PARIS: France failed to retain the title of UEFA Nations League as their hopes to qualify for the final four were shattered after a home defeat by Croatia in a Group A1 match, here at Stade de France Stadium on Monday.
France’s eagerness to secure their first win in the competition remained unfulfilled as Croatia avenged the World Cup Final loss to rule the World Champions out of the League.
Luka Modric scored the penalty in the fifth minute after Ante Budimir was knocked down inside the area by Ibrahima Konate, which remained the lone goal of the match as Karim Benzema’s side failed to take down the lead.
France have now lost two and drawn two games in the competition to finish at the bottom of Group A1 with two points.
Meanwhile, Denmark top the group on nine points – two points ahead of Croatia – after a 2-0 win over Austria.
READ: Pakistan’s first female MMA fighter Anita knocks out Australia’s Uyen Ha
MALAGA: Spain defeated the Czech Republic 2-0 to become the group leader of Group A2 after Carlos Soler and Pablo Sarabia scored one goal apiece in a dominating home game of UEFA Nations League, here on Sunday.
Spain dominated the opponent from the start and scored the opening goal in the 24th minute when Soler struck from close range following a brilliant pass by man-of-the-match Marco Asensio.
Substitute Sarabia doubled the host’s lead in the 75th minute after winger Ferran Torres sent in a cross and Sarabia shoved the ball into the back of the net.
Spain’s head coach Luis Enrique made nine changes to the starting lineup that beat Switzerland 1-0 on Thursday.
Spain kept their grip tight over the Czechs throughout the game and enjoyed 73% of possession but often lacked the precision to make it count.
Spain after the comprehensive victory leapfrogged Portugal in Group A2 standings. Spain top the table with eight points whereas Portugal finished on 7 points after a defeat by Switzerland last night.
The Czech Republic, on the other hand, are ahead of Switzerland and placed third with four points.
READ: Seferovic’s epic header help Switzerland beat Portugal in Nations League
GENEVA: Haris Seferovic, record-breaking header in the first minute helped Switzerland to achieve their first win in the UEFA Nations League campaign as the home side triumphed Portugal 1-0 in the Group A2 clash, here at Stade de Geneve on Sunday.
Seferovic scored the fastest goal in the Nation League’s short history as he headed the ball into the box after just 56 seconds into the game.
Portugal nearly leveled the lead as the forward Rafael Leao struck in the 18th minute but his effort was disallowed for offside.
Following halftime, Portugal intensified their attack, but despite Bernardo Silva’s strike from the edge of the box in the 63rd minute and Diogo Jota’s stunning header in the 78th, the efforts went in vain and failed to get on the scoresheet.
After the surprising defeat, Portugal lost the top spot in Group A2, as they fell to second place with seven points while Spain, who beat the Czech Republic 2-0 in the other game, moved to the top with eight points. Switzerland still remain at the bottom whereas the victory earned the team three points.
READ: Pakistan dethrone India from the fourth position in ICC ODI Ranking