Trincao spares Ronaldo’s blushes, Spain and France win shootouts

Francisco Trincao spared Cristiano Ronaldo’s blushes as Portugal arrange a Nations League semi-final with Germany due to an exciting 5-2 win over Denmark.

Portugal trailed 1-0 from the primary leg and missed a gilt-edged early probability to degree the tie when Ronaldo noticed a tame sixth-minute penalty saved.

The hosts did degree seven minutes earlier than half-time thanks a Joachim Andersen personal purpose, just for Denmark to retake the lead within the tie via Rasmus Kristensen’s far-post header within the 56th minute.

Ronaldo obtained his purpose 16 minutes later, changing on the rebound after Bruno Fernandes had hit the submit, however Christian Eriksen’s fast response appeared set to ship Denmark into the final 4.

Nonetheless, substitute Trincao got here to the rescue when he lashed house from simply contained in the field after Denmark did not defend an innocuous cross 4 minutes from the top of regular time. The Sporting Lisbon man was then the quickest to react a minute into further time after Kasper Schmeichel was unable to deal with a Goncalo Ramos effort.

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗔̃𝗢. 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗔̃𝗢. #FazHistória | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/Snzd7V8uY0

— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) March 23, 2025

His composed left-foot end lastly gave Portugal the lead within the tie, and Ramos made certain of development with 5 minutes of the additional half hour remaining.

In the meantime, Germany survived a second-half collapse in an unbelievable second leg with Italy, wherein they benefited from a weird lack of focus from the Azzurri.

Germany led 2-1 from the primary leg at San Siro, however ended up clinging on to keep away from further time after a frenetic 3-3 attract Dortmund.

They’d been in cruise management after Joshua Kimmich gave the hosts the lead from the spot after which laid on the help from a nook for Jamal Musiala to faucet into an unguarded web following an unbelievable lack of focus from Italy, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and his teammates extra involved with arguing amongst themselves.

Tim Kleindiest made it 3-0 with a close-range header from an outstanding Kimmich cross simply earlier than half-time, however Moise Kean gave Italy hope with a second-half double.

There was late drama as Giacomo Raspadori transformed from the spot within the ninety fifth minute after Maximilian Mittelstadt was dominated to have dealt with within the space after a VAR test, however Italy couldn’t discover a fourth to drive further time.

Spain and France arrange rematch with shootout wins

Spain got here from behind to beat France within the semi-final of Euro 2024, however Les Bleus can have an opportunity for a really small measure of revenge after they each gained penalty shootouts to succeed in the final 4.

European champions Spain prevailed after one other fascinating encounter with the Netherlands, having left it late to say a 2-2 draw within the first leg.

Mikel Oyarzabal’s eighth-minute penalty put La Roja in entrance, however Memphis Depay cancelled that effort out with a spot-kick of his personal 9 minutes into the second half.

Oyarzabal restored Spain’s lead 13 minutes later, the Actual Sociedad star nodding in after his preliminary dinked effort was saved out following an excellent run from Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams.

What are we going to do with these two?#VamosEspaña | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/blYapmecnE

— Spanish Soccer (@SpainIsFootball) March 23, 2025

Ian Maatsen lashed into the top-right nook to degree issues up once more and drive further time, however he was then outshone by Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old Barca star demonstrating unbelievable management to gather the ball on the fitting earlier than reducing in and arrowing a chic strike past Bart Verbruggen.

Xavi Simons transformed a second Netherlands penalty after he was introduced down by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon to ship the sport to a shootout, wherein misses from Noa Lang and Donyell Malen doomed the Oranje.

Spain overcame a miss from Yamal, with Pedri changing the decisive penalty after Malen’s failure.

France’s victory was much less chaotic, Didier Deschamps’ males erasing a 2-0 first-leg deficit of their tie with Croatia via objectives from Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele.

Each side missed two of their first 5 penalties within the shootout, however Dayot Upamecano gained it for France after Josip Stanicic was denied by Mike Maignan.