As the dust settles on a weekend of UEFA Nations League action, the semifinal lineup is now confirmed after four gripping second-leg quarter-final encounters. Portugal, Germany, Spain, and France all emerged victorious on March 23, 2025, each overcoming significant challenges in matches filled with drama, comebacks, and nail-biting finishes. The day featured a total of 18 goals across the four games, with two ties decided by penalty shootouts and another going to extra time, showcasing the competitive nature of Europe’s premier national team competition.
Portugal Overcome Denmark in Extra-Time Thriller
In Lisbon, Portugal needed extra time to advance to their first UEFA Nations League finals since winning the tournament in 2019, eventually beating Denmark 5-2 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate. Roberto Martinez’s side entered the match trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Copenhagen, putting immediate pressure on the hosts to deliver.
The drama began early when Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo won a penalty in the third minute after being pushed by Patrick Dorgu. However, in a surprising turn of events, Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel saved Ronaldo’s tame effort. Ronaldo’s frustration continued as Schmeichel denied him again, this time from a point-blank header following Nuno Mendes’ cross.
Portugal finally broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Joachim Andersen headed Bruno Fernandes’ dangerous corner into his own net. The hosts thought they had doubled their lead just before halftime through Ronaldo’s diving header, but it was disallowed for offside.
Denmark equalized in the 56th minute when Rasmus Kristensen headed home Christian Eriksen’s corner. The goal-fest continued when Ronaldo restored Portugal’s lead, tapping in after Fernandes’ strike hit the post and rebounded off Schmeichel. However, Denmark struck back as Eriksen tapped in Dorgu’s cross in the 76th minute, temporarily putting the visitors ahead on aggregate.
With time running out, substitute Francisco Trincao emerged as Portugal’s hero, scoring in the 86th minute to force extra time. The Barcelona winger continued his impact by netting his second goal just one minute into extra time, capitalizing on Schmeichel’s parry from Goncalo Ramos’ effort. Ramos sealed the victory in the 115th minute with an assist from Diogo Jota, confirming Portugal’s semifinal berth against Germany.
Germany Survive Italian Comeback in Six-Goal Thriller
In Dortmund, Germany’s quarterfinal against Italy produced perhaps the most dramatic contest of the round. After claiming a 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Italy, Julian Nagelsmann’s side appeared to be cruising toward the semifinals with a dominant first-half display.
Germany raced to a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime through Joshua Kimmich (30′), Jamal Musiala (36′), and Tim Kleindienst (45′), with Kimmich providing assists for both Musiala and Kleindienst. At this point, Germany led 5-1 on aggregate and displayed a level of dominance against a major opponent not seen since their 2014 World Cup triumph.
“It was the best half, a very impressive first half, incredibly aggressive and a well-deserved lead,” remarked Germany’s coach, Julian Nagelsmann. However, what followed was a remarkable Italian comeback that nearly derailed Germany’s Nations League campaign.
Moise Kean sparked Italy’s resurgence with goals in the 49th and 69th minutes, the second coming from a Giacomo Raspadori assist. With momentum firmly on their side, the Azzurri continued to push forward and were rewarded when Raspadori converted a penalty in the 95th minute to level the match at 3-3.
Despite their second-half collapse, Germany held on to progress 5-4 on aggregate, setting up a mouth-watering semifinal clash with Portugal in June. Nagelsmann acknowledged his team’s second-half struggles but remained positive: “What we gained from these two matches is crucial for our development.”
Spain Edge Netherlands in Penalty Drama
The third quarterfinal saw Spain and the Netherlands produce another thriller, ending 3-3 after 120 minutes of action and leaving the tie balanced at 5-5 on aggregate following the 2-2 draw in the first leg. Spain ultimately advanced 5-4 on penalties to reach the semifinals.
Spain started brightly when Mikel Oyarzabal converted an eighth-minute penalty after Jan Paul van Hecke brought him down in the box. The Dutch equalized early in the second half when Memphis Depay scored from the penalty spot after Robin Le Normand fouled him.
Oyarzabal restored Spain’s lead in the 67th minute with a header following a counter-attack, but Ian Maatsen’s powerful strike in the 79th minute, assisted by Xavi Simons, forced extra time. Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal then produced a stunning left-footed strike in the 103rd minute to put the hosts ahead again, only for Simons to level from the penalty spot four minutes into the second period of extra time after a foul by goalkeeper Unai Simon.
In the penalty shootout, both sides missed their fourth attempts, with Yamal failing to convert for Spain. The decisive moment came in the sixth round when Donyell Malen saw his effort saved by Simon, allowing Pedri to convert and secure Spain’s progression.
France Overcome Croatia in Penalty Shootout
In Paris, France overturned a two-goal deficit from the first leg to eliminate Croatia on penalties and reach the Nations League Final Four. After losing 2-0 in Split, Didier Deschamps’ side needed a strong performance at the Stade de France to keep their hopes alive.
Following a goalless first half, Michael Olise opened the scoring with a free-kick in the 52nd minute, announcing his arrival on the international stage. The Crystal Palace star continued his excellent performance by assisting Ousmane Dembele for France’s second goal ten minutes from time, sending the tie to extra time.
Despite creating a remarkable 22 chances throughout the match, France couldn’t find a decisive third goal during the additional 30 minutes, with Croatia failing to register a single shot on target during the entire 120 minutes.
In the penalty shootout, goalkeeper Mike Maignan emerged as the hero for Les Bleus, saving attempts from Martin Baturina and Josip Stanišić, while Franjo Ivanović also missed for Croatia. For France, Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez failed to convert, but Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Randal Kolo Muani, Désiré Doué, and Dayot Upamecano successfully scored to secure a 5-4 shootout victory.
Semifinals Set for June Showdown
With the quarterfinals complete, the Nations League semifinals will feature Portugal against Germany and Spain versus France in early June 2025. These four football powerhouses, with 11 World Cup titles and 10 European Championships between them, promise to deliver two captivating semifinals when they meet on June 4th or 5th.
The winners will advance to the final scheduled for June 8th, when the fifth Nations League champion will be crowned, following Portugal (2019), France (2021), and Spain (2023).
This latest round of Nations League action has once again demonstrated why the competition has become a valued addition to the international football calendar, providing high-stakes competitive matches that regularly deliver drama and excitement at the highest level.
