Spain leaves it late and Croatia stops France

The headlines of the League of Nations Spain needed an Igualada stoppage of the Arsenal midfielder, Mikel Merino, to tie 2-2 against the 10 Men Netherlands.

The substitute Merino, who has been filling as an important striker of the Gunners, showed his eye to re -headed again in an added level in an entertaining game in Rotterdam.

The Dutch had struggled after passing back to the ninth minute with the goals of Cody Gakpo and Tijjani Reijnders, but ended with 10 men after the teenager Jorrel Hato was sent eight minutes from time for a challenge.

Late drama in Rotterdam 🤯#Nionionsleague pic.twitter.com/2igg27okwd

– UEFA EURO (@uefaeururo) March 20, 2025

Spain, who had not lost in its previous 21 competitive international, opened the score through Nico Williams after a quick start to the game.

Any other place, Ante Budiri and Ivan Perisic de Croatia won a well-deserved 2-0 victory over France in the quarter-final of the Nations League, the first stage as a return from Kylian Mbapppe and Ousmane Dembele did not get visitors to shoot.

Croatia also lost an early penalty when Andrej Kramaric’s goalkeeper was saved by the goalkeeper of France, Mike Maignan, and the 2023 runners -up was a total value for a victory that could have been achieved with greater margin.

France created the possibilities and tried several times the Croatian goalkeeper, Dominik Limakovic, but it was a performance below the night that he had promised a lot with the return of MBAPPE in particular after leaving the last four games.

“We lost our first, we make sure we win the second at home,” said France Didier Deschamps. “Our first half was below what we were able. We will do everything to turn it around.

“We were punished in the first half. We were too much wasted at the technical level and gave opportunities to the opponent.”

Win of Germany; Petutual smoothie

Germany came from behind to defeat Italy 2-1 in San Siro, with Bayern Munich’s midfielder Leon Goretzka, heading the winning goal to 14 minutes.

Italy advanced when Nicolo Barella played a pass in the box of Matteo Politano, who again threw the ball to Moise Kean and the ball fell to the man of Newcastle Sandro Tonali who drove his shot in the corner.

Germany equalized four minutes in the second half when Joshua Kimmich floated the ball in the box and the substitute not marked Tim Kleindienst was raised to feed a Gigi Donnarumma head with his first touch.

The winner came from the corner of Kimmich, which seemed to have gone to the network without a touch, but Goretzka achieved the slightest head of the ball before winning Donnarumma.

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund left the bench to clean the winner when Denmark defeated Portugal 1-0.