Published on November 19, 2024 at 11:06 p.m.
Already Touabi
The sixth and final day of the group stage of the Nations League offered an intense spectacle this Tuesday. If Germany and the Netherlands, already qualified, experienced slowdowns, Sweden impressed with a crushing victory, confirming the rise in power of its individuals.
Opposed to Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Netherlands concluded their campaign with a draw (1-1). Already assured of second place, Ronald Koeman’s team was content with a solid performance, preserving its invincibility. For Bosnia, bottom of group 3, this latest outing leaves a bitter taste: no victory on the clock.
In Budapest, Germany was also held back by an eye-catching Hungary (1-1). Félix Nmecha opened the scoring for the Mannschaft, but Dominik Szoboszlai snatched the equalizer with a daring panenka late in the game. If this result does not alter the German qualification for the quarters, it highlights the Hungarian resilience, despite their third place synonymous with the play-offs. Germany, for its part, remains one of the serious contenders for the title, carried by individuals like Kai Havertz, unlucky with a shot on the post, and Alexander Nübel, imperial in the goals.
Sweden to the power of six
The Friends Arena in Solna was the scene of a real Swedish demonstration. Sweden outclassed Azerbaijan 6-0 and validated their rise to League C. Viktor Gyökeres, author of a quadruple (26th, 37th, 58th, 70th), once again carried his team, scoring his ninth goal in six games. Dejan Kulusevski, inspired captain, added a double (10th, 57th), sealing a resounding victory. This performance confirms the Swedish domination in its group and places the team as a serious candidate in future events.
In a crucial match, Wales overthrew Iceland (4-1) after falling behind. This victory, combined with the defeat of Turkey, offers the Welsh a historic promotion to League A. Gareth Bale, spearhead of this team, is now preparing to lead his team against the best European nations.
Turkey suffered an unexpected defeat against Montenegro (3-1), a team until then without a victory. Nikola Krstović, author of a hat-trick (29th, 45th, 73rd), delivered a heroic performance, depriving the Turks of promotion to League A and inflicting a setback which brought their progress to a sudden halt. For its part, the Czech Republic validated its rise to League A by beating Georgia 2-1 in Olomouc. Georges Mikautadze had however reduced the gap for the visitors (60th), but the Czechs held on, confirming their ambition on the European scene.
This last day highlighted some high-level individual performances. Viktor Gyökeres and Nikola Krstović, authors of a quadruple and a hat-trick respectively, demonstrated the importance of individual talents in a competition where every detail can make the difference. A group stage rich in emotions which gives a glimpse of thrilling clashes for the rest of the Nations League.
Related News :