England have been drawn against Spain and Croatia in the group stage of the inaugural UEFA Nations League. The draw, held in Lausanne, Switzerland, placed Gareth Southgate's side in Group A4, where they will face two of Europe's top teams.
The competition, which replaces traditional international friendlies, will take place across matchdays in September, October and November this year. Each team will play the others in their group home and away, with group winners earning promotion and the bottom-placed side being relegated.
Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland will also participate, with the latter three placed in League B. The group winners from League A will advance to the 'Final Four' tournament in the summer of 2019, where semi-finals and a final will determine the overall champion.
England's group is considered challenging, but it aligns with the competition's aim to create high-quality matchups. The Nations League also offers a secondary route to qualify for Euro 2020, through play-off spots for group winners who do not already qualify through traditional means.
