Germany secured their place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals with a dramatic 5-4 aggregate victory over Italy, highlighted by a bizarre goal that left the Azzurri humiliated. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo redeemed himself after a missed penalty to lead Portugal past Denmark, while Spain and France also booked their spots in the last four in a thrilling night of football action.
Germany’s Unusual Goal Seals Semi-Final Spot
Italy fought back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 in the second leg in Dortmund, but their first-half collapse proved costly. One of the most talked-about moments of the match came when Germany capitalized on a lapse in concentration from Italy’s defense.
With Germany leading 1-0, Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a fine save to push a Tim Kleindienst header over the bar. However, instead of resetting for the ensuing corner, Donnarumma was caught arguing with his teammates outside the six-yard box. Germany’s Joshua Kimmich reacted quickly, taking a short corner to Jamal Musiala, who slotted the ball into an unguarded net.
The goal stood as offside rules do not apply to corner kicks, leaving the Italian defense red-faced. A 15-year-old ball boy, Noel Urbaniack, played a crucial role in the goal by swiftly providing Kimmich with the ball, earning him a signed football from the German team.
“It was an unbelievable moment. I saw he wanted the ball and threw it to him quickly,” said Urbaniack, still beaming from the experience.
Germany extended their lead to 3-0 before halftime, with Kimmich scoring from the penalty spot and Kleindienst adding another just before the break. However, Italy fought back in the second half, with Moise Kean scoring twice and Giacomo Raspadori converting a last-gasp penalty in stoppage time to force a 3-3 draw on the night. Despite the spirited comeback, Italy fell short on aggregate, allowing Germany to advance to the semi-finals, where they will face Portugal.
Ronaldo Misses Penalty, Then Fires Portugal to Victory
Cristiano Ronaldo endured an eventful night as Portugal secured their place in the Nations League semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate win over Denmark. The 40-year-old forward missed a sixth-minute penalty after being brought down by Manchester United’s Patrick Dorgu, only to see his spot-kick saved by Celtic’s Kasper Schmeichel.
However, Ronaldo made amends in the 72nd minute, finding the net from a tight angle to give Portugal a 2-1 lead. His trademark ‘Siu’ celebration followed, just days after Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund mimicked it following Denmark’s first-leg win.
Denmark quickly equalized through Christian Eriksen, pushing Portugal to the brink of elimination. But Francisco Trincão emerged as the hero, scoring in the 86th minute to level the tie on aggregate and force extra time. Trincão struck again in the 91st minute, while Gonçalo Ramos sealed a 5-2 win on the night with a goal in the 115th minute.
Portugal now face a tough semi-final clash against Germany.
Spain Edge Netherlands in Penalty Thriller
Spain clinched their semi-final berth by overcoming the Netherlands in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout after a 5-5 aggregate draw.
Spain took an early lead through a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty, but the Netherlands responded through Memphis Depay’s spot-kick in the second half. Oyarzabal struck again with a header in the 67th minute, only for Ian Maatsen to level the tie in the 79th minute, sending the match into extra time.
Lamine Yamal restored Spain’s advantage with a stunning strike, but Xavi Simons converted another penalty for the Netherlands, forcing the game to penalties. Aston Villa’s Donyell Malen had his spot-kick saved by Unai Simón, allowing Pedri to net the winning penalty and send Spain to the semi-finals, where they will meet France.
France’s Comeback Victory Over Croatia
France completed the semi-final lineup with a dramatic comeback against Croatia. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Les Bleus forced extra time with a 2-0 win in the return fixture in Paris before sealing a 5-4 penalty shootout victory.
Michael Olise sparked the French comeback with a second-half goal, and Ousmane Dembélé doubled the lead ten minutes from time to force extra time. With neither side able to find a winner in 120 minutes, the match was decided by penalties, where Dayot Upamecano netted the decisive kick after goalkeeper Mike Maignan made two crucial saves.
The Road to the Nations League Finals
With the quarter-finals wrapped up, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and France will battle for the Nations League title. The semi-finals are set to take place in June, with Germany hosting Portugal in Munich on June 4 and Spain taking on France in Stuttgart on June 5. The third-place play-off and final will both be held on June 8, with Germany aiming to lift the trophy on home soil.
The stage is now set for an exhilarating conclusion to the 2025 UEFA Nations League.
