Greece, Turkey, and Serbia will compete in League A of the next Nations League. The countries won convincingly on Sunday, securing a spot among the top nations. Feyenoord’s Gernot Trauner played a negative leading role for Austria.
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Scotland may boast several well-known names in their national team setup, but their experience and pedigree proved insufficient against an energetic and fearless Greek side that cruised to a dominant 0-3 victory in the second leg.
With the tie delicately balanced after a 1-0 win for Scotland in the first leg, the Greeks came into the match needing a big performance and delivered just that, particularly in the opening 45 minutes.
The Greek squad, composed largely of promising young talent, was guided by one of its more experienced players, former Eredivisie striker Vangelis Pavlidis. At just 26 years old, Pavlidis was already the second-oldest starter on the pitch for Greece, a testament to the youthful nature of the lineup. Yet, despite their inexperience on paper, the Greek players displayed exceptional composure, tactical discipline, and creativity throughout the match, especially in the first half, when they overwhelmed Scotland and quickly turned the tie in their favor.
The man of the match was undoubtedly Giannis Konstantelias, the PAOK Saloniki attacking midfielder who orchestrated much of Greece's offensive play. He opened the scoring with a well-placed shot in the first half that silenced the home crowd and leveled the aggregate score. Konstantelias continued to impress after the break, wasting no time in making another impact. Less than a minute into the second half, he delivered a precise assist to Christos Tzolis, who calmly slotted home the third goal, effectively sealing the match at 0-3 and flipping the tie entirely in Greece's favor.
Adding to the Scottish misery was the contribution of 17-year-old Konstantinos Karetsas, a rising star who previously represented Belgium at the youth level. His goal just before halftime gave Greece a two-goal cushion and showed maturity beyond his years, finishing off a fluid move with poise and confidence. After the third goal, the Greek coaching staff wisely chose to substitute many of the young stars, conserving their energy and protecting their future in what was already a job well done. Scotland, despite having seasoned professionals in their ranks, had no answer to the quick transitions, pressing, and technical superiority displayed by the youthful Greek side.
In another part of Europe, Turkey underlined their growing strength on the international stage with a convincing 0-3 win away to Hungary, completing a 6-1 aggregate victory after a 3-1 first-leg triumph. The Turkish side wasted no time in asserting their dominance. Within minutes, Inter Milan playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu coolly converted a penalty to give his side the lead, immediately taking the pressure off and putting Hungary on the back foot.
Moments later, the ever-exciting Arda Güler, one of Turkey’s brightest young prospects, dazzled with a quick touch and elegant finish to double the lead. The two early goals effectively ended any hopes Hungary had of mounting a comeback, and from that point on, Turkey controlled the tempo with confidence and maturity.
Hungary showed flashes of intent but were repeatedly denied by a solid Turkish backline. To cap off the evening, centre-back Abdülkerim Bardakci found the net late in the game, making it 0-3 and wrapping up what was a thoroughly professional performance. For Hungary, it was a disappointing conclusion, particularly for former AZ Alkmaar left-back Milos Kerkez, who was on the pitch for the full 90 minutes but struggled to make an impact against Turkey's fluid attack and precise passing.
Meanwhile, Serbia confirmed their promotion to League A with a 2-0 win over Austria in a tense and, at times, chaotic affair. With the first leg finishing in a 1-1 draw, the return match in Serbia promised drama, and it delivered. The home side broke the deadlock around the hour mark through a well-taken goal by Nemanja Maksimovic, who latched onto a loose ball in the box and fired it past the Austrian goalkeeper.
Shortly after the opening goal, Austria’s hopes suffered a massive blow when Gernot Trauner was shown a straight red card. The Feyenoord defender’s dismissal left his side down to ten men, and though Austria tried to regroup, the numerical disadvantage made their task nearly impossible. The setback came at the worst possible time, with Serbia gaining momentum and the crowd firmly behind them.
Dusan Vlahovic appeared to have doubled Serbia’s lead minutes later with a powerful strike, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. However, the Juventus forward kept his focus and continued to trouble the Austrian defense with his movement and physical presence. His persistence paid off in the 90th minute when he finally got on the scoresheet, this time with no VAR intervention, calmly finishing to make it 2-0 and officially put the match and the tie out of Austria's reach.
With these results, Greece, Turkey, and Serbia all secure their spots in League A of the next UEFA Nations League, joining Europe’s elite. Each nation not only won convincingly but did so with emerging talent, tactical cohesion, and growing confidence. Their respective performances suggest that they will not just participate in the top division they intend to compete.
