Has Nations League proved Klopp wrong?

The competition has given some of Europe's smaller teams a chance to succeed on the international stage, such as Gibraltar.

The minnows only played their first ever fixture in 2014 but recorded a maiden competitive victory away to Armenia last month. And they incredibly followed up that win with another at home to Liechtenstein three days later to spark wild celebrations around the Rock.

 

October 16, 2018

There was also a febrile atmosphere at Wembley on Sunday, with a pocket of Croatia fans making themselves heard throughout an entertaining but goalless first half against England.

And the noise from that block of supporters was ramped up a few notches as the entire Croatia side rushed to Kramaric to celebrate his superb solo strike, again rubbishing the claims from critics such as Klopp that the Nations League simply does not matter.

It matters to England too, though, Southgate's men racing to restart play after Lingard poked in a late equaliser to set up a grandstand finish that left Croatia unsure of whether to push for their own victory or try to hold on for a draw that would have relegated England.

And Kane showed his poacher's instinct to win it in the closing stages, England bouncing back in stunning fashion to keep their Nations League hopes alive.

The passions shown at Wembley at Sunday seem to suggest that there is nothing 'senseless' about the competition.