Paris: France and Portugal came from behind to draw in the first leg, and Spain held on to a ‘tied’ draw in the second leg, while Germany maintained their lead in the first leg in the second leg… After a thrilling battle that was as exciting as a football match, the UEFA Nations League semi-final lineup has been announced. Germany and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will face off in the first semi-final at the Munich Football Arena on June 4.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Denmark (Photo by Patricia DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)
The next day, March 5, the second semi-final between Spain and France will be played at the Stuttgart Arena. The losers will play the third-place match at the Stuttgart Arena on June 8, followed by the final at the Munich Football Arena on the same day.∙ France beats Croatia
After an unexpected 2–0 defeat in the first leg, France kept their ‘life’ alive by beating Croatia 2–0 in the second leg quarter-final in front of their home crowd. After a goalless first leg, both goals came in the second half. Michel Aulis (52nd minute) and Ousmane Dembele (80th) scored for France.
With the score tied at 2–2 after both legs, the match went into extra time. No goals were scored there, so a penalty shootout. With the score still tied there, the winners were determined in sudden death. Finally, France won 5–4 and advanced to the semi-finals.
∙ Ronaldo misses penalty and scores a goal
In a match where superstar Cristiano Ronaldo transformed from villain to hero by missing a penalty, Portugal defeated Denmark. Portugal, which had lost 1-0 in the first leg at home, booked its ticket to the semi-finals by winning 5-2 in the second leg at home. Portugal took a 3-2 lead in regulation time, making the score 3-3 after both legs. With this, the match went to extra time. Portugal scored 2 more goals in extra time and advanced to the semi-finals with a 5-2 victory.
Portugal was leading 1-0 in the first half due to an own goal by Joachim Anderson (38th minute). Ronaldo had missed a penalty in the first half. Denmark fought back in the second half with goals from Rasmus Christensen (56th minute) and Christian Eriksen (76th), but Portugal maintained their 3–2 lead with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo (72nd) and Trincao (86th). Trincao scored the next goal in the first minute of the match that went into extra time. Substitute Gonzalo Ramos also scored in the 115th minute, taking Portugal to the semi-finals with a 5–2 victory.
∙ Germany ‘without breaking the tie’
Germany reached the semi-finals after drawing 3–3 in the second leg quarter-final at home. Germany led 5–4 after winning the first leg 2–1. Moise Kean’s double for Italy was not enough to save the team.
Moise Kean scored in the 49th and 69th minutes. Italy’s third goal came in injury time from Giacomo Raspadori. Joshua Kimmich (30th minute, penalty), Jamal Musiala (36th) and Tim Kleindest (45th) scored for Germany.
∙ Spanish victory in a battle of equal strengths
Spain advanced to the semi-finals by defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in a battle of equal strengths. The second leg quarter-final match, held on Spain’s home ground, ended in a 3–3 draw. After the match was tied 2–2 at the end of regulation, the match went into extra time, when both teams scored one more goal to make the score 3–3. Michael Oyarzabal scored twice for Spain. He scored from the penalty spot in the 8th minute and completed his double in the 67th minute. The third goal was scored by Lamine Yamal in extra time. Memphis Depay (54th minute, penalty), Ian Matson (79) and Xavi Simons also scored for the Dutch team in extra time.
The 2–2 draw in the first leg added to the score at 5–5 after both legs. Although the Netherlands’ Noah Lang and Spain’s Lamine Yamal missed kicks in the shootout, Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon saved a shot from Dutchman Donny Malone to give the team a 5–4 victory and a semi-final berth.
