The 2022-23 edition of the UEFA Nations League has been a brutal one for some of the big international sides, notably England, France, and European champions Italy, who have struggled significantly.
However, other top nations such as Spain and the Netherlands have done just fine in large part due to their in-form forwards, while a pair of Portuguese and German stars have also helped their respective sides with their strong performances.
Read on below as SBOTOP shines the spotlight on seven standout players from the first four rounds of the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League.
Pablo Sarabia, Spain
Spain are currently on top of Group A2, one point ahead of Iberian rivals Portugal, and Pablo Sarabia has been a significant reason why.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward started three of Spain’s four Nations League matches and contributed two goals and an assist. He assisted Alvaro Morata’s opening goal in their 1-1 draw with Portugal, then scored the winner in their 1-0 away win against Switzerland.
With Spain still short of consistent goalscorers on the international level, the 30-year-old Sarabia (9 goals in 22 caps) has further solidified his place in Luis Enrique’s World Cup squad with his impressive UEFA Nations League performances.
Erling Haaland, Norway
Haaland has had a fine summer thus far. Aside from sealing his mega move to Manchester City, he had a terrific run with Norway in the Nations League. The 21-year-old scored five goals, four of which came in two games against Scandinavian rivals Sweden.
Haaland’s goalscoring record for his national team is now 20 goals in 21 caps, which resembles his remarkable goal-per-game ratio at club level.
Thanks to Haaland’s goals, Norway are top of Group B4 and look set to gain promotion to League A for the first time.
Joao Cancelo, Portugal
Haaland’s new Man City team-mate Joao Cancelo has also stood out in the UEFA Nations League for Portugal. Cancelo started all four games for the Selecao at right-back, and he produced UEFA Nations League 2022 highlights similar to the ones that made him the Premier League’s top left-back last season.
Cancelo provided the assist for Ricardo Horta’s late equaliser in their big showdown against Spain, then scored in back-to-back games against Switzerland and the Czech Republic to help Portugal stay within striking distance of Spain in the Group A2 standings.
Bernardo Silva, Portugal
Cancelo’s City and Portugal team-mate Bernardo Silva wasn’t too bad himself. Like Cancelo, the 27-year-old appeared in all four matches and supplied three assists, including both goals in Portugal’s 2-0 win against the Czech Republic.
Silva has now contributed two goals and six assists in 15 UEFA Nations League appearances for Portugal, but that does not begin to tell the true extent of his importance to this Selecao side.
Jonas Hofmann, Germany
Jonas Hofmann had a fine season with Borussia Monchengladbach as he scored a career-best 12 goals in just 26 appearances. And the 29-year-old has carried over that goalscoring form into the UEFA Nations League with Germany.
Hofmann played in all four of Die Mannschaft’s matches, with three starts, and he certainly made quite an impression on Hansi Flick as he scored in Germany’s 1-1 draws against England and Hungary.
With Hofmann’s versatility to play as either a right wing-back or a right wide forward, he figures to have a spot in the final German World Cup squad if he can continue his impressive form.
Joshua Kimmich, Germany
As good as Hofmann has been, though, Joshua Kimmich has been the star of Germany’s still-undefeated UEFA Nations League campaign thus far. The Bayern Munich man played all 360 minutes through the first four games and has run the show in the middle of the park.
Kimmich scored Germany’s equaliser against Italy and provided the assist for Hofmann’s opener against England. He also scored the opening goal in Germany’s 5-2 thrashing of European champions Italy.
Memphis Depay, Netherlands
The Netherlands have been the most successful nation in League A of the UEFA Nations League. The Dutch have the most points through four games (10) and lead Group A4, in large part thanks to Memphis Depay.
The Barcelona striker has banged in three goals in his three appearances, including a brace in the Netherlands’ 4-1 beating of Belgium.
Memphis suffered the disappointment of missing a late penalty that would have given the Oranje the win against Poland. However, he made up for his miscue as he come off the bench to score the stoppage-time winner in the Dutch’s dramatic 3-2 win over Wales. Depay’s contributions have significantly helped the Netherlands’ UEFA Nations League 2022 odds of making the finals, and with top nations like England, France, and Italy already out of the running, the Oranje could yet win the competition if Depay continues his fine goalscoring form for his country.
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