2020–21 UEFA Nations League B

The 2020–21 UEFA Nations League B was the second division of the 2020–21 edition of the UEFA Nations League, the second season of the international football competition involving the men's national teams of the 55 member associations of UEFA.[1]

2020–21 UEFA Nations League B
Tournament details
Dates3 September – 18 November 2020
Teams16
Promoted Austria
 Czech Republic
 Hungary
 Wales
Relegated Northern Ireland
 Slovakia
 Turkey
 Bulgaria
Tournament statistics
Matches played47
Goals scored104 (2.21 per match)
Attendance28,883 (615 per match)
Top scorer(s)Norway Erling Haaland (6 goals)

Format

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Following a format change from the first season, League B was expanded from 12 to 16 teams.[2] The league consisted of UEFA members ranked from 17 to 32 in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League overall ranking, split into four groups of four. Each team played six matches within their group, using the home-and-away round-robin format on double matchdays in September, October and November 2020.[3] The winners of each group were promoted to the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League A, and the fourth-placed team of each group was relegated to the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C.[4]

Teams

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Team changes

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The following were the team changes of League B from the 2018–19 season:

Incoming
Promoted from
Nations League C
Group winners:
Following format change:
Outgoing
Promoted to
Nations League A

The following team changes were initially set to occur in League B, but did not after no teams were relegated due to the format change by UEFA:

Incoming
Initially relegated from
Nations League A
Outgoing
Initially relegated to
Nations League C

Seeding

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In the 2020–21 access list, UEFA ranked teams based on the 2018–19 Nations League overall ranking, with a slight modification: teams that were originally relegated in the previous season were ranked immediately below teams promoted prior to the format change.[5][6] The seeding pots for the league phase were confirmed 4 December 2019,[7] and were based on the access list ranking.[4][8]

Pot 1
Team Rank
  Russia 17
  Austria 18
  Wales 19
  Czech Republic 20
Pot 2
Team Rank
  Scotland 21
  Norway 22
  Serbia 23
  Finland 24
Pot 3
Team Rank
  Slovakia 25
  Turkey 26
  Republic of Ireland 27
  Northern Ireland 28
Pot 4
Team Rank
  Bulgaria 29
  Israel 30
  Hungary 31
  Romania 32

The draw for the league phase took place at the Beurs van Berlage Conference Centre in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 3 March 2020, 18:00 CET.[9][10][11][12] Each group contained one team from each pot.

Groups

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The original fixture list was confirmed by UEFA on 3 March 2020 following the draw.[13] On 17 June 2020, the UEFA Executive Committee adjusted the league phase schedule for October and November 2020 to allow for the completion of the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs.[14][15] Following the change, a revised schedule for the October and November 2020 fixtures was released by UEFA on 26 June 2020.[16][17]

Times are CET/CEST,[note 1] as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).

Group 1

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation        
1   Austria (P) 6 4 1 1 9 6 +3 13 Promotion to League A 1–1 2–3 2–1
2   Norway 6 3 1 2 12 7 +5 10 1–2 4–0 1–0
3   Romania 6 2 2 2 8 9 −1 8 0–1 3–0[a] 1–1
4   Northern Ireland (R) 6 0 2 4 4 11 −7 2 Relegation to League C 0–1 1–5 1–1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ The Romania v Norway match was awarded as a 3–0 win to Romania after being cancelled as Norway could not travel to the match due to a positive SARS-CoV-2 test in the team.
Norway  1–2  Austria
  • Haaland   66'
Report
Romania  1–1  Northern Ireland
Report

Austria  2–3  Romania
Report
Northern Ireland  1–5  Norway
Report

Norway  4–0  Romania
Report
Northern Ireland  0–1  Austria
Report

Norway  1–0  Northern Ireland
Report
Romania  0–1  Austria
Report

Austria  2–1  Northern Ireland
Report
Romania  3–0
Awarded[note 4]
  Norway
Report

Austria  1–1  Norway
Report
Northern Ireland  1–1  Romania
Report

Group 2

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation        
1   Czech Republic (P) 6 4 0 2 9 5 +4 12 Promotion to League A 1–2 1–0 2–0
2   Scotland 6 3 1 2 5 4 +1 10 1–0 1–1 1–0
3   Israel 6 2 2 2 7 7 0 8 1–2 1–0 1–1
4   Slovakia (R) 6 1 1 4 5 10 −5 4 Relegation to League C 1–3 1–0 2–3
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Scotland  1–1  Israel
Report
Slovakia  1–3  Czech Republic
Report

Czech Republic  1–2  Scotland
Report
Israel  1–1  Slovakia
Report

Israel  1–2  Czech Republic
Report
Scotland  1–0  Slovakia
Report
Attendance: 93[37]
Referee: Davide Massa (Italy)

Scotland  1–0  Czech Republic
Report
Attendance: 299[38]
Slovakia  2–3  Israel
Report

Slovakia  1–0  Scotland
Report
Czech Republic  1–0  Israel
Report

Czech Republic  2–0  Slovakia
Report
Israel  1–0  Scotland
Report

Group 3

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation        
1   Hungary (P) 6 3 2 1 7 4 +3 11 Promotion to League A 2–3 1–1 2–0
2   Russia 6 2 2 2 9 12 −3 8 0–0 3–1 1–1
3   Serbia 6 1 3 2 9 7 +2 6[a] 0–1 5–0 0–0
4   Turkey (R) 6 1 3 2 6 8 −2 6[a] Relegation to League C 0–1 3–2 2–2
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head-to-head points (2) and head-to-head goal difference (0). Head-to-head away goals: Serbia 2, Turkey 0.
Russia  3–1  Serbia
Report
Turkey  0–1  Hungary
Report

Hungary  2–3  Russia
Report
Serbia  0–0  Turkey
Report

Russia  1–1  Turkey
Report
Attendance: 5,019[48]
Referee: Matej Jug (Slovenia)
Serbia  0–1  Hungary
Report

Russia  0–0  Hungary
Report
Attendance: 4,821[50]
Turkey  2–2  Serbia
Report

Turkey  3–2  Russia
Report
Hungary  1–1  Serbia
Report

Hungary  2–0  Turkey
Report
Serbia  5–0  Russia
Report

Group 4

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation        
1   Wales (P) 6 5 1 0 7 1 +6 16 Promotion to League A 3–1 1–0 1–0
2   Finland 6 4 0 2 7 5 +2 12 0–1 1–0 2–0
3   Republic of Ireland 6 0 3 3 1 4 −3 3 0–0 0–1 0–0
4   Bulgaria (R) 6 0 2 4 2 7 −5 2 Relegation to League C 0–1 1–2 1–1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Bulgaria  1–1  Republic of Ireland
Report
Finland  0–1  Wales
Report

Wales  1–0  Bulgaria
Report
Republic of Ireland  0–1  Finland
Report

Republic of Ireland  0–0  Wales
Report
Finland  2–0  Bulgaria
Report

Finland  1–0  Republic of Ireland
Report
Bulgaria  0–1  Wales
Report

Bulgaria  1–2  Finland
Report
Wales  1–0  Republic of Ireland
Report

Republic of Ireland  0–0  Bulgaria
Report
Wales  3–1  Finland
Report

Goalscorers

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There were 104 goals scored in 47 matches, for an average of 2.21 goals per match.

6 goals

5 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Overall ranking

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The 16 League B teams were ranked 17th to 32nd overall in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League according to the following rules:[4][68]

  • The teams finishing first in the groups were ranked 17th to 20th according to the results of the league phase.
  • The teams finishing second in the groups were ranked 21st to 24th according to the results of the league phase.
  • The teams finishing third in the groups were ranked 25th to 28th according to the results of the league phase.
  • The teams finishing fourth in the groups were ranked 29th to 32nd according to the results of the league phase.
Rnk Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
17 B4   Wales 6 5 1 0 7 1 +6 16
18 B1   Austria 6 4 1 1 9 6 +3 13
19 B2   Czech Republic 6 4 0 2 9 5 +4 12
20 B3   Hungary 6 3 2 1 7 4 +3 11
21 B4   Finland 6 4 0 2 7 5 +2 12
22 B1   Norway 6 3 1 2 12 7 +5 10
23 B2   Scotland 6 3 1 2 5 4 +1 10
24 B3   Russia 6 2 2 2 9 12 −3 8
25 B2   Israel 6 2 2 2 7 7 0 8
26 B1   Romania 6 2 2 2 8 9 −1 8
27 B3   Serbia 6 1 3 2 9 7 +2 6
28 B4   Republic of Ireland 6 0 3 3 1 4 −3 3
29 B3   Turkey 6 1 3 2 6 8 −2 6
30 B2   Slovakia 6 1 1 4 5 10 −5 4
31 B4   Bulgaria 6 0 2 4 2 7 −5 2
32 B1   Northern Ireland 6 0 2 4 4 11 −7 2
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Ranking criteria

Notes

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  1. ^ CEST (UTC+2) for matchdays 1–4 (September and October 2020), CET (UTC+1) for matchdays 5–6 (November 2020).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, all matches scheduled for September 2020 were played behind closed doors.[19][20]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, the match was played behind closed doors.
  4. ^ The Romania v Norway match was cancelled and awarded as a 3–0 win to Romania after the Norway national team were prohibited from travelling to Romania by the Norwegian government due to a positive SARS-CoV-2 test in the squad.[29]

References

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  1. ^ "UEFA Nations League receives associations' green light". UEFA. 27 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Format change for 2020/21 UEFA Nations League". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  3. ^ "UEFA Nations League: all you need to know". UEFA.com. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Regulations of the UEFA Nations League, 2020/21" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 13 October 2019. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  5. ^ "How the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League will line up". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  6. ^ "UEFA Nations League 2021/21 overall ranking" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  7. ^ "UEFA Executive Committee agenda for Nyon meeting". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  8. ^ "2020/21 UEFA Nations League – league phase draw procedure" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  9. ^ "League Phase Draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Game changer: group stage for UEFA Women's Champions League". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
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  12. ^ "44th Ordinary UEFA Congress in Amsterdam". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
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  14. ^ "Nations League group stage in September, October and November". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  15. ^ "UEFA competitions to resume in August". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
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  59. ^ "Republic of Ireland vs. Finland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
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