Spain grab late leveller against Dutch in Nations League, Croatia down France

AFP | Paris

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Mikel Merino’s 93rd-minute equaliser earned Spain a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in Nations League quarter-final first leg action on Thursday, while Croatia have one foot in the semi-finals after beating France 2-0.

Germany are in prime position to host the final stage of the tournament after coming from behind to beat Italy 2-1 in Milan while Rasmus Hojlund fired Denmark into a slender first-leg lead against Portugal.

In Rotterdam, reigning champions Spain raced into an early lead through Nico Williams but needed an injury-time leveller against the 10 men of the Netherlands to salvage their two-year unbeaten streak.

Dutch goals either side of the break courtesy of Cody Gakpo and Tijjani Reijnders had flipped the tie on its head, until an 81st-minute red card for teenager Jorrel Hato for a rash challenge on Robin Le Normand gave Spain a way back into the encounter.

It was then the ever-dangerous Williams who created Spain’s second as he cut in and fired off a strike, which Bart Verbruggen could only palm out to the lurking Merino.

“It’s a bit sad when you concede the late goal. I don’t think we deserved it. But you know when you play with 10 men, it’s going to be difficult,” Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman told Ziggo.

“We dared to take the game to Spain. We were the better team.”

Croatia put an early penalty miss behind them to gain revenge over the side that beat them in the 2018 World Cup final, winning 2-0 in Split.

French goalkeeper Mike Maignan saved Andrej Kramaric’s eighth-minute spotkick but was unable to deny Ante Budimir 18 minutes later despite getting a firm touch on the forward’s header.

Veteran Ivan Perisic gave Croatia a two-goal buffer ahead of the return fixture one minute into first-half added time with a perfectly-placed right-footed volley.

“Croatia are obviously in a better situation,” France boss Didier Deschamps told TF1.

“Our first-half showing was below what we are capable of. It will be a different game (in the second leg) and we will do everything to turn it around.”