The UEFA Nations League playoffs come to a close on Sunday night with a host of teams battling for promotion and against relegation plus four sides also fighting to reach the final series in June.
Football tipster Feargal Brennan has dived into the stats ahead of some huge games with a focus on goal scorer and assist markets as some of Europe’s heavyweights battle it out.
All five of these player picks are also covered by Paddy’s Super Sub offer, meaning if a player is replaced, the pick carries over to his substitute.
Sunday’s Multi-Match Bet Builder Tips
*All games kick off at 7:45pm
France v Croatia
Kylian Mbappe to score or assist
Germany v Italy
Jamal Musiala to score or assist
Portugal v Denmark
Cristiano Ronaldo to score or assist
Spain v Netherlands
Lamine Yamal to score or assist
Ireland v Bulgaria
Troy Parrott to score
- A Multi-Match Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 33/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
France v Croatia
UEFA Nations League match at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis
TV: Viaplay International YouTube, 7:45pm
Kylian Mbappe to score or assist
France and Croatia have built up a fierce rivalry in recent years, and Luka Modric and his wily band of brothers eased out a 2-0 quarter-final first-leg win in Split with a starting XI that included four players aged 33 and upwards.
Croatia are unbeaten in their last three games against Didier Deschamps’ side, having lost the previous three, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup final in Russia.
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has two goals against Croatia in his career, and Deschamps will look to him in this clash to try to spark France’s hopes of reaching the June finals.
No goal or assist in his last three France appearances is a concern, but 31 goals in all competitions so far in his debut season in Madrid means he is still Les Bleus’ most potent weapon, and all eyes be on him in Paris.
Germany v Italy
UEFA Nations League match at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
TV: Amazon Prime Video, 7:45pm
Jamal Musial to score or assist
There is a real Battle Royale in Dortmund as Germany hosts Italy after a rotated side secured a 2-1 comeback win in Milan in midweek. Julian Nagelsmann gave some of his emerging talents a chance to impress at the San Siro, and they now have an edge over Luciano Spalletti’s visitors.
With Florian Wirtz not in the squad, Bayern Munich whiz Jamal Musiala is the goal and assist leader in Nagelsmann’s ranks with two and three, respectively, in the Nations League group stages.
16 goals across all competitions so far this season means only Harry Kane has outscored him in Vincent Kompany’s team, and he has scored in his last successive international games on German soil.
Portugal v Denmark
UEFA Nations League match at the Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon
TV: Viaplay International YouTube, 7:45pm
Cristiano Ronaldo to score or assist
Man United fans may have been taken aback by the sight of Rasmus Hojlund putting the ball in the back of the Portuguese net in the first leg.
Hojlund signed off for the international break with a United goal for the first time since December – in a 3-0 win over relegation-battling Leicester City – and he is now back amongst the goals for the Danes for the first time since October 2023.
Giddy with excitement after his goal, Hojlund even hit the ‘SIUUUU’ celebration in front of its owner, as Cristiano Ronaldo did his best to look nonchalant.
CR7 does not like imitators and he will be out for revenge in Lisbon. Most 40-year-olds would crumble at the thought of playing 90 minutes back-to-back, but Ronaldo is not one to shy away from adding to his career goal tally.
Five goals from six group games highlight that he is still the main man for goals in this team, and Roberto Martinez needs him.
Spain v Netherlands
UEFA Nations League match at the Estadio Mestalla, Valencia
TV: Amazon Prime Video, 7:45pm
Lamine Yamal to score or assist
Mikel Merino did his best ‘I’m pretty good at this striker lark’ impression again as Arsenal’s latest goal sensation snatched a late 2-2 draw for the defending European champions in Rotterdam.
Coming in on the opposite end of the age scale to Ronaldo is Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal [let’s all remember he’s still only 17] on the back of an incredible season so far in Catalonia.
11 La Liga assists puts him top of Europe’s top five domestic leagues for laying on goals this season, with 13 goals also scored across all competitions.
Ireland v Bulgaria
UEFA Nations League match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin
TV: RTE 2/Amazon Prime Video 7:45pm
Troy Parrott to score
Wrapping up this Bet Builder is Ireland’s battle to stay in League B after securing a scrappy 2-1 win in Bulgaria in the first leg. The travelling Boys In Green might have hoped to put a bigger gap between themselves and the hosts as the second half in Plovidv descended into a slugfest.
Finn Azaz netted his first international goal as Matt Doherty’s header wrapped up the win. Troy Parrott got the nod to start, and he laid on the assist for Azaz’s opener.
The former Spurs forward has been revived by a summer move to AZ Alkmaar – with 17 goals this season – and with five international goals to his name, he’s the second-highest international scorer in Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad.
Sunday’s Nations League betting tips
France v Croatia
Kylian Mbappe to score or assist
Germany v Italy
Jamal Musiala to score or assist
Portugal v Denmark
Cristiano Ronaldo to score or assist
Spain v Netherlands
Lamine Yamal to score or assist
Ireland v Bulgaria
Troy Parrott to score
- A Multi-Match Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 33/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
READ MORE
- Shoot on over to Paddy Power News for the best Football Betting Tips & News
- Football Accumulator Tips: Sunday night’s 26/1 Nations League wager
- Ireland v Bulgaria tips: Our three top shouts for Sunday’s Nations League play-off
- Football Tips: Sam Farley’s best bets for Scotland v Greece, including a 12/1 shot
- England v Latvia tips: Three Lions to make light work of it in our 50/1 Bet Builder
- How does the UEFA Nations League affect qualifying for the 2026 World Cup?
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
