Spain survives the Netherlands trap to set up a date with France in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals.

Spain beat the Netherlands to set up a clash with France, who beat Croatia, after both qualified for the UEFA Nations League semi-finals.

Spain won the second leg against the Netherlands on penalties (5-4), after regular and extra time ended in a draw in an exciting marathon match.

For Spain, Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals, and Lamine Yamal scored in the 8th, 67th, and 103rd minutes, while for the Netherlands, Memphis Depay, Ian Maatsen, and Xavi Simons scored in the 54th, 79th, and 109th minutes.

The regular time ended in a 2-2 draw, and the extra time ended in a 3-3 draw, making the total of the two matches (5-5) as the first leg in the Netherlands ended in a 2-2 draw.

⏯️🔥 Watch the exciting penalty shootout between Spain and the Netherlands #UEFANATIONSLEAGUE #SpainNetherlands pic.twitter.com/QKs6mBzOSd

- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 23, 2025

In the semi-finals, the Matadors will face one of the two teams, France, who qualified for the UEFA Nations League semi-finals by defeating Croatia on penalties.

France outperforms Croatia

The French national team advanced to the semi-finals of the European Nations League after defeating its guest, the Croatian national team, on penalties 5-4, after a 2-2 draw in the two-leg quarter-final matches.

The second leg, held in Paris, ended with the French team winning 2-0, making up for its loss by the same score in the first leg.

The first half saw France dominate the game, missing several dangerous opportunities. Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic made a fine save when French striker Bradley Barcola was one-on-one with the hosts in the 38th minute.

At the start of the second half, specifically in the 53rd minute, France and Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Oliseh took a direct free kick from the edge of the Croatian penalty area, scoring the first goal for the French national team.

An organized attack by the French national team ends with a wonderful goal by Dembele against Croatia! ⚽🔥🇫🇷 #UEFANATIONSLEAGUE #FranceCroatia pic.twitter.com/zPgMrHDKG3

- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 23, 2025

The French continued to press for a second goal and equalise, and indeed, in the 80th minute, Kylian Mbappé sent a wonderful through ball to Oliseh, who advanced from the right side and then passed a low cross to Ousmane Dembele, who shot it directly into the net, announcing the second goal for the Roosters, and thus the two teams tied on aggregate (2-2).

The French team failed to score any additional goals during regular time due to the resilience of the Croatian team's defense, so the match went into two extra halves.

The first half of extra time ended without any change in the score, and Mbappé almost sealed France's progress in stoppage time when the ball fell to him inside the penalty area, facing the goal. He shot, but the Croatian goalkeeper brilliantly saved it in the 117th minute.

The extra time ended in a 0-0 draw, so the two teams went to penalty kicks after the two legs of the quarter-finals ended in a 2-2 draw. The Roosters won the penalty kicks in their favour (5-4).

Source: Yemen Youth Net + beIN Sports