Former standard-setters Spain & Germany falter again

Euro 2008 finalists, and two of international football’s most dominant sides over the past 15 years, Spain and Germany, both failed to win in their UEFA Nations League matches tonight, raising serious questions about their futures.

After a narrow one goal win over a Ukraine side who had just been battered 7-1 by France, and previously a 3-3 draw against Turkey, there were questions being asked about World Cup winning Germany boss Joachim Löw, and many of them were answered tonight.

In another extraordinary 3-3, this time against Switzerland, Germany gave up a two-goal lead before levelling things up through Chelsea signings Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, but after Mario Gavranović scored his second of the game for another Swiss lead, it was left to Serge Gnabry to secure Germany a draw.

And that point leaves the German’s second on goal difference in Group A4, after the aforementioned Ukraine secured the biggest upset of the international break with a shock 1-0 win over Spain in Kyiv, with 22-year-old Viktor Tsygankov’s 76th minute winner boosting an up and coming side who had been having plenty of difficulties in the Nations League.

And while it’s incredibly unlikely that either side will be relegated from Group A, it continues a downward trend for 2010 World Cup winners Spain, and 2014 winners Germany, with the likes of France and Portugal appearing as the new standard-setters in international football.

⚽️ Ukraine, Luxembourg, Malta & Faroe Islands register #NationsLeague victories! 🎉🎉🎉

Result of the night belongs to _____________ 🤔

— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2020) October 13, 2020