Nations League holders Spain wanted a stoppage-time equaliser from Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino to attract 2-2 in opposition to 10-man Netherlands.
Substitute Merino, who has been filling in as a makeshift striker for the Gunners, confirmed his eye for purpose once more to steer in a leveller in added time of an entertaining recreation in Rotterdam.
The Dutch had fought again after going behind within the ninth minute with targets from Cody Gakpo and Tijjani Reijnders however completed with 10 males after teenage defender Jorrel Hato was despatched off eight minutes from time for a studs-up problem.
Late drama in Rotterdam 🤯#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/2Igg27OkwD
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) March 20, 2025
Spain, who had not misplaced of their earlier 21 aggressive internationals, opened the scoring by Nico Williams after a quick begin to the sport.
Elsewhere, Croatia’s Ante Budimir and Ivan Perisic struck to safe a deserved 2-0 win over France of their Nations League quarter-final, first leg because the return of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele did not get the guests to fireplace.
Croatia additionally missed an early penalty when Andrej Kramaric’s spot-kick was saved by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, and the 2023 runners-up had been full worth for a win that may simply have been achieved by a better margin.
France created possibilities and examined Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic a number of occasions, however it was a below-par efficiency on an evening that had promised a lot with the return of Mbappe particularly after he sat out his facet’s final 4 fixtures.
“We misplaced the primary leg, we’re going to verify we win the second at house,” France coach Didier Deschamps instructed TF1. “Our first half was beneath what we had been able to. We are going to do every little thing to show the state of affairs round.
“We had been punished within the first half. We had been far too wasteful on a technical stage and gave alternatives to the opponent.”
Germany win; Portual crushed
Germany got here from behind to defeat Italy 2-1 on the San Siro, with Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka heading the profitable purpose 14 minutes from time.
Italy went forward when Nicolo Barella performed a go into the field for Matteo Politano who pulled the ball again in direction of Moise Kean and the ball fell to Newcastle man Sandro Tonali who drove his shot into the nook.
Germany equalised 4 minutes into the second half when Joshua Kimmich floated the ball into the field and unmarked substitute Tim Kleindienst rose to energy a header previous Gigi Donnarumma along with his first contact.
The winner got here from Kimmich’s nook which appeared to have gone into the online with no contact, however Goretzka acquired the slightest of headers to the ball earlier than it beat Donnarumma.
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund got here off the bench to web the winner as Denmark beat Portugal 1-0.
