Portugal discover their UEFA Nations League opponents

Portugal have discovered their 2020-21 Nations League group stage opponents today as they look to defend the crown they won last summer in Portugal.

The Seleção, by virtue of reaching the finals alongside the Netherlands, England and Switzerland, were in pot 1 of the draw, and therefore could not be drawn alongside any of the aforementioned nations.

Widespread changes were made to the structure of the UEFA National League, which ensured that Germany, who had initially been relegated in the last edition of the competition after finishing bottom of a group containing both France and Netherlands, remain in the top tier of the continental tournament.

Each group in the top league will now house four teams rather than 3, to ensure the top nations don’t need to play as many, if any, meaningless friends.

The move also sees the bottom division – League D – reduced to just 7 teams in total.

Portugal knew they would be drawn alongside one of Belgium, France, Spain and Italy from pot 2, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Denmark and Sweden from pot 3, and one of Croatia, Poland, Germany and Iceland from pot 4.

In the end, Portugal were handed a group containing France, Sweden and Croatia.

To have a chance of defending their title, Portugal will need to repeat their success of last year and top their group.

Finishing last will see them relegated – unless, of course, UEFA decide to change the rules again after the tournament has been completed.

The draw took place at 17:00.

Other Division A groups are as follows:

Group 1 - Poland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Italy, Netherlands.

Group 2 - Iceland, Denmark, Belgium, England

Group 4 - Germany, Ukraine, Spain, Switzerland