France 4-1 Favorites to Win 2020-21 UEFA Nations League

• The defending World Cup champions, France, are the current favorite to win UEFA Nations League with +400 odds
• Belgium isn’t far behind at +550, while England, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands are all at +700
• Who’s the best bet to win the Nations League? Get the odds, preview, and best bet below

With Euro 2020 being postponed until next summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UEFA Nations League will now take center stage for the time being, with group play kicking off this week. The Finals of the tournament, however, won’t happen until  September or October of 2021.

Heading into the group phase of the competition, which will run until November, numerous European powerhouses look to be in the running for the trophy. Last year’s winners, Portugal, aren’t even being considered a serious contender in the second-ever Nations League, with just +1300 odds.

2020-2021 UEFA Nations League Odds

Odds taken August 31st

Can France Win it All?

Les Bleus are the current favorites to win the UEFA Nations League next fall, right after Euro 2021 will conclude. They’re already considered one of the strongest contenders for the European Championships, having won the 2018 World Cup and losing in the Euro 2016 Final to Portugal. Didier Deschamps’ men have been at the forefront of every major tournament over the last four years, thanks to their tremendous array of talent. However, in last year’s Nations League, they were knocked out by the Netherlands, failing to advance to the last four.

Off to training…in our new Nike kits 👀🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/bHRQZoFUox

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) August 31, 2020

Kylian Mbappe is arguably one of the most electric strikers on the globe, while the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Monaco standout Wissam Ben Yedder will join the PSG star on the attack. Paul Pogba and Tanguy Ndombele have been left out of the squad after testing positive for COVID-19, which has paved the way for youngster Eduardo Camavinga, who plays for Ligue 1 outfit Rennes. Leipzig mainstay Dayot Upamecano has been called up after a tremendous year for the Bundesliga side, while Everton defender Lucas Digne has also been given a chance to prove his worth with France.

The defending World Cup champs have a relatively tough group, featuring alongside Portugal, Croatia, and Sweden. They will get things started on Saturday against the Swedes. Each team will play one another twice in the group stage.

Belgium and England Are Teams to Watch

The Belgians have built a very quality squad over the last few years, finishing in third place in the 2018 World Cup and also appearing in the quarterfinals of Euro 2016, where Wales upset them. Nonetheless, this is a team full of top talent. They were beaten by Switzerland in the previous Nations League campaign which prevented them from featuring in the last four, but they’re still a heavy favorite heading into this tournament.

Kevin De Bruyne is coming off an electric season with Manchester City, where he bagged 16 goals and tallied 23 assists across all competitions. The 29-year old is widely considered the best midfielder in the world currently. Both Eden and Thorgan Hazard will feature for Belgium as well, while Serie A stars Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens will be looked upon to provide goals for Roberto Martinez’s side. The Red Devils will be in the group with Denmark, England, and Iceland.

📝 Here are the Devils to start our #NationsLeague campaign 🤩 #COMEONBELGIUM 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/QOYs0ml9lY

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) August 25, 2020

The Three Lions are also a heavy favorite heading into this tournament with an array of exciting players who all ply their trade in the Premier League. Jack Grealish received his first call-up to the senior team on Monday after Marcus Rashford withdrew due to an injury. Harry Kane will lead the line upfront, followed by the likes of Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, and first-time call-ups Danny Ings and Mason Greenwood. England impressed in the last World Cup and also did relatively well in last year’s Nations League, losing to the Dutch in the Semifinals.

Gareth Southgate has selected a pretty strong squad even though there’s some inexperience. But, the English should do well as they look to get used to playing with each other before Euro 2021. Their two fixtures against Belgium should be very entertaining and could preview a possible clash in the future, whether it’s in the Nations League Finals next year, or the summer of 2021 in the European Championships.

After naming his first squad of the year yesterday, Gareth Southgate looked ahead to the #NationsLeague and an exciting couple of years for the #ThreeLions: pic.twitter.com/WFpmOIbEaJ

— England (@England) August 26, 2020

Who’s the Best Bet Right Now?

Ronald Koeman did a fine job building up the Netherlands as they’ve finally returned as one of the premier countries in international football. But, he’s left for the head coaching job at Barca while assistant Dwight Lodeweges has taken over as the interim boss of Holland.

This team is a force to be reckoned with, having beat France in the Nations League last year. They ended up losing to Portugal in the final, but the Netherlands clearly solidified themselves as a quality side. Despite losing Koeman, the Dutch should not be taken lightly. Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world, while Memphis Depay and Quincy Promes provided a ton of brilliance in the final third in last year’s Nations League campaign.

Germany still has a great team with lots of talented players, but in my opinion, they need a new manager. Joachim Low has been the boss for long enough and they’ve struggled to find success in major tournaments over the last number of years under him. A change is necessary.

Right now, I believe France is the best bet. When all their best players are on the pitch, it’s hard for anyone to beat this side. Pogba will be healthy soon enough, while their attack is full of vibrant players. Ben Yedder is coming off a tremendous year with Monaco where he scored a boatload of goals, while Mbappe’s pace and finishing abilities are second to none. Although the finals of the Nations League are quite some time away, the odds are accurate.

Pick: France (+400)