Women's Nations League: How things look for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

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Georgia Stanway of England during the UEFA Nations League women's match between Belgium and EnglandImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Belgium scored a late penalty after England's Georgia Stanway was penalised for handball

England's quest for Olympic qualification hit another stumbling block as they suffered a defeat by Belgium in the Women's Nations League.

The Lionesses, who are trying to secure a place at Paris 2024 on behalf of Great Britain, need to win their group if they are to have any chance of qualifying, but are third with only two games remaining.

They will not play again until early December, along with all of the other home nations, as the group stage of the inaugural Women's Nations League comes to a conclusion.

Following mixed results in the fourth round of fixtures, how are things shaping up for the home nations?

England hopes fading as Scotland face difficult task

Things have not been easy for Sarina Wiegman's England since their World Cup final defeat by Spain.

They opened their Nations League campaign in late September with a narrow and unconvincing 2-1 win over Scotland at the Stadium of Light, before losing by the same scoreline away to the Netherlands, who were beaten by Belgium in their first game.

Wiegman has been chosen to lead Great Britain at the 2024 Olympics should they qualify. England, who were nominated as the representative for Team GB in qualifying, need to top the group to stay in contention for a place at next year's Paris Games.

After narrowly beating Belgium in the first match of their double-header, a 3-2 defeat in Leuven followed - leaving England third and three points adrift of group leaders the Netherlands.

Anything but a win against the Netherlands at Wembley on 1 December is likely to end England's hopes of progressing and Team GB's chances of Olympic qualification.

Meanwhile, Scotland remain bottom of the group with just one point after losing both of their games in a double-header against the Netherlands, 4-0 and 1-0.

Scotland will have to beat both second-placed Belgium and neighbours England in their final two games if they are to have any chance of avoiding relegation into League B.

Image source, BBC Sport

Wales on verge of relegation

For Wales, it was always going to be an uphill challenge to avoid relegation from League A as the fourth seed in their group, and results so far leave them in a vulnerable position.

A 1-0 defeat in their first game away to Iceland was followed by a 5-1 thrashing at home by Denmark.

In the latest fixtures, Wales suffered another 5-1 thrashing against Germany, while the Danes - the group leaders - edged out a 2-1 victory on Tuesday, leaving Gemma Grainger's side bottom of their group and pointless after four matches.

Wales' hopes of staying in League A are likely to rest on their home match against Iceland - who are three points ahead - on 1 December, while they face a tough final game against Germany, who are out of reach on nine points, on 5 December.

Image source, BBC Sport

Republic of Ireland seal promotion

In League B, the Republic of Ireland have sealed promotion to League A.

A 1-0 victory in torrential rain against Albania made it four wins from four for the Republic, and Northern Ireland's 1-1 draw with Hungary in Belfast put the visitors out of the group leaders' reach.

Having suffered a last-gasp 3-2 defeat against Hungary just the week before, Northern Ireland's draw keeps three points above bottom-placed Albania.

They could still finish second in the group as they sit one point behind Hungary, while a win against Albania on 1 December would ensure Tanya Oxtoby's side avoid relegation to League C.

Image source, BBC Sport

What happens after the group stage?

Following the conclusion of the group stage, with the final matchday on 5 December, each of the League A group winners will be drawn into semi-final ties.

Those will be played on 21 and 28 February as one-legged ties before the third-place play-off and final.

The two finalists will join hosts France as the European representatives at the 2024 Olympic Games.

If France are among the finalists, the third-placed team fills the remaining slot for the 12-team tournament in Paris.