Hungary, Belgium, Israel Nations League Soccer: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction
The UEFA Nations League is an international soccer competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the member associations of UEFA, the governing body for football in Europe. The competition was created to replace the international friendly matches played during the FIFA international breaks. The first edition of the Nations League was held in 2018-19, and the second edition is currently underway.
Hungary, Belgium, and Israel are all participating in the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League. Hungary is in League B, Belgium is in League A, and Israel is in League C. The teams will play a series of matches in their respective leagues to determine their ranking. The top teams in each league will be promoted to the higher league, while the bottom teams will be relegated to the lower league.
Hungary
Hungary is ranked 40th in the FIFA World Rankings. The team is led by captain and goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi. Other notable players include midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and forward Ádám Szalai.
Hungary has a rich history in international soccer. The team has won the Olympic gold medal three times (1952, 1964, and 1968) and the European Championship once (1964). However, Hungary has not qualified for a major tournament since the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
Belgium
Belgium is ranked 1st in the FIFA World Rankings. The team is led by captain and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Other notable players include midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard, and forwards Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens.
Belgium is one of the most successful teams in international soccer. The team has won the FIFA World Cup once (1930) and the European Championship once (1980). Belgium has also finished second in the FIFA World Cup (1986) and third in the European Championship (2016).
Israel
Israel is ranked 87th in the FIFA World Rankings. The team is led by captain and defender Bibras Natkho. Other notable players include midfielders Eran Zahavi and Dor Peretz, and forward Moanes Dabour.
Israel has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup. The team's best result in the European Championship was reaching the quarterfinals in 2000.
Head-to-Head Record
Hungary and Belgium have met 20 times, with Belgium winning 9, Hungary winning 6, and the other 5 matches ending in a draw.
Israel and Belgium have met 10 times, with Belgium winning 6, Israel winning 2, and the other 2 matches ending in a draw.
Hungary and Israel have met 4 times, with Hungary winning 3 and Israel winning 1.
Upcoming Matches
Hungary will play its first Nations League match against Serbia on September 3, 2020. Belgium will play its first match against Denmark on September 5, 2020. Israel will play its first match against Slovakia on September 4, 2020.
The Nations League group stage will run until November 18, 2020. The top teams in each league will qualify for the Nations League Finals, which will be held in June 2021.
Conclusion
The 2020-21 UEFA Nations League is an important competition for Hungary, Belgium, and Israel. The teams will be looking to improve their FIFA World Rankings and qualify for the Nations League Finals.
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