2024-11-15 23:38:00
MADRID (AP) — Portugal beat Poland 5-1 on Friday on Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty and a bicycle kick goal to secure a spot in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals.
Scotland secured their first win in nine games to keep their hopes of staying in the top flight alive.
The Spanish team, which has already won the first place in Group A4, defeated the Danish team 2-1 in Copenhagen. In the same group, the Serbian team suffered a draw with Switzerland and was eventually relegated to the second group.
France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal have already secured one of the top eight spots. The conference will be held from March 20 to 23.
These eight teams have also secured a spot in Pot 1 of the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw.
In Porto, Cristiano was the star player of the second half.
It took Portugal a while to overcome a hapless Poland side, but three goals in the final 10 minutes added luster to a crushing victory.
Rafael Leão scored with a superb header 14 minutes into the second half and Cristiano scored his 134th goal for his country via a penalty kick 13 minutes later.
Bruno Fernandez scored an impressive third goal from nearly 30 meters out and Cristiano’s pass gave Pedro Neto space to shoot from a tight angle three minutes later for the fourth. goals.
Ronaldo added his fifth goal with a clever overhead kick three minutes from time, taking the score to 135.
Although Dominik Marzouk earned a late consolation for the Poles, the result ended their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
Roberto Martinez’s Croatia have secured first place in Group A1 thanks to their defeat in Glasgow.
Scotland’s rare victory
Scotland earned their first win in nine games thanks to a late goal from John McGinn, giving the home side the closest win over 10-man Croatia in Group A1.
Two minutes before half-time Petar Susic was badly sent off for a second yellow card, but Scotland fought back to equalize.
Ben Doak, 19, was outstanding for the home side during the 45 second-half minutes but it was not until four minutes remaining that substitute McGinn broke the deadlock to the delight of the Hampden Park fans Incessantly.
As a result, Scotland has two points and Poland has four points. The teams meet in Warsaw on Monday, with Scotland needing a win to avoid relegation to the second tier.
Spain beats Denmark
Denmark have not beaten Spain since 1993 and got off to their worst start, with Mikel Oyarzabal taking advantage of some sloppy defensive work to give the visitors the lead after 15 minutes.
The European champions were in the lead throughout the match. Oyarzabal and Ayoze Perez work well together up front. Perez rattled the crossbar early on, but in the 58th minute he latched on to Olmo’s brilliant serve and finished with surgical precision to get the goal he deserved for his efforts.
A shocking defensive error allowed Gustav Isaksson to sneak in and score Denmark’s consolation goal.
Together with the draw in Switzerland, the Danish team is still in a good position to compete for one of the top two spots in Group A4.
Denmark is in second place with seven points, two ahead of Serbia. The two teams will meet in Leskovac on Monday. The bottom Swiss team will be relegated to the second division.
In Zurich, Zeki Amdouni gave Switzerland the lead after 79 minutes and looked on course for their first win of the tournament.
But with three minutes left Serbia advanced quickly and Alexa Terzic finished with ice-cold composure to level the scores.
Greg Kerber saved Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic’s penalty early in the second half.
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This story was translated from English by AP editors with the help of generated artificial intelligence tools.
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What were the key factors that contributed to Portugal’s dominant performance against Poland?
**Interview with Sports Analyst John Smith on Recent UEFA Nations League Matches**
**Interviewer:** Good evening, John! Thanks for joining us to discuss the recent UEFA Nations League matches, especially the spectacular performance by Portugal against Poland.
**John Smith:** Good evening! It’s great to be here.
**Interviewer:** Portugal’s decisive 5-1 victory over Poland seems to be the highlight of the night. What are your thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance in that match?
**John Smith:** Ronaldo was undoubtedly the star of the show. Scoring two goals, including a spectacular bicycle kick, showcases not only his skill but also his endurance at this stage of his career. The penalty he converted and the overall presence he brings to the team are invaluable, especially in crucial matches like this one.
**Interviewer:** Portugal has secured a spot in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals. What does this victory mean for them moving forward in the tournament?
**John Smith:** Securing their spot early in the tournament is a huge advantage. It allows them to rest key players and manage their squad while building momentum. With Ronaldo playing at such a high level and the team displaying strong chemistry, they’re definitely contenders for the title.
**Interviewer:** Now shifting gears to Scotland, they finally broke their losing streak with a late win against Croatia. How significant is this win for them?
**John Smith:** This win is incredibly significant for Scotland. It not only boosts their confidence but also keeps their hopes alive in the top flight. Winning against a team like Croatia, especially when they were down to ten men, shows resilience and could be a turning point for the squad.
**Interviewer:** How do you see the upcoming quarterfinals shaping up with teams like Spain, France, and Germany also securing their places?
**John Smith:** It’s shaping up to be an exciting quarterfinal stage. With traditional powerhouses like Spain and France in the mix, it’s hard to predict outcomes. Each team has its strengths and weaknesses, so it will come down to how well they can adapt to the knockout format. The depth of talent in these matches will definitely make for thrilling football.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, John, for your insights! It’s been a pleasure discussing these thrilling matches with you.
**John Smith:** Thank you for having me! Always a pleasure to talk football.