'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 UEFA Nations League has finally won fans over
The UEFA Nations League is a tournament created by football's governing body in Europe ostensibly to increase competition among teams at similar levels and reduce the number of dead rubber friendlies played during international breaks.
The tournament layout was a bit complicated involving relegations and promotions and when the first set of group stage matches were played in September last year, there were many who did not see the need for the tournament.
Jurgen Klopp brandished it useless, while many others also expressed their reservations about the newly formed competition.
However, the competitive nature of the tournament made it a must win for coaches and the group stage offered lots of excitement, while the potential opportunity for an appearance at next year's Euros also attached more importance to it for the lower ranked teams.
England showed great resilience to rally back from early setbacks to top a group also containing Spain and Croatia to qualify for the semifinals, while 2014 world champions Germany were relegated with Netherlands surprisingly topping their group.
By the time the semifinals rolled around, there was genuine interest in the tournament, with Ronaldo's return and subsequent spectacular performance also adding extra spice.
Even though fans might have been slow to warm up to it, the Nations League showed that it has a lot to offer and on evidence of the thrills the first season provided, it is safe to say that there would be a lot of interest in the next edition.
