Holders Spain drawn against the Netherlands in Nations League quarters

By Sports Desk November 22, 2024

Reigning champions Spain have been drawn against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the Nations League.  

Spain won five of their six games in Group A4, and will face the Dutch for the first time in a competitive match since their 5-1 defeat at the World Cup in 2014. 

France, who emerged victorious in the 2020-21 edition of the Nations League, will take on Croatia in a repeat of their World Cup final meeting six years ago. 

Germany will face Italy while Portugal, who were the inaugural winners of the tournament, were drawn against Denmark, with the two-legged fixtures taking place in March. 

The semi-finals are single legs which will get underway in June, with the third-place play-off and final to be played three days later.

European champions Spain, Portugal and Germany topped their groups without losing a game to go into the seeded teams' pot along with France.

The winner of Spain's enticing tie with the Netherlands will play either France or Croatia, while Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to inspire Portugal to a second title. 

Only Sweden's Viktor Gyokeres (nine), Norway's Erling Haaland (seven) and Romania's Razvan Marin (six) have scored more goals in this year's edition than Ronaldo (five). 

Scotland, who finished third in Group A1 behind Portugal and Croatia, will face Greece in a Nations League play-off to remain in the top tier of the competition.

The other play-off games will see Turkey face Hungary, Ukraine take on Belgium, and Austria square off against Serbia in March. 

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