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UEFA

Iceland placed in top UEFA Nations League group

Iceland's remarkable rise has been rewarded with a place among Europe's top teams in UEFA's inaugural Nations League which kicks off next September.

Reuters
Iceland's players including Iceland's forward Johann Berg Gudmundsson (L) and Iceland's forward Alfred Finnbogason celebrate after the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Iceland and Kosovo in Reykjavik, Iceland on Octo
HARALDUR GUDJONSSONAFP

The north Atlantic islanders, who became the smallest nation by population to qualify for the World Cup finals on Monday, have been placed in League A along with the likes of world champions Germany, European champions Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Italy, France and England.

Iceland also reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 having beaten England -- the first major tournament they qualified for.

European confederation UEFA announced the four leagues for their new competition on Wednesday, following the conclusion of the groups stages in the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Switzerland, Poland and Croatia are also in League A as are the Netherlands, despite missing out on the World Cup.

Virgil Van Dijk of Netherlands and Marcus Berg of Sweden in action during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Netherlands and Sweden at the Amsterdam Arena on October 10, 2017 in Amsterdam
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Virgil Van Dijk of Netherlands and Marcus Berg of Sweden in action during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Netherlands and Sweden at the Amsterdam Arena on October 10, 2017 in AmsterdamDean MouhtaropoulosGetty Images

The four leagues, which will be split into groups of three or four teams at a draw in Lausanne in January, were decided by the UEFA national team coefficient rankings of Europe's 55 nations.

June 2019 final

Matches will take place over six matchdays from September to November next year with the four League A group winners contesting the finals in June 2019.

UEFA's Nations League is designed to replace "meaningless" friendly internationals with competitive matches against teams of similar standing.

League B contains the likes of 2018 World Cup hosts Russia and Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and Northern Ireland; all of whom are in the playoffs for the World Cup.

Republic of Ireland's midfielder James McClean (L) and Republic of Ireland's midfielder David Meyler celebrates victory after the group D World Cup qualifying football match between Wales and Republic of Ireland at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff on Octob
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Republic of Ireland's midfielder James McClean (L) and Republic of Ireland's midfielder David Meyler celebrates victory after the group D World Cup qualifying football match between Wales and Republic of Ireland at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff on OctobGEOFF CADDICKAFP

Serbia, who qualified for the World Cup, are down in Group C with the likes of Bulgaria, Slovenia, Hungary and Greece.

League D contains the so-called minnows of European football such as Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino and Andorra.

Promotion and relegation will come into play for the second edition of the Nations League starting in 2020.