England’s drop to League B in the 2024 UEFA Nations League has left the team short of high-caliber competition. While top European sides like France, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands clashed in League A, England faced lower-ranked opponents: Greece (48th), Republic of Ireland (62nd), and Finland (64th).
The Three Lions claimed five wins out of six matches, with only a surprising home defeat to Greece marring their record. Meanwhile, England has dominated their World Cup qualifying campaign, winning every game without conceding a goal. However, this impressive streak raises concerns that the squad could enter next summer’s tournament under-prepared.
Experimenting during the Nations League was limited, as Lee Carsley managed the team on an interim basis following Gareth Southgate’s exit. Planned friendlies in the U.S. this June were canceled after England ended up in a five-team World Cup group. The few available friendly dates were also complicated by other confederations’ ongoing qualifiers.
Since Euro 2024, the highest-ranked team England has faced is Senegal (19th), a match they lost 3-1 at the City Ground. Their most notable victory over a ranked side was a 3-0 win against Wales (30th) in an October friendly. With limited exposure to elite competition, England’s readiness for major tournaments remains under scrutiny.
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