Nations League Finals: A thriller in store at wide open tournament

The UEFA Nations League Finals promise to be an exciting affair, with all four teams in with a genuine chance of winning the inaugural running of the competition.

Hosts Portugal take on Switzerland in the first semi-final on June 5, with England going head-to-head with Netherlands the following day.

The winners of each match will meet in the final on June 9, with the two losing semi-finalists playing a third place play-off earlier the same day. Read on as we look at each of the four teams.

Portugal favourites to reach the final

Portugal topped their three-team group ahead of Italy and Poland to qualify for the semi-finals and they will fancy their chances of lifting the trophy on home soil.

The reigning European champions are 15/8 joint favourites to win the Nations League and many punters will be keen to use the Ladbrokes promo code for 2019 to take advantage of what appear to be generous odds.

Portugal last faced Switzerland in a World Cup qualifier back in 2017, claiming a 2-0 victory to book their place in Russia.

The hosts look a good bet to defeat the Swiss in the semi-final and could be tough to beat if they make it through to the final.

Switzerland dangerous despite outsider tag

Switzerland pipped Belgium to top spot in their group courtesy of a thrilling 5-2 victory in their final match.

Thorgan Hazard scored twice for Belgium early in the game, leaving Switzerland needing four goals to progress.

However, Haris Seferovic’s hat-trick plus goals by Ricardo Rodriguez and Nico Elvedi completed a remarkable comeback to send the Swiss through.

Switzerland have the firepower to cause plenty of problems at the tournament and it would be foolish to write off their chances.

England expects after World Cup heroics

England have progressed well under manager Gareth Southgate and will be eager to continue moving forward at the 2019 Nations League Finals.

The Three Lions qualified for the tournament by finishing top of a group containing Croatia and Spain and are joint favourites with Portugal to lift the trophy.

England are unbeaten in their last seven matches and were particularly impressive in two European Championship qualifiers back in March.

They defeated the Dutch in a friendly earlier this year and are fancied to repeat the trick when they meet again in Guimaraes.

Netherlands remain a work in progress

Netherlands have struggled in recent years, failing to qualify for the 2016 European Championship and last summer’s World Cup.

They have improved since the appointment of ex-Southampton and Everton boss Ronald Koeman, but a recent defeat in a Euro qualifier against Germany was a setback.

The Dutch finished ahead of France and Germany to qualify for the Nations League Finals, but Koeman still has plenty of work ahead.

There were no excuses for their defeat against England during March and they could find it tough against Southgate’s side once again.

Prediction

Portugal and England are fancied to meet in the final, with the Three Lions tipped to secure a narrow victory and claim the trophy.

Nations League Finals: A thriller in store at wide open tournament

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