The final UEFA Nations League 2022-23 group fixtures are set to take place in the upcoming international break – the last one before World Cup 2022.
Aside from the different nations looking to solidify their spots in the standings, these fixtures will provide some World Cup hopefuls a chance to impress and potentially get on the plane to Qatar.
Read on below to see SBOTOP’s picks for the five players to watch during the last couple of UEFA Nations League matches.
Erling Haaland, Norway
Haaland is perhaps the hottest star in European football at the moment. The Norwegian is lighting up the Premier League with Manchester City and has already found the net 14 times in just 10 games for his new club.
Haaland will unfortunately be one of the big stars absent from Qatar after Norway failed to qualify. However, these last few rounds of Nations League matches will give Haaland a chance to bang in a few more goals for his country.
The 22-year-old is currently the competition’s leading scorer with five goals, and he could very well add a few more to his incredible international tally of 20 goals in 21 caps in the matches against Slovenia and Serbia.
Norway will need their star striker on top of his game to secure top spot in Group B4, which would mean promotion to League A.
Ivan Toney, England
England are suddenly looking short on depth at striker. With the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Patrick Bamford no longer in the picture amid injuries and poor form, and the resurgent Marcus Rashford also unavailable after picking up another knock, Gareth Southgate is desperately searching for a reliable deputy to captain Harry Kane.
Enter Ivan Toney. The Brentford striker has been called up to the England squad for the first time after a brilliant start to the season with the Bees (five goals, two assists in seven Premier League games).
Amid England’s lack of other in-form strikers at the moment, the 26-year-old Toney suddenly have a realistic shot at making the final squad for Qatar, which he can strengthen if he can impress in England’s final Nations League matches against Italy and Germany.
Of course, it’s far from a certainty that Toney will get his maiden England cap, with Kane and Roma’s Tammy Abraham still above him in the pecking order.
But if the Brentford striker does get a shot to play, he will be one to watch, particularly by England fans who will be keen to know whether he can be a capable Kane stand-in in Qatar.
Ousmane Dembele, France
France’s defence of their UEFA Nations League crown was a massive failure, with Les Bleus still winless after their first four games. With their hopes of returning to the Finals gone, Didier Deschamps will have to focus on preparing for a much better title defence at the World Cup.
One of the big question marks surrounding Deschamps’ side is up front. Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe are all but guaranteed starting spots if they are fit. But it remains to be seen who will join them in attack, especially amid Antoine Griezmann’s declining form.
In terms of current form, Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele appears to be the front-runner. The 25-year-old has been sensational and has been a key factor in Barca’s unbeaten start in La Liga.
The last two Nations League games against Austria and Denmark will give Deschamps the chance to experiment with playing Dembele, who could form a dynamic duo with Mbappe amid Benzema’s absence.
Teun Koopmeiners, Netherlands
The Netherlands have a big hole to fill in midfield with Gini Wijnaldum a doubt to make it to the World Cup due to injury. Louis van Gaal will now have to find a suitable replacement for the veteran midfielder, who was also one of the team’s main goal threats.
Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners could very well be called upon to play that role for the Dutch against Poland and Belgium as they look to secure their spot in the Nations League Finals.
The 24-year-old has played in all four of the Netherlands’ Nations League games thus far, with one goal. He has also been instrumental to Atalanta’s surprisingly strong start, which sees them tied with leaders Napoli at 17 points. He leads La Dea with four goals in seven games and also has one assist.
Koopmeiners, who scored 34 goals in a three-season span with AZ Alkmaar, has an eye for goal similar to Wijnaldum, which would make him a good fit in that role as a midfield runner. His performances in the final two Nations League matches could have a huge bearing on whether van Gaal will give him the starting spot alongside Frenkie de Jong in Qatar.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo may not be first choice for Manchester United at the moment, but he is still an automatic starter for his home country, Portugal.
And the Portuguese superstar will once again be in the spotlight this international break as he leads the Selecao to key games against the Czech Republic and Spain, the latter of which will likely be a showdown to reach the Nations League Finals.
Ronaldo has a fantastic record in the Nations League, with seven goals in nine games. And you can be sure he will be eager to produce even more UEFA Nations League 2022 highlights as he looks to add to his all-time record tally of 117 international goals in 189 caps.
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