What the Ukrainian national football team needs to win its group in the Nations League.

The Ukrainian national team showed good results in Group 1 of Division B of the Nations League, having gained four points after four rounds. They secured a victory over Georgia with a score of 1:0 and drew with the Czech Republic 1:1.

Ukraine has interesting moments in the Nations League:

• firstly, they have a chance to advance to Division A, where they can meet strong teams;
• secondly, by ranking high in the Nations League, Ukraine can get a chance in the playoff qualification if they fail to qualify for the World Cup.

Currently, the state of Group B is as follows:

Let us remind of the group schedule before the end of the tournament:

• Round 5: Georgia - Ukraine, Albania - Czech Republic
• Round 6: Albania - Ukraine, Czech Republic - Georgia

Let's move on to the consideration of options.

1. Ukraine can theoretically take first place in the group. To do this, they need to win both matches and hope that the Czech Republic does not win its matches. Then Ukraine will have 10 points, and Georgia, Albania, and the Czech Republic will have no more than 9 points.

2. Second place is more realistic. To do this, they just need to win both matches, regardless of the results of other teams. Then Ukraine will have 10 points, and Georgia and Albania will have no more than 9 points. The Czech Republic will have between 10 and 13 points, so they will surpass Ukraine.

We can even lose points in the match with Georgia, but only draw and provided that the Czech Republic also does not win. Then the Czech Republic will have between 9 and 13 points, Ukraine - 8, Georgia - up to 8 (but we have better results in head-to-head meetings), Albania will remain with six. The scenario with Albania instead of Georgia is not suitable, as they defeated us in the first round.

Let us remind you that second place also gives a chance to fight for promotion in the playoffs with one of the third teams from Division A.

3. Loss of points in two matches can lead to Ukraine's relegation to Division B. In this case, we can collect no more than 6 points (two draws), and Georgia and Albania will have at least 7 points. This will mean relegation to Division C.

It is not enough to have three points if the team we defeat has beaten the Czech Republic. Then Ukraine will have 7 points, and Georgia and Albania will each have 9 points (as the other team defeated Ukraine), the Czech Republic will have 10 points.

4. There is a probability that there might be a threat of relegation from the third rung of the group since it will play in the playoff against the second place of Division C.

We have already considered one such scenario (equality of points with Albania in the distribution of second and third places). In addition, this can happen if the team we defeated loses to the Czech Republic. Then we will have 7 points, the team we defeated - 6 points, the other - 9 points and the Czech Republic - 13 points.

The most obvious option - two defeats guarantee Ukraine's relegation to Division C.

Let us remind you, on October 14, in the UEFA Nations League match (Group B), the Ukrainian national team drew with the Czech Republic. The game took place in Wrocław, Poland at the Tarczyński Arena and ended with a score of 1:1.

The Czech Republic scored the first goal in the 18th minute thanks to Lukash Červ, but Ukraine managed to equalize the score in the 51st minute thanks to a goal by Artem Dovbyk.