World Cup commentator Kieran Burke casts his eye over some of Tuesday’s standout UNL matches.
Tuesday’s Nations League Treble
- England -1 (v Czechia) NAP
- Spain to win & BTTS (v Croatia)
- Switzerland to win (v Scotland)
- Odds: 8.62/1
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Czechia v England, Tue, 19:45
The only thing more painful for Irish football fans than March’s penalty shootout defeat to Czechia was watching them stink out the World Cup. I happened to commentate on their final group game against Mexico and couldn’t believe just how poor they were. Their first game since the tournament ended in a 2-1 defeat at home to Croatia on Saturday, and I fear what England could do to them in Prague.
Individual errors cost England dearly against world champions Spain in their Nations League opener, but there were plenty of positives to take from the performance. Since the end of Euro 2024, the Three Lions have conceded just once in competitive away action (W7), while they’ve won three of the five previous H2Hs.
Thomas Tuchel was accused of leaving the handbrake on at the World Cup, but England showed a different side in the third/fourth-place play-off, letting loose against France. They also raced into a 2-1 lead against the world champions last time out before ultimately surrendering it.
England thrashed the Czech Republic 5-0 in a Euro qualifier in 2019 and, while I’m not suggesting this latest meeting will be quite as one-sided, the Three Lions look capable of winning this comfortably.
BEST BET: England -1 (Evs) NAP
Spain v Croatia, Tue, 19:45
Spain’s opening UNL victory against England means the world champions are now unbeaten in an all-time record 39 matches inside 90 minutes (W29, D10). That remarkable run looks set to continue, with Spain having last tasted defeat on home soil against Switzerland in 2022, while their last loss in Seville came all the way back in October 2018.
Slaven Bilić’s second tenure in charge of Croatia is off to an almost perfect start, with his side beating the Czech Republic 2-1 at the weekend. That could prove a crucial result given the strength of this group, particularly as seven of Croatia’s last eight defeats have come against sides currently ranked inside FIFA’s top ten.
England showed that Spain can be got at and, had Harry Kane converted his penalty, the world champions would likely have suffered defeat. However, there is an abundance of quality in Spain’s forward line.
Croatia should give them a good game. They’ve failed to score just once in their last year and only twice in their last 16 competitive matches, so I expect them to cause Spain problems.
BEST BET: Spain win & BTTS (11/10)
Scotland v Switzerland, Tue, 19:45
The Sébastien Pocognoli era in charge of Scotland got off to a low-key start with a goalless draw in Slovenia, and things aren’t likely to get any easier against a Swiss side who acquitted themselves impressively at the World Cup.
The Tartan Army enjoyed their big day out with a win over Haiti in Boston, but that was about as good as it got during the summer as Scotland once again failed to make it beyond the group stages at a major tournament.
Switzerland, meanwhile, claimed wins over Bosnia, Canada, Algeria and Colombia before bowing out after extra time against Argentina. They’ve since opened this Nations League campaign with an emphatic 3-0 victory in North Macedonia.
Johan Manzambi was one of the breakout stars in the States this summer and recently opened his Aston Villa account, while Zeki Amdouni followed up two first-half goals in his previous three club appearances with a goal either side of half-time and an assist against North Macedonia. Switzerland are now unbeaten inside 90 minutes in any venue since March (W5, D5).
The Swiss appear to have greater quality in the final third than the hosts and can make it back-to-back wins.
BEST BET: Switzerland (5/6)
Tuesday’s UNL Treble
- England -1 (v Czechia) NAP
- Spain to win & BTTS (v Croatia)
- Switzerland to win (v Scotland)
- Odds: 8.62/1
