England have been drawn to play against the Republic of Ireland in the group stage of the 2024/25 Nations League. The team has been placed in League B following their relegation from the top tier of the Nations League after a winless campaign in 2022. This resulted in them finishing at the bottom of their group behind Italy, Hungary, and Germany.
Gareth Southgate’s side will compete against Ireland, Finland, and Greece in Group B2, with six matches set to be played over three international breaks in September, October, and November of this year. Kazakhstan was initially drawn in the group, but due to rules on excessive travel, they were replaced by Greece to complete the quartet.
In their most recent encounter with Ireland, England emerged victorious in a friendly match in 2020, which saw Jude Bellingham make his international debut. Prior to this win, England had gone through a seven-game winless run in matches against Ireland.
The top finisher in the group will secure promotion for England, while the runner-up will face a play-off against one of the third-placed teams from League A. However, coming third in Group B2 would result in a relegation play-off, and finishing at the bottom would lead to an automatic relegation to League C.
Scotland, on the other hand, will be competing in League A and is set to face Croatia, Portugal, and Poland. Meanwhile, Wales has been drawn against Iceland, Montenegro, and Turkey in League B, and Northern Ireland will have to contend with Belarus, Bulgaria, and Luxembourg in their quest for promotion from League C.
The Nations League draw also revealed the groups for League A, League C, and League D, outlining the various teams and match-ups that will unfold in the upcoming competition.
In summary, while England’s recent performance may have been subpar, they will be seeking redemption and a chance for promotion as they prepare to face the Republic of Ireland and other formidable opponents in the upcoming Nations League.
