Three days ago, they were forced to come from behind, but today, the Germans didn’t want to risk anything, thrashing Italy already in the first half (3-0), thanks to Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, and Tim Kleindienst!After the break, Germany were way too relaxed, allowing Moise Kean to net a brace and reduce the gap to 3-2, but the semi-final still wasn’t jeopardized due to Die Mannschaft’s first-leg victory. In the end, Giacomo Raspadori levelled from the spot, but the Azzurri still couldn’t have avoided elimination – 3-3.🇩🇪 Joshua Kimmich over the two legs 🆚 Italy: 1 goal ⚽️4 assists 🅰️🤯 pic.twitter.com/rYSlnvNBhj— LiveScore (@livescore) March 23, 2025 Despite being dominant, Julian Nagelsmann’s team had to wait for the opener until the half-hour mark. Still, when it started raining, it started pouring! By the break, it was already 3-0 for Die Mannschaft, behind Joshua Kimmich’s spot-kick opener, and Jamal Musiala and Tim Kleindienst’s goals.The second Germany goal was specifically amusing, as they scored while the Italian keeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, was talking to the ref?!Kimmich corner taken quickly to catch Italy sleeping and set up Musiala’s goal 😮 pic.twitter.com/e9HjkuBscZ— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 23, 2025 Namely, the custodian superbly stopped Kleindienst’s powerful header and the home team was awarded a corner. However, the popular Gigio moved from his goal and started complaining to Szymon Marciniak, which Kimmich used to take a corner kick quickly, giving Musiala an easy task of passing the ball into the empty net.Interestingly, Kimmich noted an assist for the third goal as well, meaning that he was involved in every goal Germany scored against Italy until that moment, counting the first leg, too(one goal and four assists)!🙌 Tim #Kleindienst! 🤩#NationsLeague | #DFBTeam | #GERITA 3:0 (45′) pic.twitter.com/mB8nNfwHtB— UEFA Nations League DE (@EURO2024DE) March 23, 2025 Still, as if Nagelsmann’s crew was too relaxed after the break, Leroy Sane and Kimmich made a passing error, which Moise Kean exploited to close the gap four minutes into the second half, while the same player completed a brace 20 minutes later, closing the gap to 3-2. Yet, Die Mannschaft were 5-3 in front on aggregate, so they weren’t too “panicky.”Moise Kean proved that he always deserves a call-up given the current options. He did the best he could against three athletic German defenders in the first 3 halves.In the final half of the tie he took his chances and continued fighting.Biggest positive this week. 🇮🇹💙 pic.twitter.com/J7YfqqpXAj— Italy Propaganda 🇮🇹⚽️ (@ItalyProp) March 23, 2025 “Panic attack” could have began in added time when Giacomo Raspadori scored from the spot and made it 3-3! Still, the Azzurri didn’t have enough time to make one of the most stunning comebacks ever and secure extra time, as Germany advanced to the UNL semi-finals, winning 5-4 on aggregate.##NAJAVA_MECA_8799820##What a match did we watch in Lisbon?! Cristiano Ronaldo wasted a penalty, the Danes were 1-0 and 2-1 down, but still had the UNL semi-finals in their pockets until the 86th minute, when the sub Trincao netted and secured extra time to Portugal, only to complete a brace in the 91st minute, hinting at the Navigators’ ultimate triumph. In the end, Goncalo Ramos who had replaced CR7 in added time, sealed the deal, making it 5-2.Portugal had previously taken the lead twice over Joachim Andersen’s own goal and Ronaldo’s “redeemer,” but Denmark managed to return thanks to Rasmus Kristensen and Christian Eriksen. Still, they didn’t have enough power to pull of a miracle.🚨 Portugal will play Germany in Germany in the Nations League semi-final. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/YyMRPRisnk— TC (@totalcristiano) March 23, 2025 The duel started ideally for the Navigators, as they were awarded a penalty after only five minutes when Man United’s Patrick Dorgu pulled Cristiano Ronaldo by the shirt. Yet, the Portugal captain’s attempt was terrible, and Kasper Schmeichel easily stopped it!Ronaldo missed the penalty which he won himself.Its not like missing the penalty won by others. pic.twitter.com/f29LQvErUm— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) March 23, 2025 Although shocked, Roberto Martinez’s men were slightly better during the opening period and the luck rewarded them seven minutes before the break, when Denmark defender Joachim Andersen headed the ball into his own net, following Bruno Fernandes’ corner kick.That way, Fulham centre-back annulled his team’s advantage from the first leg, so the rivals were at the beginning again.UNL: Can we watch this games forever!?Corner kick brought the lead to Portugal, but also the leveller to the Danes! In the 56th minute, the defender Rasmus Kristensen managed to find Diogo Costa’s bottom-right corner with a skillful header and bring his team into the lead on aggregate again.WCQ: Pierre Aubameyang double condemns Harambee Stars to sobering home defeatHowever, Denmark’s advantage lasted only until the 72 minute when Cristiano redeemed himself for the missed penalty, netting the rebound after Bruno hit the post from a distance! Nevertheless, the rollercoaster continued after only four minutes, as Man United duo put the visitors’ ahead on aggregate once again! Ruben Dias lost the ball to Dorgu, who found Christian Eriksen and the experienced midfielder only passed the ball into the empty net – 2-2!Cristiano Ronaldo’s had an eventful night… 🎢Pre-game: Awarded Guinness World Record for the most wins in international football. 🏆6th minute: Penalty miss🤦🏻♂️45th minute: Goal ruled out for offside ❌72nd minute: Goal to make the tie 2-2 on aggregate 💥 pic.twitter.com/hvG4NU58mi— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 23, 2025 If you thought that was the end, you couldn’t be more wrong! One of Martinez’s last resorts, the sub Trincao, made it 3-2 four minutes before the end and once again hinted at extra time at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon! Interestingly, although the game was on the verge of additional 30 minutes, Portugal boss decided to sub Ronaldo out in added time for Goncalo Ramos.Hey, Portugal, you got competition! Cristiano Jr has FIVE national team options to choose fromBut who needs CR7 when Trincao is there?! Sporting Lisbon player needed only one minute in extra time to bring his team in the lead on aggregate for the first time in a duel against Denmark, making it 4-2! And those were his maiden national team goals?!Ramos’ goal five minutes before the end of extra time was only the cherry on top of Portugal’s hard-won, but still deserved victory. In the semi-finals, the Navigators will face Germany.UEFA NATIONS LEAGUELeague A playoffs – Quarter-finalsSecond legSunday France – Croatia 5-4 on pen (2-0)/Olise 53, Dembele 80/France win 5-4 on penGermany – 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 a.e.t. (3-2)/Andersen 38 og, Ronaldo 72, Trincao 86, 91, Ramos 115 – Kristensen 56, Eriksen 76/Portugal win 5-3 on aggSpain – Netherlands 5-4 on pen (2-2)/Oyarzabal 6 pen, 67, Yamal 103 – Depay 54 pen, Maatsen 79, Simons 109 pen/Spain win 5-4 on penLeague A/B relegation playoffsSecond legSunday Scotland – Greece 0-3 (0-2)/Konstantelias 20, Karetsas 42, Tzolis 46/Greece win 3-1 on aggHungary – Turkey 0-3 (0-2)/Calhanoglu 37 pen, Guler 39, Bardakci 90/Turkey win 6-1 on aggSerbia – Austria 2-0 (0-0)/Maksimovic N. 56, Vlahovic 90/Serbia win 3-1 on aggBelgium – Ukraine 3-0 (0-0)/De Cuyper 70, Lukaku 76, 86/Belgium win 4-3 on aggLeague B/C relegation playoffsSecond legSundayGeorgia – Armenia 6-1 (5-0)/Haroyan 4 og, Mikautadze 14, 35, Chakvetadze 23, Kiteishvili 27, Kvaratskhelia 62 – Sevikyan 48/Georgia win 9-1 on aggSlovenia – Slovakia 1-0 a.e.t (0-0)/Gnezda Cerin 95/Slovenia win 1-0 on aggIceland – Kosovo* 1-3 (1-2)/Oskarsson 2 – Muriqi 35, 45+3, 79/Kosovo* win 5-2 on aggR.Ireland – Bulgaria 2-1 (0-1)/Ferguson 63, Idah 85 – Antov 30/R.Ireland win 4-2 on agg
