In a thrilling UEFA Nations League quarter-final, France emerged victorious against Croatia after a tense penalty shootout, while Spain advanced past the Netherlands with a remarkable performance from 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. The tournament has now set the stage for two exhilarating semi-final matchups: Spain versus France and Germany facing off against Portugal.
France’s journey to the semi-finals was anything but straightforward. After suffering a surprising defeat in the first leg against Croatia, losing 0-2, the reigning World Cup champions found themselves in a precarious position. However, they returned home determined to turn their fortunes around. Goals from Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé during regular time brought the match to a dramatic penalty shootout following a 2-2 aggregate tie.
The penalty shootout proved a roller-coaster of emotions for both teams. Croatia faltered, missing two of their first three penalty kicks, which offered France a golden opportunity to capitalize. However, France’s Jules Koundé and Theo Hernandez also missed, leaving the score level at 3-3 after five rounds. The decisive moment came in the seventh round when Croatia’s Stanisic missed his shot, allowing France’s Upamecano to score the winning kick, sealing France's progression to the semi-finals with a 5-4 victory in the shootout.
On the other side of the bracket, Spain and the Netherlands delivered an equally stirring match at Mestalla Stadium. After a back-and-forth battle that ended in a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes, the game extended into extra time. Young star Lamine Yamal made headlines by scoring a stunning goal in the 103rd minute, demonstrating skill and composure well beyond his years. This goal marked him as the youngest player to score in UEFA Nations League history at just 17 years and 253 days, breaking the previous record held by his teammate Gavi.
Despite Yamal's brilliance, the Netherlands equalized through Xavi Simons via a penalty, pushing the match to penalties after finishing 3-3 in extra time. Spain triumphed in the dramatic shootout, winning 5-4, despite Yamal missing his attempt in the third round.
The semi-final lineup for the UEFA Nations League has become clear, with Germany set to clash with Portugal and Spain to face off against France. Historically, Germany holds a dominant record against Portugal, winning 11 of their 19 encounters, while Spain has faced France 37 times, with Spain edging out with 17 wins to France's 13.
As France and Spain prepare for their semi-final showdown, both teams are on high alert. Spain’s recent victory over France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024, where they won 2-1, has set an intriguing backdrop for their upcoming faceoff. Meanwhile, Germany enters their match against Portugal with a significant psychological edge, having historically dominated their rival in major tournaments.
This year’s UEFA Nations League has already proven to be a stage for emerging talents and veteran players alike, with performances that have captured fans and analysts’ attention. The tournament's history has seen Portugal win the championship in 2019, France in 2021, and Spain in 2023, with Germany yet to lift the trophy but holding hopes for a breakthrough in this edition.
As the dust settles from the quarter-finals, anticipation builds for the semi-finals scheduled for the coming days, where football enthusiasts will be treated to high-stakes matches that could rewrite the history of the UEFA Nations League.
