International

Merino and Saliba in Nations League knockout wins

Mikel Merino scores for Spain

Mikel Merino, David Raya and William Saliba are all through to the UEFA Nations League semi-finals following penalty shootout wins on Sunday night.

Spain drew 3-3 at home to Netherlands to draw 5-5 on aggregate, before winning the shootout 5-4. 

Merino came on in the 84th minute and scored Spain’s first penalty after an eventful match, during which Mikel Oyarzabal netted a brace and Memphis Depay and Ian Maatsen scored for Netherlands to send the game to extra-time, with both sides scoring again courtesy of Lamine Yamal and Xavi Simons in the 103rd and 109th minutes respectively

David Raya was an unused substitute for Spain, while Jurrien Timber was not in the Netherlands squad.

As for France, William Saliba kept a clean sheet and played 90 minutes of Sunday’s 2-0 win at home to Croatia, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele among the goals.

The Nations League quarter-final ended 2-2 on aggregate, with France winning 5-4 on penalties. They will face Spain in the semi-finals on June 5.

Leandro Trossard and Oleksandr Zinchenko went head-to-head as Belgium overturned a two-goal deficit - 3-1 down on aggregate going into the game - to win 3-0 at home in the Nations League thanks to goals from Maxim De Cuyper and Romelu Lukaku.

Trossard played 69 minutes for Belgium, while Oleksandr Zinchenko played the full 90 minutes for Ukraine

It was a disappointing Sunday for Scotland as they lost 3-0 at home to Greece, losing 3-1 on aggregate in the Nations League following goals from Giannis Konstantelias, Konstantinos Karetsas and Christos Tzolis.

Kieran Tierney came on in the 55th minute for Scotland.

WHEN OUR INTERNATIONALS ARE PLAYING

All times GMT

Thursday, March 20
Croatia 2-0 France | Nations League
Saliba played full game

Netherlands 2-2 Spain  | Nations League
Merino came on in 84th minute, scored. Raya unused sub, Timber not in squad

Italy 1-2 Germany | Nations League
Calafiori played full game

Greece 0-1 Scotland | Nations League
Tierney came on in 76th minute

Ukraine 3-1 Belgium | Nations League
Zinchenko played full game, Trossard 80 minutes

Friday, March 21
Brazil 2-1 Colombia
Gabriel played full game

Ghana 5-0 Chad
Partey played 83 minutes

England 2-0 Albania
Lewis-Skelly played full game, scored. Rice played 82 minutes, assisted

Poland 1-0 Lithuania
Kiwior played full game

Saturday, March 22
Moldova 0-5 Norway
Odegaard played full game, assisted

Sunday, March 23
France 2-0 Croatia (5-4 on penalties)
Saliba played full game

Germany 3-3 Italy (Calafiori)
Calafiori not in squad

Scotland 0-3 Greece
Tierney came on in 55th minute

Spain 3-3 Netherlands (5-4 on penalties)
Merino came on in 84th minute, scored in penalty shootout. Raya unused sub, Timber not in squad

Belgium 3-0 Ukraine
Trossard played 69 minutes, Zinchenko played 90 minutes

Monday, March 24
Madagascar v Ghana (Partey)
World Cup qualifier | Al Hoceima, Morocco | 7pm

England (Lewis-Skelly, Rice) v Latvia
World Cup qualifier | London | 7.45pm

Poland (Kiwior) v Malta
World Cup qualifier | Warsaw | 7.45pm

Tuesday, March 25
Israel v Norway (Odegaard)
World Cup qualifier | Debrecen, Hungary | 7.45pm