UEFA Nations League A Round 2 Preview: Form, Lineups & Scores

Matchday 1 shuffled every League A table. Norway and Portugal both opened with wins in Group 4, Greece sit alone atop Group 2 after beating Serbia, Spain and Croatia took care of England and Czechia, and Belgium plus France already own Group 1. Round 2 is where those early three-point cushions get stress-tested: eight fixtures across three days, with fitness lists that matter as much as the standings.

League A tables after Matchday 1

Round 2 match previews

Denmark vs Wales

27 September · Parken, Denemark

Denmark arrive needing a response after a 3-2 loss in Oslo, where Erling Haaland’s Norway punched first blood in Group 4. The injury sheet is heavy: Andreas Christensen (thigh), Alexander Bah (shoulder), Kasper Dolberg (knee), and Albert Grønbaek (thigh) are all out, so Brian Riemer’s side lean on a double pivot of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Morten Hjulmand behind Rasmus Højlund. Over their last five, Denmark average 2.2 goals scored and 2.09 expected goals, numbers that still scream home control even after the Norway hangover.

Wales lost 1-0 in Lisbon and sit level on zero points with Denmark. Craig Bellamy’s group is intact relative to Denmark’s absences, with Ethan Ampadu anchoring a compact 4-4-2 and Brennan Johnson plus Daniel James asked to stretch Parken in transition. The professional pattern between these sides is Nordic structure against Welsh verticality: Denmark want territorial midfield control; Wales want early balls into the channels and set-piece chaos.

Probable lineups

• Denmark (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Maehle, Andersen, Provstgaard, Kristensen; Hojbjerg, Hjulmand; Damsgaard, Froholdt, Dorgu; Højlund
• Wales (4-4-2): Ward; Dasilva, Davies, Cabango, N. Williams; Johnson, Sheehan, Ampadu, D. James; J. James, Koumas

Projected score: Denmark 2-1 Wales
The Stat: Denmark’s 2.09 xG across the last five dwarfs Wales’ 1.5 in the same window.

Serbia vs Netherlands

27 September · Stadion Rajko Mitić

Serbia’s home opener ended in a 1-2 defeat to Greece, and the attacking picture worsens without Dušan Vlahović (calf). Luka Jović and Mihajlo Cvetković lead the line in a 4-4-2, with Sergej Milinković-Savić and Dušan Tadić still the creative spine. Serbia’s last-five scoring rate (1.2 goals) sits well below the Oranje’s 2.4.

Netherlands shared the points with Germany (1-1) in Amsterdam and travel with Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and a midfield of Reijnders, Timber, and Gravenberch. Brian Brobbey and Donyell Malen are missing, so the front three reshuffles around Gakpo, Noa Lang, and Crysencio Summerville. Historically this fixture tilts toward Dutch technical control against Serbian physical duels in midfield; Belgrade’s crowd is the equalizer Serbia will bank on.

Probable lineups

• Serbia (4-4-2): V. Milinković-Savić; Kostić, Pavlović, Eraković, Simić; Cvetković, Maksimović, S. Milinković-Savić, Živković; Jović, Tadić
• Netherlands (4-3-3): Verbruggen; van de Ven, van Dijk, van Hecke, Dumfries; Reijnders, Timber, Gravenberch; Gakpo, Lang, Summerville

Projected score: Serbia 1-2 Netherlands
The Stat: Netherlands have scored in every one of their last five (BTTS 100%) while averaging 2.4 goals.

Norway vs Portugal

27 September · Ullevål, Norway

The Group 4 summit meeting. Norway beat Denmark 3-2 at home; Portugal edged Wales 1-0 in Lisbon. Both sit on three points and a +1 goal difference. Erling Haaland (form rating 9.0 in the probable XI) and Martin Ødegaard give Norway a club-level spine few nations can match, with Antonio Nusa and Oscar Bobb flanking the Manchester City striker. Norway’s last five show goals in every game (BTTS 100%) even if their xG (1.28) lags Portugal’s 1.64.

Portugal are without Bruno Fernandes (physical discomfort, short-term), so Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, and João Félix carry more creation beside Cristiano Ronaldo. Ruben Dias and Nuno Mendes keep the defensive floor high. The matchup is pure contrast: Norway’s direct threat through Haaland versus Portugal’s positional patience and wide overloads. Whoever blinks first on transition defense likely drops their first points of the campaign.

Probable lineups

• Norway (4-3-3): Nyland; Aursnes, Heggem, Ajer, Ryerson; Berg, Berge, Ødegaard; Nusa, Haaland, Bobb
• Portugal (4-1-3-2): Diogo Costa; Nuno Mendes, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Cancelo; Neves; Neto, Vitinha, Bernardo; Félix, Ronaldo

Projected score: Norway 2-2 Portugal
The Stat: Norway have seen both teams score in 100% of their last five; Portugal only 20%.

Germany vs Greece

27 September · WWK Arena, Germany

Germany drew 1-1 with the Netherlands and host at Augsburg’s WWK Arena rather than a traditional fortress. The absences bite: Jamal Musiala (thigh), Kai Havertz (knee, doubtful), and Brajan Gruda (muscle) are unavailable, so Jürgen Klopp’s probable 4-2-3-1 runs through Joshua Kimmich and Felix Nmecha with Kevin Schade and Karim Adeyemi as the wide outlets. Germany still average 2.4 goals across the last five.

Greece sit top of Group 2 after a 2-1 win in Belgrade. Vangelis Pavlidis and Christos Tzolis give Ivan Jovanović real counterpunch, and a 1.78 xG clip over five games actually edges Germany’s 1.72. The professional storyline is hierarchy versus momentum: Germany’s depth and home platform against a Greek side that has already shown it can punish League A mistakes.

Probable lineups

• Germany (4-2-3-1): Nübel; Brown, Bisseck, Tah, Treu; Nmecha, Kimmich; Schade, Amiri, Adeyemi; Ebnoutalib
• Greece (4-2-3-1): Tzolakis; Tsimikas, Retsos, Ndoj, Vagiannidis; Kourbelis, Zafeiris; Kostoulas, Tzolis, Karetsas; Pavlidis

Projected score: Germany 2-1 Greece
The Stat: Germany average 2.4 goals in their last five despite the star absences.

Belgium vs France

28 September · Stade Roi Baudouin, Belgium

Group 1’s early heavyweight bout. Belgium dismantled Italy 2-0 in Rome; France ground out a 1-0 win in Türkiye. Both are on three points, with Belgium holding the goal-difference edge (+2 vs +1). Kevin De Bruyne remains the tactical hub in a 4-2-3-1, though Leandro Trossard is missing with a heel issue. Belgium’s last-five scoring (2.8 goals) is the loudest attack rate on this Round 2 slate.

France travel without Kylian Mbappé (knee), Ibrahima Konaté (ligament), and Warren Zaïre-Emery (thigh). Ousmane Dembélé leads the line with Michael Olise and Désiré Doué either side, and Mike Maignan plus Dayot Upamecano keep the defensive spine elite. This rivalry has long been about Belgian creativity meeting French athletic structure; without Mbappé, France lean even harder on positional control and the Maignan-to-breakout chain.

Probable lineups

• Belgium (4-2-3-1): Lammens; De Cuyper, Mechele, Ngoy, Castagne; Raskin, Tielemans; Godts, De Bruyne, Moreira; De Ketelaere
• France (4-3-3): Maignan; Truffert, Lacroix, Upamecano, Koundé; Rabiot, Koné, Cherki; Doué, Dembélé, Olise

Projected score: Belgium 1-1 France
The Stat: Belgium average 2.8 goals across their last five, the highest clip among these eight ties.

Türkiye vs Italy

28 September · Matli Stadyumu Atatürk Spor Kompleksi, Türkiye

Both openers ended in blank scoresheets for the hosts’ rivals: Türkiye fell 0-1 to France at home, Italy lost 0-2 to Belgium. Zero points each, and a must-not-lose energy already. Vincenzo Montella’s probable 3-4-2-1 features Arda Güler and Can Uzun behind Barış Yılmaz, with Ferdi Kadıoğlu’s carrying threat from left back. Orkun Kökçü is missing (finger); keeper Muhammed Sengezer is doubtful.

Italy, under Roberto Mancini, project a 4-3-3 with Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Barella in midfield and Moise Kean plus Pio Esposito up top. Federico Dimarco (knee) and Bryan Cristante (back) are out; Nicolò Zaniolo is doubtful. Recent underlying numbers are nearly identical (xG 1.46 vs 1.47), and both sides have been low-event lately (Türkiye 0.8 goals per game in the last five, Italy 1.2). Expect a cagey, territorial fight between Turkish home intensity and Italian midfield sequencing.

Probable lineups

• Türkiye (3-4-2-1): Bayındır; Bardakcı, Demiral, Çelik; Kadıoğlu, Yüksek, Özcan, Aydın; Uzun, Güler; Yılmaz
• Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Calafiori, Coppola, Mancini, Di Lorenzo; Romano, Tonali, Barella; Cambiaghi, Esposito, Kean

Projected score: Türkiye 1-1 Italy
The Stat: Expected goals are essentially level (Türkiye 1.46, Italy 1.47) across the last five.

Spain vs Croatia

29 September · Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Spain

Spain survived a 3-2 thriller against England; Croatia won 2-1 in Prague. Both lead Group 3 on three points. Luis de la Fuente’s side still look like the competition’s technical ceiling: Rodri and Fabián Ruiz in midfield, Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo in the half-spaces, Ferran Torres through the middle. Pedro Porro is missing and Eric García is doubtful, so Marc Pubill and Pau Cubarsí help cover the back line.

Croatia bring Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić for control, Joško Gvardiol for progressive defending, and a mixed front of Franjo Ivanović and Igor Matanović. Martin Baturina and Josip Juranović are out through illness. The professional matchup is familiar: Spain’s positional dominance versus Croatia’s ability to slow games, steal rest-defense moments, and punish transitions. Spain’s 1.92 xG over five games towers over Croatia’s 1.15.

Probable lineups

• Spain (4-2-3-1): Unai Simón; Cucurella, Laporte, Cubarsí, Pubill; Fabián, Rodri; Baena, Olmo, Yamal; Ferran
• Croatia (4-2-3-1): Livaković; Perišić, Gvardiol, Vušković, Stanišić; Kovačić, Modrić; Ivanović, P. Sučić, L. Sučić; Matanović

Projected score: Spain 2-1 Croatia
The Stat: Spain have won 80% of their last five; their 1.92 xG nearly doubles Croatia’s 1.15.

Czechia vs England

29 September · Fortuna Arena, Czechia

Czechia lost 1-2 at home to Croatia; England fell 2-3 to Spain in a chaotic opener. Both sit on zero points, and England’s response away in Prague becomes an early statement under Thomas Tuchel. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka headline a 4-2-3-1 that still averages 2.6 goals across the last five despite the Spain defeat. Czechia’s same window shows 0.8 goals scored, 0.79 xG, and a 0% win rate.

Santi Denia’s Czech side lean on Adam Hložek up top with Pavel Šulc and Adam Karabec in the pockets, while David Zima is missing from defense. The historical texture of this fixture is English tempo and individual quality against Czech organization and home stubbornness. On current underlying numbers, England’s ceiling is simply higher, but Fortuna Arena rewards teams that stay compact for 70 minutes and hunt a set piece.

Probable lineups

• Czechia (4-2-3-1): Horníček; Sláma, Chaloupek, Hranáč, Coufal; Sadílek, Červ; Ambroš, Šulc, Karabec; Hložek
• England (4-2-3-1): Trafford; O’Reilly, Guéhi, Konsa, Quansah; Anderson, Scott; Gordon, Bellingham, Saka; Kane

Projected score: Czechia 0-2 England
The Stat: England average 2.6 goals in their last five; Czechia have won none of theirs (0%).

What Round 2 decides

Three threads define the window:

• Group 4’s early summit. Norway-Portugal is the only Round 2 meeting of two Matchday 1 winners in the same group. A draw keeps the race wide open; a winner grabs sole control.
• Group 1 pressure on the losers. Türkiye and Italy cannot afford another blank if Belgium and France take points off each other in Brussels.
• Fitness as tactics. Mbappé, Musiala, Vlahović, Bruno Fernandes, and Christensen missing changes shapes as much as scoresheets. Several projected XIs are already Plan B elevens.

League A Round 2 will not crown anyone. It will separate the sides that can absorb Matchday 1 noise from the ones still chasing their first rhythm of the campaign.

FAQs

When is UEFA Nations League League A Round 2?

League A Round 2 runs across 27-29 September 2026, with four fixtures on the 27th, two on the 28th, and two on the 29th.

Which UEFA Nations League League A games are this round?

Denmark vs Wales, Serbia vs Netherlands, Norway vs Portugal, Germany vs Greece, Belgium vs France, Türkiye vs Italy, Spain vs Croatia, and Czechia vs England.

Who is top of UEFA Nations League League A after Matchday 1?

Group leaders are Belgium and France (Group 1), Greece (Group 2), Spain and Croatia (Group 3), and Norway and Portugal (Group 4).

How does UEFA Nations League League A qualification work?

Group winners advance toward the Nations League Finals path, while bottom sides face relegation playoff or drop pressure depending on the edition’s exact format. After one matchday, every League A group is still wide open.

Why is Kylian Mbappé missing for France?

Mbappé is listed as missing with a knee injury and an unknown expected return, so France’s probable attack is built around Dembélé, Olise, and Doué.

Which League A Round 2 match looks the most evenly matched?

Norway vs Portugal and Belgium vs France are the clearest even games on paper: both pairs won Matchday 1 and enter level (or nearly level) on points.