MY ACCOUNT
The Nations League continues in earnest on Monday with plenty of big matches across all four tiers of the competition.
League A provides the standout fixture, with Croatia and France colliding in a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final.
Table-topping Austria and Denmark also collide in that group, while a League B clash to look out for sees Iceland take on Albania.
Croatia vs France (7.45pm BST)
Both Croatia and the defending champions were beaten in their opening matches and will be eager to respond.
The hosts were comprehensively outclassed 3-0 by Austria on their own turf, while Didier Deschamps’ Nations League holders were beaten 2-1 at home by Denmark.
France, who are also the current world champions, still have a very strong squad to choose from and will see their opening result as a mistake they can put right quickly.
Prior to losing to the Danes, they had won seven in a row and have also beaten Croatia on both occasions since their 2018 World Cup triumph.
Croatia’s squad is ageing and it is likely they will have to rebuild before once again reaching the heights they did back in Russia.
Real Madrid star Luka Modric will return to give the midfield a boost but France will feel confident of success.
And backing Deschamps’ men to win with both teams to score looks the the best way to go.
Austria vs Denmark (7.45pm BST)
Denmark and Austria both won well in their opening group matches and will aim to carry on that good form against each other — but something will have to give.
Ralf Rangnick enjoyed the perfect start as boss and now Das Team, perhaps thought to be the potential whipping boys of Group A1, could further establish themselves with a second victory.
They have picked two wins and a draw from each of their last three home games and looked very good against Croatia on Friday.
But Denmark have won each of the last three meetings with the Austrians, including two at the and of last year in their World Cup qualifying group.
The Danes have a reputation for being hard to beat and won nine of their 10 World Cup qualifiers.
They have also kept six clean sheets in their last 10 games. So while Austria have undoubtedly improved recently, Denmark to keep a clean sheet could be one to go for.
Iceland vs Albania (7.45pm BST)
Iceland face Albania with both sides enduring poor recent records.
The hosts have won only one of their last 13 internationals and that victory came against lowly Liechtenstein in their World Cup qualification group.
Arnar Vidarsson’s men have not beaten any team other than Liechtenstein or the Faroe Islands since October 2020 and have made little progress since their stunning run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
Albania’s form is also nothing to write home about as they prepare to kick off their Nations League campaign.
The Eagles have won only one of their last five games, though they did string together three successive wins during World Cup qualification.
With both sides struggling for form, there could be a tense and edgy atmosphere with the draw certainly something to consider, despite the seven previous meetings having thrown up a winner.
