Croatia, Denmark qualify for Nations League quarters
Denmark and Croatia completed the Nations League quarterfinals lineup after both sides secured draws. Denmark went 0-0 in Serbia and Croatia came from behind to share 1-1 with visiting Portugal. They joined France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Netherlands in the last-eight. The quarterfinals will be held on March 20-23.
In Warsaw, Liverpool fullback Andy Robertson scored an injury time header to give Scotland a 2-1 win over Poland and send the hosts down into League B. Scotland have a playoff to secure its League A status.
Croatia needed only a draw to secure qualification but they made the home fans in Split sweat before getting the point they needed against group winners Portugal.
With 32 minutes gone, Joao Felix brought down a superb 45-yard pass from Vitinha and slipped the ball under the advancing keeper to give the visitors the lead. When Andrej Kramaric hit the post and Josko Gvardiol had a 62nd minute goal ruled out for offside it looked like it might not
be Croatia’s night.
But Manchester City’s Gvardiol got the equaliser just a few minutes later and Croatia held on to take the second quarterfinal spot from Group A1.
There was little to play for in Tenerife, where Spain, top of Group A4, took on the already relegated Switzerland. Coach Luis de la Fuente offered a first start to Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado and gave debuts to Samu and Aitor Paredes in a much-changed Spain side.
But it was the two Bryans, Gil and Zaragoza, who got the goals that mattered for the European champions.
Pedri’s first half penalty was saved but Yeremi Pino converted to put Spain ahead. Joel Monteiro equalised for Switzerland after 63 minutes but Bryan Gil got Spain back in front five minutes later. Andi Zeqiri equalised again from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining but a stoppage time penalty from Bryan Zaragoza at the other end gave
Spain all three points.
Japan march on
Japan’s march to the 2026 World Cup continued as Hajime Moriyasu’s side handed China a 3-1 defeat in Xiamen while Iran eked out a late 3-2 win over Kyrgyzstan and South Korea were held to a 1-1 draw by Palestine.
Koki Ogawa scored with a header in each half to move the Japanese onto 16 points from six games and further cement their place at the top of Group C, where Saudi Arabia suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat at the hands of Indonesia.
