In the night to remember, we saw a beautiful match at Spain, till the France and Croatia made a little bit slower game, but equally exciting. Who knows what semifinals will bring to us?Considering the result of the first match between these two teams in Rotterdam, where they played to a draw, neither team was expected to focus too much on defense or play cautiously. On the contrary, we saw plenty of chances on both sides, but only one of them was converted.In the 8th minute, the ball found its way into the net of the visiting team after Van Hecke committed a foul in his own penalty area. Oyarzabal took the shot and scored, giving Spain the lead. There is the GOAL.The same player found the net once again just three minutes later, but his goal was disallowed due to an offside call.1-0 Spain.OYARZABAL SCORES FOR SPAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/eBEtMkt3Se— The Touchline | Football Coverage (@TouchlineX) March 23, 2025 Spain didn’t stop attacking. In the 14th minute, they created another chance, but Bart Verbruggen made a great save! Robin Le Normand attempted to score with a header after a precise cross into the box. He aimed for the center of the goal, but the goalkeeper managed to stop it.Spain 🆚 Netherlands being played with a re-release of the iconic Adidas Teamgeist World Cup ball ⚽️🤤 pic.twitter.com/JLtJu8yTV7— LiveScore (@livescore) March 23, 2025 However, the Netherlands had an opportunity just a minute later, but Tijjani Reijnders squandered a great chance! He received the ball beautifully on the edge of the penalty area and took a shot from a promising position. However, the ball went far to the right, missing the target.It was clear that Spain was pushing for a second goal, and this was evident in the 20th minute. A cross towards the edge of the penalty area was collected by Fabian Ruiz, who took a good first touch and quickly fired a shot towards the bottom left corner, trying to beat the goalkeeper. But Bart Verbruggen made another good save.🧡🤍 Netherlands fans in Valencia before the match against Spain! 🇳🇱🎉 pic.twitter.com/CkyqPhrPjD— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 23, 2025 By the end of the first half, the Netherlands also threatened. First, in the 23rd minute, Justin Kluivert received a pass at the edge of the penalty area and struck the ball well, but it whizzed just over the crossbar. Then, in the 35th minute, Lutsharel Geertruida received a precise pass and immediately took a shot! The goalkeeper was ready and saved his long-range effort, which was headed right inside the right post.⏸️ 𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗙 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘!! It´s been one-way traffic in the first half and our lads pause for a breather with a deserved lead.Let’s keep on going and put this match to bed after the break!! 🇪🇸 🆚 🇳🇱 | 1-0 | 45+1’#VamosEspaña | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/0xeDxdwcjv— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) March 23, 2025 Just as the second half began, things quickly heated up. Robin Le Normand pulled his opponent’s jersey, stopping the play. Memphis Depay took the penalty and smashed the ball with full power under the crossbar. The goalkeeper didn’t even have time to react. There is the GOAL.Memphis Depay has now moved within three goals of Robin van Persie’s all-time scoring record for the Netherlands men’s team.◎ 50 – Robin van Persie◉ 47 – Memphis DepayChasing the top spot. 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/q7n3vQyhOj— Squawka (@Squawka) March 23, 2025 Boosted by the goal, the Netherlands continued to attack. Shortly after the penalty, they had another chance to score. Jeremie Frimpong took a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball went just over the crossbar. He was so close to making it onto the scoresheet.However, the reigning European champions responded with a great opportunity of their own. Lamine Yamal couldn’t find the net! The fans had already started celebrating after his brilliant solo run and powerful shot from the edge of the box. The ball was headed straight for the center of the goal, but Bart Verbruggen made an excellent save!Brilliant counter attack from Yamal and Nico Williams. It’s that connection again. If you can run with Yamal, you’re bound to get these easy goalscoring chances. Nico Williams took his time, but he has finally started playing well consistently in the past month or two.— Furymaker (@Furymaker_) March 23, 2025 In the 61st minute, we saw another attack from La Roja.Nico Williams made a great solo run, reaching the goalkeeper and firing a shot toward the left side of the goal. However, Verbruggen did a great job, reading the ball’s direction and keeping it out of his net.Spain capitalized on their pressure when Mikel Oyarzabal SCORED once again.NICO WILLIAMS TO OYARZABAL TO GIVE SPAIN THE LEAD OVER THE NETHERLANDS!!!HIS SECOND GOAL OF THE NIGHT! WHAT A MOMENT! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9j42ya94bH— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 23, 2025 He was in the right place at the right time to collect a rebound and smash the ball into the net from close range, making it 2-1. Nico Williams provided the assist.In the 79th minute, we saw a new change in the score. Xavi Simons sent a cross into the penalty area, where Ian Maatsen met the ball and fired it into the top right corner of the net. You can se the goal HERE.2-2 The Netherlands.IAN MAATSEN WITH AN ABSOLUTE WONDER STRIKE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT’S 4-4 ON AGGREGATE !!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/qmifPs3XAJ— The Touchline | Football Coverage (@TouchlineX) March 23, 2025 In the 103rd minute, we saw Spain take the LEAD. Lamine Yamal received a great long pass just outside the penalty area and struck the ball into the net along the left post. The goalkeeper had no chance of saving this one.3-2 Spain.INCREDIBLE GOAL BY LAMINE YAMAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS SPECIAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/LCszm3oVmG— The Touchline | Football Coverage (@TouchlineX) March 23, 2025 In the 108th minute, Unai Simon fouled an opponent. Clement Turpin saw everything and awarded a foul. Xavi Simons successfully converted the penalty, bringing the match to a 3-3 draw for the third time. There is the GOAL.GOAL Spain 3-3 NetherlandsXavi Simons nets the spot kick— Dutch Football 🇳🇱 (@FootballOranje_) March 23, 2025 After the penalty shootout, the Spain national team secured a spot in the Nations League semifinals.On the other side, not so beautiful, but exciting game till the end of the extra-time!In the only match of tonight’s program that saw no goals in the first half, there weren’t many chances on either side.As early as the 3rd minute, Manu Kone missed a great opportunity! He jumped for a cross but made a weak header from 11 meters out. The ball sailed high over the goal!Paul Pogba sends message to France team before crucial match vs Croatia tonight… “Always behind you brothers! Shine in that jersey like you know how to. Allez les Bleus!” 🇫🇷💙 pic.twitter.com/xugTQbUFo9— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 23, 2025 It was clear that France had to push for a goal to at least cut Croatia’s advantage from the first match, and this was evident in the 14th minute when Kylian Mbappe received a precise pass inside the box and took a shot, but the ball went wide to the right.Three minutes later, another chance followed. Aurelien Tchouameni reacted well to a corner kick inside the six-yard box and got his head to it, but his effort struck the right post. The goalkeeper wouldn’t have been able to stop it.Portugal DenmarkFrance Croatia Spain Netherlands Bro my head is everywhere😭— Trey (@UTDTrey) March 23, 2025 Before the end of the half, Bradley Barcola received an accurate pass and, in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, decided to strike the ball with full force toward the center of the goal. However, Dominik Livakovic was alert and easily saved his shot.The second half started much more exciting on both sides. The first chance that happened immediately resulted in a goal for the home team.Michael Olise SCORED from a free kick with a powerful shot that landed under the crossbar.Michael Olise with a free-kick for his first goal for the France senior team 🇫🇷🪄 pic.twitter.com/0UX8tSKA0e— LiveScore (@livescore) March 23, 2025 In the 59th minute, Luka Modric was left unmarked at the edge of the penalty area after a cross. He took a shot but sent it just past the left post.Shortly after that, France had a good opportunity. In the 62nd minute, Aurelien Tchouameni missed a big chance when he jumped high near the penalty spot to meet a cross from a free kick. He attempted a header but missed the goal, sending the ball far from the left post.Kylian Mbappe had a great chance in the 75th minute when he took a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the visiting goalkeeper made a fantastic save.France’s pressure paid off when Ousmane Dembele showed his skill inside the penalty area. He followed a brilliant pass and took a first-time shot that found the bottom left corner of the net. Michael Olise provided the assist for the GOAL.Olise, Mbappe and Dembele wow that was a beautiful goal— 🎬N (@Nino12x) March 23, 2025 Since there were no goals in extra time, France triumphed in the penalty shootout, securing their spot in the Nations League semifinals.UEFA NATIONS LEAGUELeague A playoffs – Quarter-finalsSecond legSunday France – Croatia 2-0 (2-0)/Olise 53, Dembele 80/France win 5-4 after penalty shotoutGermany – Italy 3-3 (3-0)/Kimmich 30 pen, Musiala 36, Kleindienst 45 – Kean 49, 69, Raspadori 90+5 pen/Germany win 5-4 on aggPortugal – Denmark 5-2 (3-2)/Andersen 38 og, Ronaldo 72, Trincao 86, 91, Ramos 115 – Kristensen 56, Eriksen 76/Portugal win 5-3 on agg after ETSpain – Netherlands 3-3 (2-2)/Oyarzabal 6 pen, 67, Yamal 103 – Depay 54 pen, Maatsen 79, Simons 108/Spain win 4-3 after penalty shotout
