2022–23 UEFA Nations League B

The 2022–23 UEFA Nations League B was the second division of the 2022–23 edition of the UEFA Nations League, the third season of the international football competition involving the men's national teams of the 55 member associations of UEFA.

2022–23 UEFA Nations League B
Tournament details
Dates2 June – 27 September 2022
Teams16
Promoted Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Israel
 Scotland
 Serbia
Relegated Armenia
 Romania
 Russia
 Sweden
Tournament statistics
Matches played42
Goals scored112 (2.67 per match)
Attendance758,681 (18,064 per match)
Top scorer(s)Norway Erling Haaland
Serbia Aleksandar Mitrović
(6 goals each)

Format

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League B consisted of 16 UEFA members ranked from 17–32 in the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League access list, split into four groups of four. Each team played six matches within their group, using the home-and-away round-robin format in June (quadruple matchdays) and September 2022 (double matchdays).[1] The winners of each group were promoted to the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A, and the fourth-placed team of each group were relegated to the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League C.[2]

Teams

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Team changes

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The following were the team changes in League B from the 2020–21 season:

Incoming
Relegated from
Nations League A
Promoted from
Nations League C
Outgoing
Promoted to
Nations League A
Relegated to
Nations League C

Seeding

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In the 2022–23 access list, UEFA ranked teams based on the 2020–21 Nations League overall ranking.[3] The seeding pots for the league phase were confirmed on 22 September 2021,[4] and were based on the access list ranking.[2]

Pot 1
Team Rank
  Ukraine 17
  Sweden 18
  Bosnia and Herzegovina 19
  Iceland 20
Pot 2
Team Rank
  Finland 21
  Norway 22
  Scotland 23
  Russia 24
Pot 3
Team Rank
  Israel 25
  Romania 26
  Serbia 27
  Republic of Ireland 28
Pot 4
Team Rank
  Slovenia 29
  Montenegro 30
  Albania 31
  Armenia 32

The draw for the league phase took place at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on 16 December 2021, 18:00 CET.[5][6] Each group contained one team from each pot. For political reasons, Russia and Ukraine (due to the Russian military intervention in Ukraine) could not be drawn in the same group. Due to restrictions of excessive travel, Armenia, Israel and Iceland could not all be in the same group.

Groups

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The fixture list was confirmed by UEFA on 17 December 2021, the day following the draw.[7][8] The fixture list for Group 1 was amended due to the postponement of Path A of UEFA qualifying for the World Cup.[9]

Times are CEST (UTC+2), 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   Scotland (P) 6 4 1 1 11 5 +6 13 Promotion to League A 3–0 2–1 2–0
2   Ukraine 6 3 2 1 10 4 +6 11 0–0 1–1 3–0
3   Republic of Ireland 6 2 1 3 8 7 +1 7 3–0 0–1 3–2
4   Armenia (R) 6 1 0 5 4 17 −13 3 Relegation to League C 1–4 0–5 1–0
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Armenia  1–0  Republic of Ireland
  • Spertsyan   74'
Report

Scotland  2–0  Armenia
Report
Attendance: 38,627[11]
Republic of Ireland  0–1  Ukraine
Report
Attendance: 40,111[12]

Ukraine  3–0  Armenia
Report
Republic of Ireland  3–0  Scotland
Report
Attendance: 46,927[15]

Armenia  1–4  Scotland
Report
Ukraine  1–1  Republic of Ireland
Report
Attendance: 10,641[17]

Scotland  3–0  Ukraine
Report
Attendance: 42,846[18]

Armenia  0–5  Ukraine
Report
Scotland  2–1  Republic of Ireland
Report

Republic of Ireland  3–2  Armenia
Report
Attendance: 41,719[21]
Ukraine  0–0  Scotland
Report

Group 2

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation        
1   Israel (P) 4 2 2 0 8 6 +2 8 Promotion to League A 2–2 2–1 Canc.
2   Iceland 4 0 4 0 6 6 0 4 2–2 1–1 Canc.
3   Albania 4 0 2 2 4 6 −2 2 1–2 1–1 Canc.
4   Russia[a] (D) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Banned from tournament Canc. Canc. Canc.
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(D) Disqualified; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. ^ On 2 May 2022, UEFA announced that Russia were suspended and automatically relegated to League C due to their country's invasion of Ukraine.[23]
Albania  Cancelled  Russia
Report
Israel  2–2  Iceland
Report

Iceland  1–1  Albania
Report
Israel  Cancelled  Russia
Report

Albania  1–2  Israel
Report
Attendance: 18,100[26]
Russia  Cancelled  Iceland
Report

Iceland  2–2  Israel
Report
Russia  Cancelled  Albania
Report

Iceland  Cancelled  Russia
Report
Israel  2–1  Albania
Report

Albania  1–1  Iceland
Report
Russia  Cancelled  Israel
Report

Group 3

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation        
1   Bosnia and Herzegovina (P) 6 3 2 1 8 8 0 11 Promotion to League A 3–2 1–0 1–0
2   Finland 6 2 2 2 8 6 +2 8 1–1 2–0 1–1
3   Montenegro 6 2 1 3 6 6 0 7[a] 1–1 0–2 2–0
4   Romania (R) 6 2 1 3 6 8 −2 7[a] Relegation to League C 4–1 1–0 0–3
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Montenegro 6, Romania 0.
Finland  1–1  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Report
Montenegro  2–0  Romania
Report
Attendance: 3,998[31]

Finland  2–0  Montenegro
Report
Bosnia and Herzegovina  1–0  Romania
Report

Montenegro  1–1  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Report
Attendance: 6,555[34]
Romania  1–0  Finland
Report

Bosnia and Herzegovina  3–2  Finland
Report
Romania  0–3  Montenegro
Report

Bosnia and Herzegovina  1–0  Montenegro
Report
Finland  1–1  Romania
Report

Montenegro  0–2  Finland
Report
Romania  4–1  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Report

Group 4

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation        
1   Serbia (P) 6 4 1 1 13 5 +8 13 Promotion to League A 0–1 4–1 4–1
2   Norway 6 3 1 2 7 7 0 10 0–2 0–0 3–2
3   Slovenia 6 1 3 2 6 10 −4 6 2–2 2–1 0–2
4   Sweden (R) 6 1 1 4 7 11 −4 4 Relegation to League C 0–1 1–2 1–1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Serbia  0–1  Norway
Report
Slovenia  0–2  Sweden
Report

Serbia  4–1  Slovenia
Report
Sweden  1–2  Norway
Report
Attendance: 42,320[45]

Norway  0–0  Slovenia
Report
Sweden  0–1  Serbia
Report
Attendance: 24,123[47]

Norway  3–2  Sweden
Report
Attendance: 24,273[48]
Referee: Harm Osmers (Germany)
Slovenia  2–2  Serbia
Report

Slovenia  2–1  Norway
Report
Serbia  4–1  Sweden
Report

Norway  0–2  Serbia
Report
Attendance: 24,364[52]
Sweden  1–1  Slovenia
Report
Attendance: 22,895[53]

Goalscorers

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There were 112 goals scored in 42 matches, for an average of 2.67 goals per match.

6 goals

4 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 2022–23 UEFA Nations League according to the following rules:[2][54][55]

  • 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 Groups 1, 3, and 4 were ranked 29th to 31st according to the results of the league phase.
  • Russia, disqualifed from the competition and automatically ranked fourth in their group, was ranked 32nd. Because the members of group 2 played two fewer matches as a result, teams finishing first, second, and third in groups 1, 3, and 4 had their match results vs. the fourth place team in their groups discarded for the ranking.
Rnk Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
17 B2   Israel 4 2 2 0 8 6 +2 8
18 B3   Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 2 2 0 6 4 +2 8
19 B4   Serbia 4 2 1 1 8 4 +4 7
20 B1   Scotland 4 2 1 1 5 4 +1 7
21 B3   Finland 4 2 1 1 7 4 +3 7
22 B1   Ukraine 4 1 2 1 2 4 −2 5
23 B2   Iceland 4 0 4 0 6 6 0 4
24 B4   Norway 4 1 1 2 2 4 −2 4
25 B4   Slovenia 4 1 2 1 5 7 −2 5
26 B1   Republic of Ireland 4 1 1 2 5 4 +1 4
27 B2   Albania 4 0 2 2 4 6 −2 2
28 B3   Montenegro 4 0 1 3 1 6 −5 1
29 B3   Romania 6 2 1 3 6 8 −2 7
30 B4   Sweden 6 1 1 4 7 11 −4 4
31 B1   Armenia 6 1 0 5 4 17 −13 3
32 B2   Russia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Ranking criteria

Euro 2024 qualifying play-offs

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The four best teams in League B according to the overall ranking that did not qualify for UEFA Euro 2024 through the qualifying group stage were set to compete in the play-offs, with the winners qualifying for the final tournament.[56] As the Path A play-offs had a vacant spot, the next-best ranked unqualified team in League B, Iceland, qualified for the play-offs as well.

League B
Rank Team
17 GW   Israel
18 GW   Bosnia and Herzegovina
19 GW   Serbia
20 GW   Scotland
21   Finland
22   Ukraine
23   Iceland
24   Norway
25   Slovenia
26   Republic of Ireland
27   Albania
28   Montenegro
29   Romania
30   Sweden
31   Armenia
32   Russia

Key

  • GW Group winner from Nations League B
  •   Team qualified directly to final tournament
  •   Team in bold advanced to play-offs
  •  ‡  Banned from qualifying competition

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine were required to play their home matches at neutral venues until further notice.[13]
  2. ^ The Bosnia and Herzegovina v Romania match, originally scheduled to kick-off at 20:45, was delayed to 21:05 due to adverse weather conditions.

References

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  1. ^ "2022/23 UEFA Nations League: All you need to know". UEFA.com. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Regulations of the UEFA Nations League, 2022/23" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Overall ranking of the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  4. ^ "2022/23 UEFA Nations League – league phase draw procedure" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. September 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  5. ^ "2022/23 UEFA Nations League: League phase draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  6. ^ "2022/23 UEFA Nations League: League phase draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  7. ^ "2022/23 Nations League: all the fixtures". UEFA.com. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  8. ^ "UEFA Nations League 2022–23: Fixture list per league" (PDF). UEFA. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  9. ^ "New match schedule for European Qualifiers Play-offs and several UEFA Nations League matches agreed". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Armenia vs. Republic of Ireland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Scotland vs. Armenia" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Republic of Ireland vs. Ukraine" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Decisions from today's extraordinary UEFA Executive Committee meeting". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Ukraine vs. Armenia" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Republic of Ireland vs. Scotland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Armenia vs. Scotland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Ukraine vs. Republic of Ireland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Scotland vs. Ukraine" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Armenia vs. Ukraine" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  20. ^ "Scotland vs. Republic of Ireland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Republic of Ireland vs. Armenia" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Ukraine vs. Scotland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  23. ^ "UEFA decisions for upcoming competitions relating to the ongoing suspension of Russian national teams and clubs". UEFA. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Israel vs. Iceland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Iceland vs. Albania" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  26. ^ "Albania vs. Israel" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Iceland vs. Israel" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  28. ^ "Israel vs. Albania" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  29. ^ "Albania vs. Iceland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  30. ^ "Finland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  31. ^ "Montenegro vs. Romania" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Finland vs. Montenegro" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  33. ^ "Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Romania" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  34. ^ "Montenegro vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  35. ^ "Romania vs. Finland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  36. ^ "Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Finland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  37. ^ "Romania vs. Montenegro" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  38. ^ "Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Montenegro" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  39. ^ "Finland vs. Romania" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  40. ^ "Montenegro vs. Finland" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  41. ^ "Romania vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  42. ^ "Serbia vs. Norway" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  43. ^ "Slovenia vs. Sweden" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  44. ^ "Serbia vs. Slovenia" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  45. ^ "Sweden vs. Norway" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  46. ^ "Norway vs. Slovenia" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  47. ^ "Sweden vs. Serbia" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  48. ^ "Norway vs. Sweden" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  49. ^ "Slovenia vs. Serbia" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  50. ^ "Slovenia vs. Norway" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  51. ^ "Serbia vs. Sweden" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  52. ^ "Norway vs. Serbia" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  53. ^ "Sweden vs. Slovenia" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  54. ^ "UEFA Executive Committee decisions on the impact and consequences resulting from the ongoing suspension of Russian representative teams and clubs in UEFA competitions and other matters". UEFA Circular Letter. No. 21/2022. Union of European Football Associations. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  55. ^ "Overall ranking of the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  56. ^ "Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship, 2022–24". Union of European Football Associations. 10 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
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