Uefa Nations League: What to look out for

Belgium welcome the Netherlands and Spain host Portugal in the opening batch of fixtures.

The third edition of the Uefa Nations League kicks off this week, with five more matchdays to come ahead of the final tournament in June 2023. Uefa.com picks out the big fixtures of the opening three days.

All kick-off times 20:45 CAT unless stated

Wednesday 1 June

Group A4: Poland v Wales (18:00)

Thursday 2 June

Group A2: Czech Republic v Switzerland, Spain v Portugal

Group B2: Albania v Russia (suspended until further notice), Israel v Iceland

Group B4: Serbia v Norway, Slovenia v Sweden

Group C2: Cyprus v Kosovo (18:00), Northern Ireland v Greece

Group C4: Georgia v Gibraltar (18:00), Bulgaria v North Macedonia (18:00)

Group D2: Estonia v San Marino (18:00)

Friday 3 June

Group A1: Croatia v Austria, France v Denmark

Group A4: Belgium v Netherlands

Group C3: Kazakhstan v Azerbaijan (16:00), Belarus v Slovakia

Group D1: Latvia v Andorra (18:00), Liechtenstein v Moldova

Saturday 4 June

Group A3: Hungary v England (18:00), Italy v Germany

Group B1: Armenia v Republic of Ireland (15:00)

Group B3: Finland v Bosnia and Herzegovina (18:00), Montenegro v Romania

Group C1: Lithuania v Luxembourg (18:00), Turkey v Faroe Islands

Wednesday 21 September

Group B1: Scotland v Ukraine

Low Countries 'derby' kicks off Group A4

Martínez 'delighted' with Belgium draw

"Playing against Holland is a real derby, a footballing derby, a big occasion," Belgium boss Roberto Martínez told Uefa.com after the Uefa Nations League draw. Such big occasions have favoured the Red Devils in recent years: they are unbeaten in seven games against the Oranje since the start of the millennium (W2 D5), though all of those matches were friendlies.

Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal called Belgium "one of the favourites, a top team" as he looked ahead to the group stage, but will be well aware that the 16 competitive fixtures between the teams have favoured his side (W9 D4 L3). The Netherlands' last competitive game in Belgium ended in a 3-0 win in a December 1996 Fifa World Cup qualifier, Dennis Bergkamp, Clarence Seedorf and Wim Jonk the scorers. Is it time for the old order to be restored?

Spain welcome neighbours Portugal

Spain v Portugal: the full EURO 2012 semifinal shoot-out

Intrigue is guaranteed as the Iberian rivals come together on the opening night of action in Group A2, but decisive results are not. The sides' last four meetings have ended level (including 0-0s in 2020 and 2021), while Portugal have secured draws in their last five matches in Spain.

Cristiano Ronaldo's long association with Real Madrid may add some extra spice to the tie; the Portugal striker scored a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw against Spain at the 2018 World Cup finals, and confirmed on Instagram after Manchester United's 2-0 win at Villarreal in the Uefa Champions League group stage that a trip to his old stamping ground tends to get his creative juices flowing: "Always great to play in Spain, amazing to win in Spain, satisfying to score in Spain, a country where I always felt special."

Germany visit bogey team Italy

Group A3 rivals England may regard Germany as their most troublesome opponents (regardless of their win at Uefa EURO 2020), but as far as Die Mannschaft are concerned, Italy are the side that have caused them most problems. The current European champions have beaten Germany in the semifinals of two World Cups and EURO 2012, and also in the final of the 1982 World Cup.

Germany beat Italy on penalties in the quarterfinals of EURO 2016 to redress the balance a little, but as they embark on their first campaign under new coach Hansi Flick, they will be eager to get their first away success against the Azzurri since a 2-1 friendly win in February 1986.

Further ahead?

England v Germany down the years

• There is a 2018 World Cup final rematch on Matchday 2 as Croatia welcome France on Monday 6 June. Les Bleus' 4-2 win in Moscow helped them to maintain their unbeaten record against Croatia (W6 D2). "It will be a great pleasure to meet my colleague [Zlatko] Dalic again," said France boss Didier Deschamps. Dalic will hope to enjoy this meeting more.

• English minds will be flashing back to EURO 2020 in the coming matchdays. On 7 June, they will be taking on Germany, having overcome their old rivals 2-0 in the round of 16 last summer, but a more fraught encounter comes four days later when Italy return to Wembley, where they beat their hosts on penalties in the EURO final.

Key dates

Matchday 2: 5–8 June 2022

Matchdays 3 & 4: 9–14 June 2022

Matchdays 5 & 6: 22–27 September 2022

Finals draw: tbc

Semifinals: 14 & 15 June 2023

Final & third-place match: 18 June 2023

Play-outs: 21–23 & 24–26 March 2024