Soccer players from Croatia and the Netherlands became the first two participants in the Final Four of the League of Nations.
The Croatian team won 3:1 in Austria and won Group A1. In the derby between the two Benelux countries, the Netherlands defeated Belgium 1:0 and dominated the table of the fourth elite group.
In view of the great 4:1 win in Belgium, it was enough for the Netherlands not to lose by three or more goals in the home rematch. Home captain Van Dijk decided the long-matched match with a header from a corner in the 73rd minute.
The Dutch won five times and drew once in six group matches and went through to the Final Four the second time. In the first year of the League of Nations, they finished second behind the victorious Portugal.
The Croatians, after their last win over Denmark, had progress in their hands and all they had to do was win in Austria. The home team reacted quickly to Modric’s leading goal in the beginning, but in the middle of the second half Livaja and Lovren decided with two “glued” goals after headers. The reigning world runners-up will play in the Final Four for the first time.
Even a surprising 2-0 victory over France was not enough for the Danes to advance. The reigning world champions did not go well in the third year of the League of Nations and finished third in the group, one point ahead of last place Austria.
The remaining two participants in the Final Four, scheduled for June next year, will be decided on Monday and Tuesday.
Slovakia did not win even in the second game under the new Italian coach Francesco Calzona and ended their appearance in group C3 with a 1:1 draw with Belarus.
The Outsider, already certain of relegation to the lowest league D, opened the scoring just before the break. Bachar scored from the only Belarusian shot in the match. In the 65th minute, Zreľák saved the Slovakians, who unexpectedly lost to Azerbaijan at home on Thursday, from further embarrassment.
Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and travel restrictions for Belarusians, the match was played in the Serbian town of Bačka Topola. The result could no longer change the fact that the Slovaks will remain in League C. In the last match, Azerbaijan defeated Kazakhstan 3:0, which already had a certain promotion to League B.
The next promotion to Division B is Turkey, who surprisingly lost 1-2 in the Faroe Islands, assured of participation in the higher league. The November opponent of the Czech team in the upcoming preparatory match in Olomouc scored one of the most valuable scalps in its national team history.
Latvia secured promotion to League C from the lowest level D1 after a 1:1 draw in Andorra.
The final 6th round of the Nations League football:
Group A1:
Denmark – France 2:0 (2:0)
Branky: 34. Dolberg, 39. Skov Olsen.
Austria – Croatia 1:3 (1:1)
Goals: 9. Baumgartner – 6. Modrič, 69. Livaja, 72. Lovren.
| 1. | Croatia | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8:6 | 13 |
| 2. | Denmark | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9:5 | 12 |
| 3. | Francie | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5:7 | 5 |
| 4. | Austria | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6:10 | 4 |
Group A4:
Wales – Poland 0: 1 (0: 0)
Branka: 58. Šwiderski.
Netherlands – Belgium 1:0 (0:0)
Branka: 73. Van Dijk.
| 1. | The Netherlands | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14:6 | 16 |
| 2. | Belgium | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11:8 | 10 |
| 3. | Poland | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6:12 | 7 |
| 4. | Wales | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6:11 | 1 |
Group C1:
Faroe Islands – Turkey 2:1 (0:0)
Branky: 51. Davidsen, 59. Edmundsson – 89. Gürler.
Luxembourg – Lithuania 1:0 (0:0)
Branka: 89. Rodrigues.
| 1. | Turkey | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 18:5 | 13 |
| 2. | Luxembourg | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9:7 | 11 |
| 3. | Faroe Islands | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7:10 | 8 |
| 4. | Lithuania | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2:14 | 1 |
Group C3:
Azerbaijan – Kazakhstan 3:0 (0:0)
Goals: 66th own Maročkin, 74th Ozobič, 90th +1 Nurijev. ČK: 35. Alip (Kaz.).
Slovakia – Belarus 1:1 (0:1)
Goals: 65. Zrelák – 45. Bachar.
| 1. | Kazakhstan | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8:6 | 13 |
| 2. | Azerbaijan | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7:4 | 10 |
| 3. | Slovakia | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5:6 | 7 |
| 4. | Belarus | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3:7 | 3 |
Group D1:
Andorra – Latvia 1:1 (0:0)
Branky: 88. Ross – 50. Gutkovskis.
Moldova – Liechtenstein 2:0 (0:0).
Goals: 90.+2 and 90.+4 Stina.
| 1. | Latvia | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12:5 | 13 |
| 2. | Moldova | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10:6 | 13 |
| 3. | Andorra | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6:7 | 8 |
| 4. | Lichtenstein | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1:11 | 0 |
