Cristiano Ronaldo was in sensational form on Friday night, leading Portugal to a resounding 5-1 victory over Poland to book their place in the next Nations League quarter-finals. The football legend found the back of the net twice, scoring a penalty and executing a stunning Chilean goal to cap a memorable performance.
Scotland, by contrast, celebrated a long-awaited victory, claiming their first triumph in nine attempts. A late goal from John McGinn was enough to secure a narrow victory against ten-man Croatia in Group A1.
The game between Romania and Kosovo was marred by chaos, being suspended for extra time and eventually abandoned with the score tied at 0-0. Tensions rose as players clashed on the pitch, with the Kosovo squad apparently enraged by pro-Serb chants resounding from the stands. UEFA later confirmed the abandonment of the match, indicating that further clarification would be issued soon.
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Historical grievances rooted in the Balkan conflict of the 1990s continue to haunt relations, with Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia remaining unrecognized by Belgrade. This sporting encounter added another chapter to a rivalry that has become increasingly volatile over the years.
In Group A4, Spain secured top spot after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Denmark in Copenhagen, while Serbia salvaged a late equalizer against Switzerland, leaving the latter in a relegation situation.
As the tournament approaches the quarter-finals, powerhouses such as France, Italy and Germany have already secured their places, with games scheduled between March 20th and 23rd. Notably, all eight quarter-finalists will also earn a coveted place in Pot 1 for the 2026 World Cup qualification draw.
Ronaldo’s brilliance shone in the second half as Portugal finally broke the resistance of a solid Polish team. Rafael Leão started the scoring with a header just after the hour mark, paving the way for Ronaldo’s penalty 13 minutes later to score his 134th international goal. He then sealed the night with a magnificent bicycle finish, taking his historic total to 135.
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The defeat officially ended Poland’s hopes of advancing in the tournament.
Meanwhile, in a tense encounter, Scotland faced a Croatia team reduced to ten men after Petar Sucic received a second yellow card just before half-time. Despite the numerical advantage, Scotland struggled to break the deadlock until John McGinn’s late intervention, which delighted the Hampden Park fans.
With the win, Scotland now have two points from their matches and will face Poland in Warsaw, where a win is crucial to avoid relegation.
Denmark, without beating Spain since 1993, fell behind early when Mikel Oyarzabal capitalized on defensive failures. The returning European champions dominated the match, with Oyarzabal and Ayoze Pérez displaying remarkable synergy in the attacking third.
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In Zurich, Switzerland thought they were on course for a landmark victory after a late goal from Zeki Amdouni. However, Serbian Aleksa Terzić equalized the match in the closing stages, ensuring Serbia remained competitive in the group.
In another Group C3 game, Northern Ireland moved closer to promotion to League B thanks to a solid 2-0 home win against Belarus. Goals from Daniel Ballard and Dion Charles have put Stephen O’Neill’s men in a strong position ahead of their final meeting with Luxembourg.
Bulgaria’s 1-0 victory over Luxembourg also keeps them in the promotion race, while San Marino’s last-minute penalty salvaged a draw against Gibraltar, keeping the race in Group D1 tight as the final game approaches.
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