Nations League 2024/25: Group B2 betting preview

A disappointing showing in 2022-23 means England now find themselves in League B for the new Nations League campaign.

With Gareth Southgate now gone, interim boss Lee Carsley is tasked with navigating a route back to the top tier for the Three Lions in 2024-25.

Brad Walker talks you through each of the four side's fortunes in Group B2.

Nations League Group B2 teams

England 

The Three Lions head into the Nations League still coming to terms with life post-Gareth Southgate. The latter announced his decision to step down from the England job back in July following a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. England under-21s boss Lee Carsley is now set to take charge of the senior squad as interim manager while the FA continue their search for Southgate's replacement. 

A positive run in this tournament may lead to Carsley being handed the job full-time, though. Southgate himself was initially intended as a stop-gap for a more permanent solution, but an impressive run in form saw him last eight years in the England hotseat. 

Regardless of who's in charge, the dearth of talent throughout the squad cannot be denied. England's poor showing in the 2022-23 Nations League campaign - they finished bottom of their group - has seen them drop into League B, but they remain overwhelming favourites to return to League A here. 

Finland

Finland reached the European Championships for the first ever time in 2020, but were unable to repeat this feat by securing a place in Germany this summer. 

Current boss Markku Kanerva has overseen the national team since 2016 and will take confidence from his side's efforts in 2022-23, where they finished second in their respective Nations League group. 

Pipping England to a first-place finish will be an almighty task but the Fins will be eyeing a top-two finish, which could then see them take part in a play-off to determine whether they will be promoted or relegated from Group B. 

Greece

Piratiko stunned the football world by winning Euro 2004 20 years ago but things have been far from plain-sailing for Greece since. They haven't qualified for any major tournament since 2014 and suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Georgia in the play-off finals, which denied them a place in Germany this summer.

Nevertheless, they put in a respectable showing in the last Nations League, finishing top of the group and losing just once in the process. They were in League C at the time, though, and face a significant step-up in opposition this time around.

Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland's fortunes at major tournaments has been even worse than their Greek counterparts. The country has qualified for just two major tournaments in the last two decades and put in a miserable performance during Euro 2024 qualifying. 

Former manager Stephen Kenny stepped down after his side managed a meagre six points across eight matches, six of which ended in defeat. John O'Shea temporarily stepped in as interim boss before former Iceland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson was announced as Kenny's successor in July. 

Nevertheless, their form was slightly better in the previous Nations League campaign, where they finished third, in an albeit weaker group, with seven points to their name. 

Odds Now's best bet for Group B2

It would be a huge shock if England didn't come out on top in this group. Their poor run in the 2022-23 Nations League has seen them drop down to a level they are better than - Lee Carsley's men should secure promotion back to League A with relative ease. This is reflected in the betting odds, where the Three Lions are huge odds-on favourites to finish top at 1/12.

The value play therefore lies in predicting who will come bottom out of Finland, Greece and the Republic of Ireland. None of the three have great pedigree at major tournaments as of late, as can probably be expected of sides in League B. 

Finland and Greece have been far more convincing in the Nations League, though. Both sides topped their respective groups in 2022-23 and put in solid showings during Euro 2024 qualifying. Finland actually won six of their 10 qualifying matches, while Greece reached the play-off finals before coming up short against Georgia on penalties. 

Compare this with the recent form of the Republic of Ireland and all of a sudden, backing them to finish bottom at 6/4 looks a great shout. They have endured miserable form of late. Alongside their poor showing in Euros qualifying, the side have also recorded just one win in their last six. Four of those games saw them fail to score a goal. 

Hallgrimsson is yet to take charge of a match as manager but faces a huge task in restoring a smile to Irish faces. A bottom-placed finish for them stands out as the sensible play in Group B2 for me.