Croatia contained the attacking duo of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in a 2-0 victory over France in the primary leg of the Nations League quarterfinals.
Ante Budimir on Thursday (March 21, 2025) headed Croatia forward in the twenty sixth minute off a cross from Ivan Perišic with France goalkeeper Mike Maignan partially blocking the ball earlier than it crossed the road.
Perišic doubled the benefit in first-half stoppage time in Split to spoil Mbappé’s return after a six-month absence from the nationwide crew.
Andrej Kramaric’s penalty in the eighth minute was saved by Maignan, who dived to the correct however used his toes to make the cease.
Mbappé examined Dominik Livakovic with a number of photographs in the primary half however the Croatia goalkeeper produced some first rate saves to deny him. Both Mbappé and Dembélé, the French league’s high scorer for Paris Saint-Germain, have already reached the 30-goal mark total this season.
Mbappé, the Real Madrid star, captained Les Bleus in what was his first begin for the nationwide crew since a 3-1 loss to Italy on September 6.
The 26-year-old Mbappé is third on France’s all-time scoring record with 48 objectives, however he has discovered the online in solely two of his previous 13 worldwide video games.
In different first-leg quarterfinal matches, Germany got here from behind to beat Italy 2-1, defending champion Spain salvaged a 2-2 draw in opposition to the 10-man Netherlands, and Denmark beat Portugal 1-0.
The winners will qualify for the four-team ultimate event on June 4-8. The second-leg matches are scheduled for Sunday.
Germany wins at San Siro
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich arrange each German objectives in a second-half comeback.
He offered a cross from the correct shortly after the interval for Tim Kleindienst to head in an equalizer.
Kimmich offered the identical service for Leon Goretzka from the nook in the 76th to rating the winner in the 2-1 victory, the primary win for Germany in Italy since 1986.
Italy opened the scoring from their first attacking effort in the sport. Sandro Tonali linked with a deflected cross from Giacomo Raspadori to rating previous Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
“The first half was tough, we barely got into our stride,” Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann mentioned.
“We adjusted a bit at halftime, and the players who came on did well.” Without Serie A number one scorer Mateo Retegui, Italy coach Luciano Spalletti turned to Moise Kean, who’s second on the Italian league’s scoring chart with 15 objectives.
The winner of the tie will host the finals.
Spain will get late objective in draw with Netherlands
Substitute Mikel Merino scored in stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 for Spain in Rotterdam. Nine minutes earlier than the tip, defender Jorrel Hato acquired a crimson card when the Dutch had been forward 2-1. The sport was performed on the De Kuip stadium, the place Spain beat Croatia in the 2023 ultimate.
Spain led 1-0 in the ninth minute after Lamine Yamal seized the ball on the correct, handed it to Pedri, who fed Nico Williams in the center to rating the opener.
In the twenty eighth minute, Justin Kluivert arrange Liverpool ahead Cody Gakpo to equalise with a low shot from the left that went in on the close to submit.
Tijjani Reijnders put the Netherlands forward 2-1 solely 39 seconds into the second half. The AC Milan participant exchanged the ball with Jeremie Frimpong earlier than discovering the again of the online with a exact end from the sting of the world.
Denmark denies Ronaldo
Manchester United gamers had been on the forefront for Denmark. Substitute Rasmus Højlund broke the impasse in the 78th.
In the twenty fourth, Christian Eriksen had an opportunity to put the Danes forward from the penalty spot, however Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa dived to his proper to save the try.
The Manchester United midfielder had transformed 12 penalties for Denmark and hadn’t missed one since 2016.
Ronaldo prolonged his report of the variety of worldwide appearances to 218 however did not add to his report scoring tally of 135 worldwide objectives.
Published – March 21, 2025 10:52 am IST
