Scotland 0-3 Greece, Spain v Netherlands, Germany v Italy, and more: Nations League – live | Nations League
Key events
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GOAL! Spain 2-1 Netherlands (Oyarzabal 67, 4-3 agg)
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GOAL! Portugal 1-1 Denmark (Kristensen, 1-2 agg)
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GOAL! Germany 3-1 Italy (Kean, 5-2 agg)
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GOAL! France 1-0 Croatia (Olise 52, 1-2 agg)
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Spain 1-1 Netherlands (Depay 54 pen, 3-3 agg)
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Peeeeeeeeeep!
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Half-time: Republic of Ireland 0-1 Bulgaria (2-2 agg)
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Half-time scores: Nations League quarter-finals
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GOAL! Germany 3-0 Italy (Kleindienst 45, 5-1 agg)
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GOAL! Portugal 1-0 Denmark (Andersen OG 38, 1-1 agg)
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GOAL! Germany 2-0 Italy (Musiala 36, 4-1 agg)
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GOAL! Republic of Ireland 0-1 Bulgaria (Antov 30, 2-2 agg)
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GOAL! Germany 1-0 Italy (Kimmich 30 pen, 3-1 agg)
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GOAL! Spain 1-0 Netherlands (Oyarzabal 7, 3-2 agg)
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Ronaldo’s penalty is saved!
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Penalty to Portugal!
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Peeeeeeeeeeep!
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France v Croatia team news
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Germany v Italy teams
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Portugal v Denmark teams
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Spain v Netherlands teams
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Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria teams
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Nations League final scores
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Final score: Scotland 0-3 Greece (Agg 1-3)
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Goal! Scotland 0-3 Greece (Tzolis, 46) (Agg 1-3)
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Half-time scores in the Nations League
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Goal! Scotland 0-2 Greece (Karetsas, 42) (Agg 1-2)
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Goal! Scotland 0-1 Greece (Konstantelias, 21)
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Away we go in Glasgow
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Scotland v Greece team news
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Preamble
France 1-0 Croatia (1-2 agg)
73 min: Just as I suspected, France are throwing the kitchen sink at Croatia, who are just about holding firm. Mbappé, Saliba and Tchouaméni have all missed chances in the last few minutes. Croatia are just over 15 minutes from the most unlikely of aggregate wins. Croatia are keeping the game scrappy and Kovacic is lucky to escape a second yellow card after scything Dembele down from behind.
GOAL! Spain 2-1 Netherlands (Oyarzabal 67, 4-3 agg)
The Dutch are uncharacteristically hit on the counter-attack! The Netherlands throw men forward and are undone. Nico Williams streams forward, driving inside and plays a delightful reverse pass to the unmarked Oyarzabal. The Real Sociedad has time to take a touch in the Dutch box, and tries a dink but Verbruggen makes a save. But the ball falls kindly back to Oyarzabal, and he nods the rebound into the net for his second of the evening! Spain are 4-3 up on aggregate!
GOAL! Portugal 1-1 Denmark (Kristensen, 1-2 agg)
Denmark level the scores on the night and re-take the lead on aggregate! It’s almost a carbon copy of the Portugal goal, except there is no own goal this time. Kristensen connects with a corner at the back post, heading back across goal and into the net. That’s a huge goal!
GOAL! Germany 3-1 Italy (Kean, 5-2 agg)
Germany lose the ball cheaply in midfield and Kean picks up the loose ball, drives forward and unleashes a howitzer of a shot inside Baumann’s near post! Game on? It’s still a long way back for the Italians, who have been much improved since those changes at the break.
Spain 1-1 Netherlands (3-3 agg)
60 min: It’s so hard to keep abreast of the other scores when the football in this game is so good. Both teams have had chances to take the lead on the night and in the tie since the Dutch equaliser: Depay had an excellent long-range strike saved and Nico Williams has just scampered down the left for Spain, getting to the byline before trying to squeeze a shot under Verbruggen. The Brighton keeper was equal to it.
GOAL! France 1-0 Croatia (Olise 52, 1-2 agg)
Olise with a wonderful free-kick! The former Palace man curls his shot over the wall and into the top corner. Livakovic didn’t move! France are back in this, 2-1 down on aggregate! They have been knocking at the door all game: over 60% possession, and have 14 shots to Croatia’s three (although France have had just two on target). I would expect Croatia to continue to park the bus. It’s not likely to be a similar game to the 2018 World Cup final.
Spain 1-1 Netherlands (Depay 54 pen, 3-3 agg)
Depay scores on his 100th international appearance, his 47th goal! He is now just three goals behind Van Persie, the all-time Dutch goalscorer. It was a soft spot kick to give away, Le Normand wrestling Depay to the ground, but the Dutchman dusted himself down and cracked his penalty into the top corner. Simon would have had no chance even if he had guessed the right way (he didn’t).
Spain 1-0 Netherlands (3-2 agg)
48 min: Great save from Simon to deny the Dutch! That was probably the best opening the Netherlands have created, as Gakpo slipped in the underlapping Kluivert down Spain’s right. Simon came out sharply, though, spread himself and stopped Kluivert getting a meaningful shot off. Might the Bournemouth winger have cut the ball back instead? Depay was lurking.
Peeeeeeeeeep!
We’re underway in all four of the quarter-finals.
Hardly surprising at 3-0 down, but Italy make a double change and a change in formation. Politano, the Napoli winger, comes on for Gatti, the Juventus centre-back. Frattesi is also on for Maldini.
Half-time: Republic of Ireland 0-1 Bulgaria (2-2 agg)
We are all square in the Nations League promotion/relegation play-off.
Half-time scores: Nations League quarter-finals
Spain 1-0 Netherlands (3-2 agg)
Germany 3-0 Italy (5-1 agg)
Portugal 1-0 Denmark (1-1 agg)
France 0-0 Croatia (0-2)
Photograph: Thibault Camus/AP
GOAL! Germany 3-0 Italy (Kleindienst 45, 5-1 agg)
That is surely that! Five-one on aggregate. Italy self-destruct again as Schlotterbeck wins a brilliant tackle high up the pitch for Germany, who work it to the right. Kimmich stands up a lovely little cross to the back post, and Kleindienst rises over Di Lorenzo to nod past Donnarumma. The Italy keeper clawed the ball out but it had already gone over the line.
Spain 1-0 Netherlands (3-2 agg)
41 min: Van Dijk is the best centre back in the world, but it is his Netherlands partner, Brighton’s Van Hecke, who has been impressive in this half, despite giving away the penalty. Spain have looked likely on the counter attack with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, but Van Hecke has stepped in expertly on a few occasions now. He’s a brilliant defender, and still just 24.
GOAL! Portugal 1-0 Denmark (Andersen OG 38, 1-1 agg)
Portugal are back in it! Ronaldo may have had a penalty saved earlier in this game, but he rises to meet a Fernandes corner. Joachim Andersen actually beats the Portuguese legend to the ball but inadvertently heads towards his goal. Schmeichel is completely flat footed and the ball dribbles into the net! We’re level on aggregate, 1-1.
GOAL! Germany 2-0 Italy (Musiala 36, 4-1 agg)
An absolutely extraordinary goal! This is Sunday League stuff from Italy, who give Germany the softest of second goals on the night. Donnarumma makes an expert save to deny Kleindienst’s header, turning the ball over the bar. But as Kimmich trots across to take the corner, the Italian defenders are all arguing each other around the penalty spot with Donnarumma coming out of his goal to take part in the conversation. Musiala is completely unmarked on the six-yard box and with no Italian defenders between him and the goal, Kimmich crosses low from the corner and Musiala taps the ball into an empty net! One of the most remarkable international goals I have ever seen. Absolutely dreadful stuff from Italy and from Donnarumma in particular!
GOAL! Republic of Ireland 0-1 Bulgaria (Antov 30, 2-2 agg)
Bulgaria level the tie with their first real chance of the second leg! From a corner, the visitors play the ball to the edge of Ireland’s area. There is a shot and brief scramble before Antov pounces on the rebound to score for Bulgaria!
GOAL! Germany 1-0 Italy (Kimmich 30 pen, 3-1 agg)
Buongiorno clatters into Kleindienst in the area and it’s a penalty! Kimmich makes no mistake from 12 yards and slots cooly past Donnarumma, going to the keeper’s right.
Spain 1-0 Netherlands (3-2 agg)
30 min: Another person making his 100th appearance for his country tonight is Memphis Depay, who now playing (very well) for Corinthians in Brazil.
Portugal 0-0 Denmark (0-1 agg)
28 min: In the absence of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Denmark’s captain (who is injured), there is a lot of responsibility on Brentford’s Norgaard at the base of the Dane’s midfield. He has to contend with Fernandes, Vitinha, and Bernardo Silva (who is making his 100th cap tonight for Portugal) in the middle of the park tonight. Gulp.
Spain 1-0 Netherlands (3-2 agg)
24 min: The Mestalla looks such an amazing stadium. Large and simultaneously compact, the atmosphere looks electric. It’s a place I have always wanted to visit but never got around to it. Valencia CF will leave the stadium for ‘Nou Mestalla’, which was first started in the 2000s and only recently re-commenced construction in January.
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Bulgaria (agg 2-1)
22 min: It’s been an even contest so far in Dublin. Ireland started the stronger – with Jake O’Brien having a header cleared off the line – but Bulgaria are enjoying a good spell of possession and are coming back into it.
Germany 0-0 Italy (2-1 agg)
16 min: Daniel Maldini gets his first start for Italy jersey, 8,314 days (nearly 23 years) after his father Paolo’s final appearance for the Azzurri. Maldini and Kean lead the Italy attack tonight and will try to beat Baumann in the Germany goal (and who was excellent between the sticks in the first leg).
Germany 0-0 Italy (2-1 agg)
13 min: Just as they did in the first leg, in which they conceded two goals from headers, Italy are really struggling with Germany’s aerial threat. Donnarumma is flapping wildly at crosses and Di Lorenzo is forced to hed behind for a corner at the back post under heavy pressure. It’s all Germany. Italy clinging on.
France 0-0 Croatia (0-2)
10 min: It will surprise nobody that France are having all the early running at home to Croatia as they chase a 2-0 deficit from the first leg. Both Mbappé and Upamecano have had early efforts for the hosts.
GOAL! Spain 1-0 Netherlands (Oyarzabal 7, 3-2 agg)
Oyarzabal won the penalty after tangling with Van Hecke, and the Real Sociedad forward calmly curls the ball into the right bottom corner. Spain lead on the night and in the tie!
Ronaldo’s penalty is saved!
Portugal 0-0 Denmark (0-1 agg)
5 min: Schmeichel guesses right and dives left, if that makes sense. Ronaldo simply rolls a limp shot into the Denmark keeper’s arms! Denmark still lead on aggregate.
Penalty to Portugal!
Portugal 0-0 Denmark (0-1 agg)
3 min: Dorgu pulls back Ronaldo in the area as a cross comes in from the left, and the referee points at the spot!
Spain 0-0 Netherlands (2-2 agg)
1 min: De Jong oh-so-nearly passes the ball into his own net, Verbruggen just sticks out a leg, right on his own goalline, and is able to clear to touch!
Peeeeeeeeeeep!
We’re underway in all four quarter-finals.
Spain v Netherlands (2-2 agg)
Germany v Italy (2-1 agg)
Portugal v Denmark (0-1 agg)
France v Croatia (0-2)
Spain v Netherlands is another sell-out at the Mestalla. The Spaniards haven’t beaten tonight’s visitors on home soil since 1983. Dean Huijsen was excellent when he came off the bench in the first leg and the teenage Bournemouth defender is rewarded with a start this evening. What a huge game for the Dutch-born defender.
France v Croatia team news
France: Maignan, Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez, Kone, Tchouameni, Olise, Dembele, Barcola, Mbappe.
Subs: Samba, Chevalier, Pavard, Digne, Camavinga, Doue, Muani, Rabiot, Konate, Zaire Emery, Guendouzi, Clauss.
Croatia: Livakovic, Stanisic, Caleta-Car, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Modric, Kovacic, Perisic, Petar Sucic, Kramaric, Budimir.
Subs: Kotarski, Ivusic, Pongracic, Moro, Vlasic, Mario Pasalic, Baturina, Fruk, Jakic, Sosa, Ivanovic, Juranovic.
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It’s a sell-out in Dortmund for Germany v Italy. As they were in the first leg, the hosts will wear a special kit to mark 125 years of German football. You can watch the highlights of the first leg right here. Interesting to see that Tim Kleindienst starts for Germany after his goal off the bench in the first leg. The 6ft4in striker now has three goals in five appearances for Germany.
Germany v Italy teams
Germany: Baumann, Schlotterbeck, Tah, Rudiger, Kimmich, Stiller, Goretzka, Mittelstadt, Sane, Musiala, Kleindienst.
Subs: Nubel, Ortega, Koch, Gross, Burkardt, Amiri, Undav, Leweling, Bisseck, Adeyemi, Raum, Andrich.
Italy: Donnarumma, Gatti, Buongiorno, Bastoni, Di Lorenzo, Barella, Ricci, Tonali, Udogie, Kean, Maldini.
Subs: Meret, Vicario, Rovella, Lucca, Frattesi, Raspadori, Politano, Ruggeri, Casadei, Zaccagni, Comuzzo, Bellanova.
Portugal v Denmark teams
Portugal: Costa, Dalot, Dias, Inacio, Nuno Mendes, Fernandes, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, Francisco Conceicao, Ronaldo, Leao.
Subs: Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Nelson Semedo, Antonio Silva, Joao Palhinha, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Quenda, Joao Neves, Ruben Neves, Trincao, Jota.
Denmark: Schmeichel, Kristensen, Andersen, Vestergaard, Dorgu, Eriksen, Hjulmand, Norgaard, Isaksen, Hojlund, Lindstrom.
Subs: Hermansen, Jorgensen, Nelsson, Frendrup, Skov Olsen, Biereth, Hogsberg, Wind, Harder, Froholdt, Kristiansen.
Spain v Netherlands teams
Spain: Simon, Mingueza, Le Normand, Huijsen, Cucurella, Olmo, Zubimendi, Fabian, Yamal, Oyarzabal, Williams.
Subs: Raya, Remiro, Porro, Grimaldo, Asencio, Merino, Morata, Aghehowa, Ferran Torres, Garcia, Baena, Gonzalez.
Netherlands: Verbruggen, Geertruida, van Hecke, van Dijk, Maatsen, Reijnders, De Jong, Kluivert, Frimpong, Depay, Gakpo.
Subs: Olij, Flekken, Simons, Koopmeiners, Brobbey, de Ligt, Taylor, Lang, Malen, Wieffer, Baas.
Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria teams
Rep of Ireland: Kelleher, Doherty, Collins, O’Brien, Brady, Johnston, Azaz, Cullen, Knight, Ferguson, Parrott.
Subs: Bazunu, Travers, Manning, O’Shea, Taylor, Idah, Dunne, Sykes, Vata, Moran, Armstrong, Abankwah.
Bulgaria: Plamen Iliev, Minkov, Nedyalkov, Simeon Petrov, Nurnberger, Antov, Gruev, Despodov, Milanov, Marin Petkov, Bozhidar Kraev.
Subs: Sheytanov, Shopov, Ivanov, Krastev, Panayotov, Nikolov, Stoyanov, Ilian Iliev, Kirilov, Hristiyan Petrov, Andrian Kraev, Dyulgerov.
If you’re after a little refresher of what happened in the first leg of the below ties, please enjoy this round up from a few days ago.
Hello everyone, and thanks to John. A lot of football to digest, and for those not already full, we have another feast of football kicking off at 7.45pm GMT. There are four tasty ties here, with some tasty scorelines from the first leg last week.
Spain v Netherlands (2-2 agg)
Germany v Italy (2-1 agg)
Portugal v Denmark (0-1 agg)
France v Croatia (0-2)
We will also be providing key updates from Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria, with Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side leading 2-1 from the first leg of their Nations League promotion/relegation play-off.
So, to complete a night of Caledonian misery, here’s Ewan Murray’s report.
This was an evening on which no part of the Scotland team functioned properly. They were slack in defence, non-creative from midfield and powder puff in attack. The star of the show was 17-year-old Konstantinos Karetsas, who is unlikely to remain at Genk for long. This baby-faced assassin tortured the Scots.
And with that, the evening’s fixtures will be looked after by Michael Butler.
John McGinn spoke to the BBC: “We started pretty well, had a couple of chances, we just let ourselves down with the first goal we conceded. We’ve got to reflect now before two friendlies in the summer.
“It’s an embarrassing night for us, everyone is flat in the stadium, we let ourselves down. No threat in behind, probably too easy to pick up. Greece deserved to win. That will maybe give us a kick up the backside for the World Cup qualifiers – we know they are no mugs. Tonight shows we need to be much better if we want to get to the World Cup.”
Kári Tulinius gets in touch: “Iceland have been poor. This feels like the final nail in the coffin of the golden age of Icelandic football, symbolized by the captain of the 2016 team being sent off for a stupid, unnecessary foul. Ah well, it was fun while it lasted, and we’ll always have the memories.”
“I’ve been watching the Icelandic national team lose matches for most of my four decades plus on this Earth, but it’s seldom been this grim to watch. Even at their most limited, and there were years when we had barely anyone of talent, we could at least trust the team to make an effort. Once Kosovo equalized, whatever self belief they had deserted them. The really dumb foul that got our old captain sent off was a symptom of the game already being lost, not a cause.”
Goalflash! Slovenia 1-0 Slovakia (Cerin 95) (Agg 1-0)
Nations League final scores
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Hungary 0-3 Turkey (Agg 1-6)
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Scotland 0-3 Greece (Agg 1-3)
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Iceland 1-3 Kosovo (Agg 2-5)
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Serbia 2-0 Austria (Agg 3-1)
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Slovenia 0-0 Slovakia (Agg 0-0, into extra time)
Final score: Scotland 0-3 Greece (Agg 1-3)
That was painful to watch for the Scots. Greece were – and are – excellent and they will meet again in the World Cup qualifiers. The Greeks go back up to League A, Scotland relegated, and deservedly so.
90+4 min: Boos as Craig Gordon makes a bad mistake and Masouras tries to chip him. At the other end, Tierney has a shot saved. At least they mounted an attack. It’s been a sour evening. And it’s closed with boos and rancour.
90+2 min: Four minutes were added on when there is little point in continuing. Like Scotland’s Nations League hopes, this one is done. Grim, sorry scenes.
Goalflash! Hungary 0-3 Turkey (Abdulkerim Bardakci 90) (Agg 1-6)
