The Azerbaijan national team will play their next match tomorrow.
According to Idman.biz, the upcoming encounter with Estonia in Gabala is crucial for the national team’s position in the UEFA Nations League.
In Group 1 of League C, Fernando Santos's squad has suffered defeats to Slovakia (0-2, 1-3), Sweden (1-3), and Estonia (1-3), placing them at the bottom of the standings. Our team is now fighting to avoid finishing last, and the match against Estonia is key to that.
To avoid finishing last, the team must secure a win. If Azerbaijan loses points in this match, it will officially confirm their last-place finish in the group.
Even if Azerbaijan wins by a one-goal margin, they will remain at the bottom of the group. However, there could still be a theoretical chance if Sweden wins against Estonia and Slovakia defeats Estonia in the final round.
A victory by 2 or 3 goals would delay the question of last place until the final round. To go into the last match with a stronger position, the team must win by at least two goals. A significant win would also provide hope that Slovakia might lose at home.
So, what happens if the team finishes last? This could be confirmed either tomorrow or on the 19th of November.
According to new rules introduced this year, the results of the teams finishing last in the four groups will be compared. Currently, Latvia (4 points), Luxembourg (2), Lithuania, and Azerbaijan (0 points) are at the bottom of their respective groups.
Under the current system, Lithuania and Azerbaijan, with the worst results, would drop directly to League D. The other two teams, Latvia and Luxembourg, would play playoffs against the second-placed teams from League D. Currently, San Marino and Malta are in these positions.
Of course, matches in the V and VI rounds could change everything. For now, the team’s fate is still in their own hands. They must achieve a dominant win against Estonia and avoid losing points in the final round against the Baltic nation.
If Santos's squad can manage this, they will not need to rely on calculations from other groups. If they fail to escape the last-place position, the team will have to consider the results of the other three bottom teams in League C. This could leave Azerbaijan with a choice between playoffs or relegation to League D. These matches are scheduled for March 28 and 31, 2026. The first playoff games will take place in the home countries of League D teams, and the draw for all league playoffs will take place on November 22.
The match between Azerbaijan and Estonia tomorrow in Gabala will kick off at 18:00.
Vugar Khayrullayev
Idman.biz
