Trincao spares Ronaldo’s blushes, Spain and France win shootouts

Francisco Trincao spared Cristiano Ronaldo’s blushes as Portugal set up a Nations League semi-final with Germany thanks to a thrilling 5-2 win over Denmark.

Portugal trailed 1-0 from the first leg and missed a gilt-edged early chance to level the tie when Ronaldo saw a tame sixth-minute penalty saved.

The hosts did level seven minutes before half-time thanks a Joachim Andersen own goal, only for Denmark to retake the lead in the tie through Rasmus Kristensen’s far-post header in the 56th minute.

Ronaldo got his goal 16 minutes later, converting on the rebound after Bruno Fernandes had hit the post, but Christian Eriksen’s rapid response appeared set to send Denmark into the last four.

However, substitute Trincao came to the rescue when he lashed home from just inside the box after Denmark failed to defend an innocuous cross four minutes from the end of normal time. The Sporting Lisbon man was then the quickest to react a minute into extra time after Kasper Schmeichel was unable to handle a Goncalo Ramos effort.

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗔̃𝗢. 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗔̃𝗢. 🤩# Fazhistória | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/Snzd7V8uY0

– Portugal (@selecaoportugal) March 23, 2025

His composed left-foot finish finally gave Portugal the lead in the tie, and Ramos made sure of progression with five minutes of the extra half hour remaining.

Meanwhile, Germany survived a second-half collapse in an incredible second leg with Italy, in which they benefited from a bizarre loss of concentration from the Azzurri.

Germany led 2-1 from the first leg at San Siro, but ended up clinging on to avoid extra time after a frenetic 3-3 draw in Dortmund.

They had been in cruise control after Joshua Kimmich gave the hosts the lead from the spot and then laid on the assist from a corner for Jamal Musiala to tap into an unguarded net following an incredible lack of focus from Italy, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and his teammates more concerned with arguing among themselves.

Tim Kleindiest made it 3-0 with a close-range header from a superb Kimmich cross just before half-time, but Moise Kean gave Italy hope with a second-half double.

There was late drama as Giacomo Raspadori converted from the spot in the 95th minute after Maximilian Mittelstadt was ruled to have handled in the area after a VAR check, but Italy could not find a fourth to force extra time.

Spain and France set up rematch with shootout wins

Spain came from behind to beat France in the semi-final of Euro 2024, but Les Bleus will have a chance for a very small measure of revenge after they both won penalty shootouts to reach the last four.

European champions Spain prevailed after another captivating encounter with the Netherlands, having left it late to claim a 2-2 draw in the first leg.

Mikel Oyarzabal’s eighth-minute penalty put La Roja in front, but Memphis Depay cancelled that effort out with a spot-kick of his own nine minutes into the second half.

Oyarzabal restored Spain’s lead 13 minutes later, the Real Sociedad star nodding in after his initial dinked effort was kept out following a brilliant run from Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams.

What are we going to do with these two?# Maspñana | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/blYapmecnE

— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) March 23, 2025

Ian Maatsen lashed into the top-right corner to level things up again and force extra time, but he was then outshone by Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old Barca star demonstrating incredible control to collect the ball on the right before cutting in and arrowing a sublime strike beyond Bart Verbruggen.

Xavi Simons converted a second Netherlands penalty after he was brought down by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon to send the game to a shootout, in which misses from Noa Lang and Donyell Malen doomed the Oranje.

Spain overcame a miss from Yamal, with Pedri converting the decisive penalty after Malen’s failure.

France’s victory was less chaotic, Didier Deschamps’ men erasing a 2-0 first-leg deficit in their tie with Croatia through goals from Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele.

Both sides missed two of their first five penalties in the shootout, but Dayot Upamecano won it for France after Josip Stanicic was denied by Mike Maignan.