It was a truncated competition due to the upcoming winter World Cup in Qatar, with six group matches played in record time over the past two international breaks. For some that brought difficulties, particularly with the majority of games played in June at the end of a long domestic campaign.

However, others have thrived and there will be a handful of Chelsea representatives in the semi-finals next summer, as we outline here.

Into the final four

Mateo Kovacic was the first Chelsea player to book a spot at next June’s UEFA Nations League finals as Croatia beat Austria 3-1 to top the standings on the final matchday in Group A1.

The midfielder featured in all six matches in the group for the 2018 World Cup runners-up, whose big victories in Paris and Copenhagen against France and Denmark respectively proved decisive in determining the group’s fate.

Jorginho and Italy came out on top in Group A3, with back-to-back wins over England and Hungary this month securing their place alongside Croatia in the final four.

It represents a reprieve of sorts for the Azzurri, who failed to qualify for the Qatar World Cup but will now look to go further than the last edition of the Nations League when they were beaten 2-1 by Spain in the semi-finals.

Italy and Spain could well face a rematch next summer as La Roja booked their spot in the last four with a dramatic final-day victory over Portugal, with former Blue Alvaro Morata netting the crucial late winner in Lisbon.

Cesar Azpilicueta started in half of the group games for Luis Enrique’s men, while both Kepa Arrizabalaga and Marc Cucurella will be hoping their performances over the coming months can earn a recall in time for the summer tournament.

Moving down

Relegation for our England contingent not only means they will compete in League B when the 2024/25 edition of the Nations League comes around but also that the Three Lions will be unseeded in the Euro 2024 qualifying draw, which takes place on Sunday 9 October.

That means the likes of Mason Mount, Reece James and Raheem Sterling could be pitted up against Belgium, Italy, Spain or Portugal in their bid to reach the next major international tournament. They were winless in the group stage, with Mount accounting for one of their four goals.

Wales had a tough group alongside the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland, finishing with just one point on the board in Group A4. That came against the Belgians, Europe’s highest-ranked team, in a 1-1 draw in mid-June, and they were subsequently demoted to the second tier.

Same again

France, Switzerland and Germany will all remain in League A next time round after middling campaigns. Les Bleus narrowly avoided relegation on the final day following a 2-0 defeat to Denmark, while Die Mannschaft won just once in Group A3.

Both will be hoping to improve their fortunes at the upcoming World Cup, with Didier Deschamps eagerly awaiting the return to full fitness of N’Golo Kante, who returned to Chelsea training earlier this week.

Armando Broja struck once in the group stage for Albania as they finished third in Group B2.