SPAIN: Spain suffered a shocking 1-2 defeat at home against Switzerland on Saturday. Now, Spain must defeat Portugal on Tuesday to advance to the UEFA Nations League semifinals.
Meanwhile, in another match, Diogo Dalot scored twice as Portugal defeated the Czech Republic 4-0. Portugal has now clinched first place in Group A2.
Spain has limited time to fix its problems before the World Cup, which begins in two months. The team was defeated by the Swiss in Zaragoza due to a recurring pattern of bad finishing.
Swiss football player and the defender of Machester City Manuel Akanji gave the visitors the lead in the 21st minute.
Ten minutes into the second half, the hosts struck back when Jordi Alba pounced on Marco Asensio’s ball and fired high into the goal.
Breel Embolo could bundle it from close range after another Switzerland corner was not properly cleared.
Portugal vs Czech Republic
Meanwhile, with a much smoother night in Prague, Portugal pulled two points ahead of Spain at the group’s top. Dalot scored his first two international goals and became the ‘unlikely’ hero.
The right-back found himself in a center-forward’s position to slot home the opener from close range before Fernandes rounded off a slick team move in first-half stoppage time.
Seven minutes into the second half, Dalot then wonderfully curled his weaker left foot into the bottom corner.
Late in the game, Jota completed the scoring by heading in unattended from a corner.
Scotland retaliates
After coming from behind to defeat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 and maintaining a group B1 leadership, Scotland needs just a point from their match against Ukraine in the middle of the week to be promoted to League A.
At Hampden Park, John Egan had given the Irish an early advantage.
However, Scotland fought back to avenge their 3-0 defeat in Dublin in June.
Jack Hendry headed in Ryan Christie’s cross to level before Christie rolled home the winner from the penalty spot after Allan Browne handled inside his own area.
Other matches
Artem Dovbyk scored twice as Ukraine thrashed Armenia 5-0 to maintain their prospects of winning the group.
Erling Haaland was overshadowed by one of Europe’s other rising stars, Benjamin Sesko, in a 2-1 loss to Slovenia, delaying Norway’s promotion to League A.
Haaland quickly scored the game’s first goal, his 21st in 22 appearances for his country.
Sesko, a striker for Salzburg who has already agreed to join RB Leipzig next season, set up Andraz Sporar for the game-tying goal before scoring a long-range goal in Ljubljana to give the home team the victory.
As a result of Aleksandar Mitrovic’s hat-trick in a 4-1 hammering of Sweden, Serbia surpassed Norway to tie for first place in Group B4 in terms of points.
Israel’s late goal in a 2-1 victory over Albania automatically promoted them to League A.
Josh Magennis’ injury-time header gave Northern Ireland a first-ever Nations League victory as Ian Baraclough’s team overcame a goal deficit to defeat Kosovo 2-1 in Belfast.
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