The UEFA Nations League finals kickoff on Thursday and all four quarter final first leg fixtures were undertaken in an eventful evening, with all games kicking off simultaneously.
Defending champions, Spain traveled to the Netherlands, Italy played host to Germany, Croatia entertained France while 2018/19 winner Portugal visited Denmark.
The bookies favourites were denied wins as only Spain earned a draw after the Netherlands have been reduced to 10man following the late sending off of Joriel Hato for a reckless challenge on Robin Le Normand.
From Germany’s comeback win in Milan to the late drama Rotterdam, here is how things went down in the first leg of the quarter finals of the UEFA Nations League.
UEFA Nations League Quarter-finals report
Germany battle back to continue Italy streak
Second half goals from Tim Kleindienst and Leon Goretzka saw Germany sealed a 2-1 come from behind with over Italy, extending their unbeaten run against the Azzurri to seven.
Germany, who had never lost to the host since a Mario Balotelli brace condemned them to a 2-1 defeat in the semi finals of the UEFA European championship in 2012, fell behind against the run of play, less than 10 minutes into the contest.
Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, fresh from winning the Carabao Cup on Sunday, fired home after making a run into the box to connect with a Matteo Politano cutback, which evaded Moise Kean.
Germany began the search for an equalizer and created a few openings. Leon Goretzka missed a glorious chance to level matters in the first-half as the game headed for the break with the host in front.
Germany found a respond less than five minutes after the restart though substitute striker Tim Kleindienst, who rises high to power a Joshua Kimmich cross into the bottom corner – it was his third goal in five Germany games.
Kimmich, again, set up the winner with less than 15 minutes left to play in normal time. His perfectly executed corner kick was met by the header of Bayern teammate, Leon Goretzka, who powered his header past Gianluigi Donnarumma for 2-1.
Germany held on for the win, extending their unbeaten run, both in this fixture and on current run to seven, and will kickoff the second leg in Dortmund on Sunday with a one-goal advantage.
Denmark tame Portugal in Kobenhavn
There was one favourite ahead of kickoff, and another one a few minutes into the game. Denmark, who had not lost a home game in 13 before the defeat to Spain in November, showed what makes them so special at home.
It finished 1-0 to Brian Riemer’s charge, who were clearly the better side on the night, creating all three big chances of the contest, including a Christian Eriksen’s penalty which was saved by Diogo Costa.
The breakthrough, though, came 12 minutes from time. Substitutes Rasmus Højlund and Andreas Skov Olsen combined to unlock the Portuguese defence.
A sweeping team move saw the ball played to Morten Hjulmand. The midfielder adjusted his body and finds Olsen on the right, the winger drags a low cross to the path of Højlund, who managed to drag his shot home from close range.
It’s goal that not only means Portugal have a deficit to overcome when the second leg gets underway in Lisbon on Sunday but also end their six game unbeaten run – it is also their first loss to Denmark since October 2011.
Croatia cut France opened in Split
Dominik Livakovic was the hero as Croatia established a stunning 2-0 advantage over France ahead of the return leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter final meeting in Saint-Denis on Sunday.
The goalkeeper made six saves and finished the match with a clean sheet against a France side, who boasted some in form attackers in Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembele.
As their goalkeeper kept the visitors shut in attack, Croatia also had things going their way in attack, although were denied a chance to take an early lead as Mike Maignan denied Andrej Kramaric from the spot, following a penalty conceded by Ibrahim Konate.
The host eventually take a deserved lead just after the first quarter. Ivan Perisic whipped a cross into the box and Ante Budimir connected with a header, which beats Maignan to break the deadlock.
Perisic turned goalscorer just before halftime following a fast break. Josip Sutalo’s shot was charged down and the ball fell kindly for the PSV man, who applied the finish on a half volley for his 34 international goal.
France now have to overcome the two goal deficit if they are to reach the semi finals of the competition they won in 2021 knowing well that they have now gone three games without beating Croatia.
Mikel Merino’s late leveler denied 10man Netherlands
It looked as though the host had the game in the bag before a chaotic finale saw things turn following Joriel Hato’s sending off, and substitute Mikel Merino equalized for Spain in added time.
Spain were heading for their defeat in almost a year, since the 1-0 loss to Colombia in March 2024, but fortune favoured them against their unlucky host, who maybe deserved to take an advantage into the second leg.
Luis de La Fuente’s charge took the lead through Nico Williams, who was set up by Pedri with a low pass along the penalty area. Lamine Yamal started the attack, nicking the ball off Hato before playing to Pedri less than nine minutes in.
The host found a response just before the half hour. As Spain cleared their lines from a Dutch attack, Hato headed it down to keep the attack alive, finding Justin Kluivert.
The Bournemouth attacker then sends a cross into the area, where Cody Gakpo arrived to fire home a first time shot for his 15th for his country, and his third in the ongoing UEFA Nations League tournament.
The comeback was completed immediately after the restart. Jeremie Frimpong, who had quite a game left Marc Cucurella for dead not for the first time, before squaring a low cross along the edge of the penalty box, where Tijjani Reijnders arrived to fire home first time.
Mikel Merino fired home from close range, after Nico Williams’ shot was charged down by Bart Berbruggen in the third minute of added time as it finished all square in Rotterdam.
The Netherlands has now gone four games without losing to Spain since the 1-0 defeat in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, winning two and drawing as much.
The return leg will come on Sunday, with Spain playing the host in Mestalla, Valencia, where a winner will be needed to determine who progresses into the next round of the competition.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
