(Football news) Spain could potentially book their place in the final four of the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League as they welcome Switzerland to Zaragoza on Saturday. La Roja currently sit one point clear of Portugal at the top of the standings while their visitors are at risk of being relegated with a defeat. The current Spain may no longer strike fear into the hearts of teams with the same ferocity as in 2010, but Luis Enrique's side have improved leaps and bounds as they can still be considered as genuine World Cup contenders
La Roja are in Group E with Costa Rica, Japan and Germany and also have the chance to seal first place in their Nations League group this week, when they aim to go one better than last year's defeat to France in the Nations League final. Enrique's men have taken eight points from a possible 12 to get a one-point gap over second-placed Portugal. Spain have not lost since October 2018 on home soil. For Switzerland, the gap to third-placed Czech Republic is only one point, meaning that the Swiss could change their fortunes with victory in Zaragoza, but their relegation could also be sealed with defeat if Jaroslav Silhavy's Cech side beat Portugal.
Spain possible starting lineup:
Simon; Carvajal, Garcia, Torres, Alba; Gavi, Busquets, Koke; Sarabia, Morata, Torres
Switzerland possible starting lineup:
Omlin; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka, Sow; Shaqiri, Seferovic, Embolo
Portugal will endeavour to keep their hopes of a UEFA Nations League finals berth as they travel to the Sinobo Stadium to meet the Czech Republic on Saturday. Fernando Santos' side are currently occupy second place in League A Group 2 which is one point less than Spain – while their hosts are in third place aiming to preserve their top-flight status. Portugal got the better of North Macedonia in the World Cup playoff as Santos's men are now preparing for battle with Uruguay, Ghana and the Korea Republic in Group H, but their Nations League fate could be sealed on Saturday.
Defeat for Portugal along with victory for Spain at home to Switzerland would see Luis Enrique's men make the finals but for Santos the main aim is to end his side's three-game winless streak away from home in all tournaments. Last time around Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Guedes were on target when the Selecao saw off their Czech opponents 2-0 three months ago, which marked Portugal's third consecutive win, having previously defeated them at the Euros. The Czech Republic have only accumulated four points from their four games to sit third in the table and in the relegation spot as it is impossible for Silhavy's side to secure an unlikely place in the finals, their main will not get relegated to league 2.
Czech Republic possible starting lineup:
Vaclik; Zima, Brabec, Jemelka; Coufal, Kral, Soucek, Zeleny; Cerny, Schick, Hlozek
Portugal possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Dalot, Dias, Pereira, Mendes; Neves, Carvalho, Fernandes; B. Silva, Ronaldo, Leao
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