Germany are red-hot favourites to prevail in Saturday’s Nations League Group A4 clash with Ukraine and are hard to oppose in Leipzig. However, Die Mannschaft have found it tough to keep clean sheets in competitive matches, so the visitors may well have their moments at Red Bull Arena.
Croatia only need a point from their trip to Sweden to avoid being relegated from Nations League Group A3 and may settle for a share of the spoils in Solna. The Blazers looked the better team for long periods when beating the Swedes 2-1 in Zagreb last month but a change of venue can even things up.
Iceland have faced some top teams in a very tough schedule of late and that could stand them in good stead for taking on Hungary in their Euro 2020 play-off final. Erik Hamren has named a vastly-experienced squad for the trip to Budapest and they may just have too much nouse for the Magyars.
Georgia and North Macedonia have drawn a couple of Nations League matches in recent months and another close encounter is on the cards in their Euro 2020 play-off final. Both are unbeaten in three other fixtures this year and everything suggests they are two evenly-matched outfits ahead of this Tbilisi tussle.
Ireland have stepped in to provide England with opposition for a friendly match in preparation for their Nations League games against Belgium and Iceland. New Zealand were originally due to be the opponents at Wembley but pulled out due to travel complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Netherlands have been hit with some injury problems at the back for the latest international break and Spain are fancied to take advantage in Amsterdam. La Roja will be keen to bounce back from a surprise Nations League loss to Ukraine last time out and have several in-form front men at the moment.
Scotland have drawn the short straw in the Euro 2020 play-off finals by having to visit Serbia but travel in fine spirits following a fine run of results. Their hosts can call on a number of top-class individuals, but have been inconsistent in recent times and could be worth taking on at the odds on offer.
Northern Ireland and Slovakia both needed penalties to reach the Euro 2020 play-off finals and another tight tussle is expected in Belfast. The visitors are rated a superior side on paper, but past evidence shows they do not travel well and that should ensure a cagey contest at Windsor Park.
Bayern won all 11 games in last season’s superb Champions League triumph and will look to pick up where they left off when entertaining Atletico. Los Colchoneros are always tough to beat and invariably make it through to the latter stages themselves, but FC Hollywood have an aura of invincibility right now.
Wales dropped points for the first time at the weekend but are top of their Nations League group ahead of the trip to Bulgaria. Ryan Giggs’ men had to settle for a goalless draw against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin but lead the way in Group H with seven points from their first three fixtures.
Norway thrashed Northern Ireland 5-1 in Belfast in the Nations League last month and are hard to oppose in the return fixture in Oslo. The hosts are fighting it out with Austria at the top of Group B1 on six points, while their visitors are rock bottom with just one draw from three matches.
Republic of Ireland have been rocked by withdrawals during the current international break but can still battle to a draw when visiting Finland. The Eagle-owls won 1-0 when these teams met in the Nations League in Dublin last month, but there was very little in it at Aviva Stadium.
Italy are leading the way in a very tight Nations League Group A1 and get the nod to edge out second-placed Netherlands in Bergamo. The Azzurri have faced Holland three times in as many years, securing two narrow victories and a draw, so the omens look good for another positive result.
Ukraine are missing 14 players due to injury and coronavirus issues and Spain are fancied to take advantage in Tuesday’s Nations League clash. La Roja cruised to a 4-0 victory when these teams met in Madrid last month and should again be able to dictate proceedings in the return fixture.