Germany are well on their way to the final four of the Nations League. Julian Nagelsmann's team won the quarter-final first leg in Italy 2:1, while France and Portugal conceded defeats.
20.03.2025, 22:53
SDA
Leon Goretzka, of all people, scored the German winner in Milan with a quarter of an hour to go. The Bayern Munich midfielder headed a corner from his club colleague Joshua Kimmich past Gianluigi Donnarumma. It was Goretzka's first international appearance after 16 months out of the squad.
The second German goalscorer was Tim Kleindienst, who continued to distinguish himself as a goalscorer with his 3rd goal in his 5th international match. Gerardo Seoane's protégé in Mönchengladbach only needed three minutes after coming on as a substitute after the break to make it 1-1 - he also benefited from a header from a Kimmich cross. The Italians had taken an early lead through Sandro Tonali. The second leg will take place in Dortmund on Sunday.
Defending champions Spain avoided their first defeat in a serious match in almost exactly two years in Rotterdam against the Netherlands in extremis. After Nico Williams had got the European champions and defending champions off to the perfect start by making it 1-0 after eight minutes, Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan managed to turn things around shortly after the break. In the final phase, in which the Dutch played with ten players after the red card against 19-year-old Jorrel Hato, Spain managed to draw 2:2 (93') through Mikel Merino.
France, winners of the Nations League 2021, must make up for a 2-0 handicap against Croatia in Paris on Sunday. The team led by Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé conceded two goals in the first half, which was clearly dominated by Luka Modric's Croatia. Ante Budimir and Ivan Perisic rewarded the hosts in Split for a strong first 45 minutes. The lead could have been even clearer had Andrej Kramaric not failed to beat France goalkeeper Mike Maignan with a penalty in the 8th minute. The visitors only got into the game better after the break.
In Copenhagen, Denmark gained a 1:0 cushion for the second leg in Portugal. Rasmus Höjlund scored in the 78th minute after Christian Eriksen, Höjlund's team-mate at Manchester United, had failed to beat Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa with a penalty in the first half.
Telegrams:
Croatia - France 2:0 (2:0)
Split. - SR Eskas (NOR). - Goals: 26. Budimir 1:0. 45. Perisic 2:0. - Comments: 8. France goalkeeper Maignan saves penalty from Kramaric.
Denmark - Portugal 1:0 (0:0)
Copenhagen. - Ref Peljto (BIH). - Goal: 78. Höjlund 1:0. - Remarks: 24. Portugal's goalkeeper Diogo Costa saves Eriksen's penalty.
Italy 1:2 (1:0) against Germany
Milan. - Referee Letexier (FRA). - Goals: 9 Tonali 1:0. 49 Kleindienst 1:1. 76 Goretzka 1:2.
Netherlands - Spain 2:2 (1:1)
Rotterdam. - SR Nyberg (SWE). - Goals: 9. Nico Williams 0:1. 28. Gakpo 1:1. 46. Reijnders 2:1. 93. Merino 2:2. - Remarks: 82nd red card against Hato (Netherlands).
