UNL League B review: Sweden, Ukraine, Bosnia, Denmark promoted to the top

League B is all about the sides that are not quite world class but can cause a shock or two, how did the best of the rest get on in there first season in the UEFA Nations League.

Group B1:

Ukraine have been confirmed as winners of Group B1 which will see them compete in League A. There they will face Spain and Poland next time the group stages come around.

Slovakia were relegated from B1 after suffering a defeat in their final match against relegation rivals Czech Republic.

The first match of the group saw the Czechs host Ukraine, with the latter winning 2-1 after a late Oleksandr Zinchenko winner as he profited from a mix-up between the Czech defence and the keeper to put his side top of the group.

Czech Republic had led through Patrik Schick’s tidy finish before Schalke winger Yevhen Konoplyanka levelled.

Ukraine hosted Slovakia in a tight game which was decided in the 80th minute as West Ham’s Andriy Yarmolenko netted from the spot giving the home side all three points.

After the disappointing loss, Slovakia hosted and failed to win again, this time losing to Jaroslav Šilhavý’s Czech side 2-1. Michal Krmencik put the Slovakians ahead before Napoli playmaker Marek Hamšík equalised.

Patrik Schick would win the game for the away side scoring in the 76th minute crushing Slovakian hearts.

Ukraine confirmed promotion after beating Czech Republic 1-0. A goal just before half-time by Genk midfielder Ruslan Malinovskiy settled an uneventful clash.

Promotion perhaps saw the Ukrainians take their foot off the gas as they were handily beaten 4-1 by Slovakia. The thrashing gave the Slovaks hope. A win against Czech Republic and they would still be able to qualify from the group.

Czech Republic confirmed that it would be them who would be facing off against Croatia and Russia or Sweden after Roma striker Schick scored the winner in the 32nd minute.

Group B2:

Sweden were crowned champions of Group B2 after a comfortable 2-0 win over promotion rivals Russia.

Turkey have been relegated down into League 3.

World Cup quarter-finalists Russia opened their nations league story by beating the Turks 2-1, Denis Cheryshev scorer of four of his side’s goals at the World Cup opened the scoring but it was cancelled out by defender Serdar Aziz.

Artem Dzyuba snatched the winner for his side as they gained a vital three points to put them top of their group.

Turkey then got a valuable win when they overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Sweden 3-2 at the Friends Arena in Solna.

Isaac Kiese Thelin got the first for the hosts as he reacted first to a rebound. Viktor Claesson doubled Sweden’s lead before Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s shot from the corner of the box halved the deficit.

Galatasaray midfielder Emre Akbaba would come on as a substitute  in the 62nd minute and by full-time he would be the hero, getting a double and winning his side the points.

Russia drew 0-0 at home to Sweden in a stalemate that saw only three shots on target. This was followed up by a dominant 2-0 win over Turkey. Defender Roman Neustädter profited from his teammate hitting the post to open the scoring while Cheryshev got the other.

Turkey’s relegation was confirmed with a 1-0 loss to Swedenin Konya. The result reignited the Swedish promotion push. Captain Andreas Granqvist got the winner from the spot after teammate Marcus Berg was pulled down in the tight affair.

Russian hearts were broken when they failed to impress in Sweden, losing 2-0 to the hosts. Sweden made it three clean sheets in three as they remain unbeaten in four matches.

Manchester United’s Victor Lindelöf scored the opening goal of the game as he got on the end of a knock-down following a corner. Marcus Berg then scored his first international goal in over a year to confirm Sweden’s promotion.

Group B3:

Bosnia-Herzegovina completed an almost flawless first Nations League campaign remaining unbeaten and getting promoted to League A.

Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland failed to insert themselves into the conversation with many fans being hopeful of at least staying in the league but late goals from the opposition relegated them to League B.

This group would start at Winsor Park which would see a cracking game, as Northern Ireland hosted Bosnia. The hosts lost the match 2-1 even though they had been the much better side for the vast majority of the match.

Haris Duljevic gave Bosnia the lead in the 36th minute against the run of play. It got worse for O’Neill’s men as a mix-up between Craig Cathcart and goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell saw Elvis Saric double his sides lead tapping the ball into an empty net. Will Grigg got one back for the hosts but overall it didn’t make a difference as it was too late to get another.

Roma striker Edin Džeko made the difference in Bosnia’s next clash against Austria. The former Manchester City striker netted the only goal of the game in the 78th minute, punishing Austria who weren’t clinical enough on the night despite having eight more efforts than then eventual winners.

Džeko was on fire again as he saw his side beat Northern Ireland 2-0 when he got his double, he along with compatriot Miralem Pjanić who was creating all the chances gave Michael O’Neill’s a real challenge.

The Roma striker gave his side the lead in the 27th minute as he benefited from Jamal Lewis losing his footing. Džeko wrapped up the match when he curled the ball into the bottom corner in the 73rd minute.

Austria did managed a goalless draw with Bosnia when they hosted them earlier on this month. The draw was of little use to the Austrians as they chased an unlikely promotion.

Marko Arnautović had the best chance and late on but managed to sky the ball over the crossbar from close range.

Arnautović did see his side win their final match of the group as Valentino Lazaro got the winner with the last kick of the game. To make matters better for Austria they scored from both of their shots on target beating Northern Ireland 2-1.

Xaver Schlager opened the scoring when he got his first ever international goal following a David Alaba pass.

Corry Evans managed to get his side an equaliser as his shot was deflected in on the 57th-minute mark, as his side went in search of a happy ending to a traumatic tournament, though this never came.

 

Group B4:

Denmark remained unbeaten to get promoted to League 3. Republic of Ireland may have drawn twice during this campaign, but it wasn’t enough to stop them from getting relegated down to the C League.

Wales opened up their Nations League season with an incredible 4-1 win over rivals Republic of Ireland at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Ryan Giggs’ side played stylish attacking football from start to finish with Tom Lawrence scoring a stunning opener. Gareth Bale’s whipped effort flew in from the edge of the box to double the lead.

Aaron Ramsey and Conor Roberts completed the demolition job. Ireland did get a consolation goal through Shaun Williams.

Christian Eriksen starred in Denmark’s 2-0 win over Wales. The Danish side were at full strength following a commercial rights dispute that saw major stars boycott their previous friendly match.

Eriksen’s first was a low driven finish and his second came from the spot despite Giggss’ side feeling that the decision was harsh.

Republic of Ireland then held Denmark in a boring 0-0 stalemate as their defensive display did enough to dilute an already weakened Danish side who were missing the Tottenham playmaker.

Ireland’s resistance was broken in the next match as Harry Wilson scored a stunning free-kick to give Wales the 1-0 win at the Aviva Stadium.

Wales were without two key men in Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey. The Green Army failed to capitalise on this with a lack of chances.

Denmark would confirm promotion when they travelled to the Cardiff City Stadium beating Wales 2-1. Giggs opted for an attacking line up but it took till the 89th minute to get a goal.

By that time Nicolai Jørgensen and Martin Braithwaite had given the away side the win as the Danish team were much more clinical compared to the hosts.

The final match of the group was Denmark hosting Republic of Ireland, the game ended 0-0 but was far from disappointing as Denmark had 26 shots though only one was on target Ireland rode their luck till the end.

Peter Ankersen forced the only save of the night while striker Jørgensen hit the post a number of times. Denmark’s luck was summed up perfectly when Yussuf Poulsen managed to sky the ball over the bar from six yards.

 

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