In a thrilling night of football, Croatia and Germany emerged victorious in the Nations League quarter-finals held on March 20, 2025. Croatia defeated France 2-0, while Germany rallied to beat Italy 2-1 in their respective matches, showcasing resilience and skill.
In Split, Croatia dominated much of the match against France, who struggled to find their rhythm. The action heated up early when Croatia was awarded a penalty after a handball by French defender Ibrahim Konaté. However, Andrej Kramaric’s attempt was saved by goalkeeper Mike Maignan, leading to missed opportunities that would haunt France throughout the match. Croatia's Ante Budimir found the net around the half-hour mark; he scored with a well-placed header, courtesy of an excellent cross from Ivan Perisic. Soon after, just before halftime, Perisic extended the lead with a beautiful diagonal shot, leaving France trailing and frustrated.
Despite a few attempts from star Kylian Mbappe, France could not capitalize on their chances and ultimately fell short. The Croatian defense held firm, ensuring a clean sheet and a vital win as they prepare for the return leg against France this Sunday, March 23.
Meanwhile, in Milan, Germany faced a challenging match against Italy, who struck first thanks to Sandro Tonali's goal just 10 minutes into the game. The Italian midfielder capitalized on a defensive error, tapping the ball into an open net and putting Germany on the back foot. Though they dominated possession for parts of the first half, Germany failed to convert their chances, and it seemed that Italy would carry the lead into halftime.
However, following the break, Germany came alive. A slick cross from Joshua Kimmich found Tim Kleindienst, who headed it into the goal just three minutes into the second half, leveling the score at 1-1. The momentum shifted, and Germany appeared much more assertive.
Italy came close to regaining their lead when Moise Kean's spectacular strike went just wide of the target. Yet, it was Germany that would take control of the match in the final 15 minutes. Another excellent set-piece from Kimmich led to Leon Goretzka’s header that secured the winning goal for the Germans, propelling them ahead 2-1. Germany now looks forward to the return match against Italy in Dortmund.
On that same night, Denmark also carved out a narrow victory, defeating Portugal 1-0 with a crucial goal from Rasmus Hojlund late in their match. Denmark’s clinical finish from one of their 23 attempts at goal underscored their determination to defend the slim lead in the upcoming return match.
As the Nations League quarter-finals reach a critical stage, fans eagerly await the return legs. The winners of the Croatian and French matchup will face whoever emerges victorious from the Netherlands versus Spain clash, while Italy will attempt to overturn their deficit against Germany.
Football fans across Europe gear up for another exciting weekend filled with high-stakes matches, as national pride and a coveted spot in the Nations League semi-finals hang in the balance.
