Merino nets late for Spain, six others in action

After his exploits at club level recently, Mikel Merino was a goalscoring hero for Spain on Thursday night thanks to a late equaliser to earn his side a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.

Having come off the bench just minutes before, Mikel bagged his second international goal deep into stoppage-time at the end of the game in Rotterdam to earn the defending Nations League holders a draw, leaving the second leg finely poised as he looks to add another international medal to his collection.

The hosts were without Jurrien Timber due to illness, and they fell behind to the reigning European champions when Nico Williams netted a shot on the turn, but Cody Gakpo drilled in an equaliser on 28 minutes.

Having played every game for his country since they won Euro 2024, David Raya was back on the bench with Unai Simon restored between the posts, but he was beaten again within seconds of the restart when Tijani Reijnders put the Dutch in front, who were forced to play the final nine minutes with 10 minutes following Jurel Hato’s red card.

And after Mikel was introduced in the 84th minute, Spain capitalised when Williams saw a shot parried by Bart Verbruggen, but straight into the path of Merino who gleefully tapped in.

The winner of that game will face either France or Croatia in the final four this summer, but William Saliba’s team have it all to do if they’re to get that far after falling to a 2-0 first-leg defeat in Split.

Our defender played all 90 minutes but after his side escaped after Croatia missed an early penalty, Ante Budimir's header put the hosts into a 26th-minute lead. Ivan Perisic drilled in a second in the final stages of the opening half to give Les Bleus an uphill task going into the second leg in Paris.

In another quarter-final clash, Riccardo Calafiori also played the full game but Italy were beaten 2-1 by Germany at the San Siro. The Azzurri took the lead with Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali netting on his former stomping ground, but in the second half the visitors turned the game on its head when Tim Kleindienst and Leon Goretzka scored.

Riccardo was struggling towards the end of the game and needed treatment following an awkward slip as Germany attacked in the 92nd minute, leaving his participation in the second leg in Dortmund up in the air.

There were also promotion/relegation play-offs in the Nations League on Thursday, and Oleksandr Zinchenko helped his team to a huge 3-1 victory to stun Leandro Trossard’s Belgium and put them on the brink of elevation to League A.

Playing in central midfield, Alex featured throughout in the Spanish city of Murcia, and despite falling behind to Romelu Lukaku’s header, midway through the second half Oleksiy Hutsulyak capitalised on a mistake to equalise. Vladyslav Vanat and Ilya Zabarnyi added further goals within 12 minutes to put the Ukrainians in a commanding position. 

Looking ahead to the return fixture, Alex said: “We need to stay grounded. We all know the second game will be totally different—they’ll be at home, the crowd will push them forward. We understand the kind of players they have and what they’re capable of. So, we’re preparing and need to keep moving forward.”

Leandro played for 80 minutes of the game, but the Red Devils have it all to do in Brussels this weekend if they’re to avoid demotion to League B.

Scotland also took a big step towards remaining in League A as they beat Greece 1-0 in Piraeus thanks to a Scott McTominay penalty. Kieran Tierney was a 76th-minute introduction from the bench, with a solid defensive display from the Scots helping them to a crucial win on the road.

Aside from European action, Gabriel won his 13th cap for Brazil and helped his nation beat Colombia in dramatic circumstances. Gabi played all 90 minutes in Brasilia when Raphina and Luis Diaz traded goals, and as the game drifted towards its conclusion it seemed both teams would have to settle for a point.

However in the ninth minute of added time, Vinicius Junior blasted in a spectacular winner from 30 yards to snatch the points for the Selecao and give their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup a massive boost, although Gabriel won't be available for their next game against Argentina after picking up a suspension following a yellow card against the Colombians.

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 (Partey) v Chad
World Cup qualifier | Accra | 7pm

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

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

Saturday, March 22
Moldova v Norway (Odegaard)
World Cup qualifier | Chisinau | 5pm

Sunday, March 23
France (Saliba) v Croatia
Nations League | Paris | 7.45pm

Germany v Italy (Calafiori)
Nations League | Dortmund | 7.45pm

Scotland (Tierney) v Greece
Nations League | Glasgow | 7.45pm

Spain (Merino, Raya) v Netherlands (Timber)
Nations League | Valencia | 7.45pm

Belgium (Trossard) v Ukraine (Zinchenko)
Nations League | Genk | 7.45pm

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