as an extra qualification chance for the European Championships.
If a team fails to automatically qualify for Euro 2024, then their performance in the Nations League could get them to the Euro 2024 qualification playoffs.
League A Group 1 UEFA Nations League Preview
2022 is going to be a big year for France as they look to put together the first steps in a Nations League title defence, as well as defending their World Cup crown later in the year.
France are the current 7/2 outright favourites to win the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League* (odds recorded at 21:44 GMT on 30th May 2022 at Ladbrokes).
In Group 1 they face Denmark, Croatia and Austria and it’s hard to see Les Bleus faltering anywhere in that line-up.
They were with Croatia in the previous edition, along with Portugal and Croatia and France claimed a W5 D1 record from their six matches.
This season’s campaign on paper looks a lot easier than that one did and France are 4/7 odds-on favourites to win Group 1 in Nations League Odds* (odds recorded at 21:44 GMT on 30th May 2022 at Ladbrokes).
At the other end of things, Austria, who were promoted from Group B1 last edition, are the 14/1 outsiders* (odds recorded at 21:44 GMT on 30th May 2022 at Ladbrokes)
League A Group 1 Winner Odds To Win
France 4/7, Denmark 11/4, Croatia 6/1, Austria 14/1
* (odds recorded at 21:44 GMT on 30th May 2022 at Bet365)
League A Group 2 UEFA Nations League Preview
Spain go as the favourites to land the top spot in Group 2 in this campaign. Their biggest challenger is likely going to be Portugal.
It would be a major upset if it wasn’t one of those two who finish top of the UEFA Nations League section.
Spain reached the finals of the last editions, going down in the Final against France by a 2-1 scoreline in October 2021.
Portugal claimed 13 points from their group stage campaign, but it wasn’t enough to beat France to the punch.
League A Group 2 Odds
Spain evens, Portugal 11/8, Switzerland 6/1, Czech Republic 20/1
* (odds recorded at 21:44 GMT on 30th May 2022 at Bet365)
League A Group 3 UEFA Nations League Preview
England will be rattling around Group 3 and it’s the toughest of the groups in the top tier of the UEFA Nations League this season.
That having been said Gareth Southgate’s England are the 4/6 favourites to top Group 3* (odds recorded at 21:44 GMT on 30th May 2022 at Bet365).
Euro 2020 runners-up England, will face Germany, Italy and Hungary in their section.
The Italians, who beat England in the Euro 2020 Final, did make the semifinals of the last UEFA Nations League tournament.
The Azzurri lost to Spain, before beating Belgium in the third-place playoff match.
Germany had faced Spain in the group stage and had come off second best to the Spaniards after Los Rojos had hammered them 6-0 at home.
It’s easily the toughest group to call for UEFA Nations League betting, but it will be a great workout for each of them ahead of this year’s World Cup.
League A Group 3 Odds To Win
England 6/4, Germany 9/4, Italy 13/8, Hungary 50/1
* (odds recorded at 21:44 GMT on 30th May 2022 at Bet365)
England Fixtures
4th June – Hungary v England
7th June – Germany v England
11th June – England v Italy
14th June – England v Hungary
23rd September – Italy v England
26th September – England v Germany
League A Group 4 UEFA Nations League Preview
Wales did a fantastic job of earning a promotion to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League in the last edition.
They now to get to fight it out to try and maintain that status.
They have the opening match of the new season against Poland on June 1st.
It’s going to be a tough one to claim the top spot, as the group also contains Belgium and the Netherlands, with the former the odds-on favourites to top the section.
Belgium made it to the last Finals but was knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual winners France.
Still, the Red Devils look the ones to beat, but the Netherlands are not to be taken lightly.
League A Group 4 Odds
Belgium 1011/, Netherlands 5/4, Poland 9/1, Wales 20/1
* (odds recorded at 21:44 GMT on 30th May 2022 at Bet365)
Wales Fixtures
1st June – Poland v Wales
8th June – Wales v Netherlands
11th June – Wales – Belgium
14th June – Netherlands v Wales
22nd September – Belgium v Wales
25th September – Wales v Poland
Don’t miss out on UEFA Nations League Betting Tips & Predictions
