Northern Ireland up as Spain & San Marino win again

Northern Ireland saw a two-goal lead disappear in the space of three minutes but a 2-2 Nations League draw with Luxembourg was still enough for Michael O’Neill’s side to earn promotion to League B.

Goals from Isaac Price and Conor Bradley put the visitors ahead, but Seid Korac got Luxembourg back into it in the 72nd minute and moments later Gerson Rodrigues fired in an equaliser.

It set up a tense finish at the Stade de Luxembourg but Northern Ireland hung on and the point, coupled with a 1-1 draw between Bulgaria and Belarus, saw them top the group by two points.

Can anyone stop Spain?

European champions Spain head a strong last eight who reached the quarter-finals of League A.

Spain, who won the last Nations League in 2023, beat Switzerland 3-2  thanks to a late penalty converted by Bryan Zaragoza.

They are joined in the knockout stage next year by France, Portugal, Germany, Croatia, Italy, Netherlands and Denmark.

In Scotland’s group, Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol scored his first international goal in two years to rescue a point for Croatia in their 1-1 draw with Portugal in Split as both teams advanced.

The draw for the quarters takes place on Friday, with the ties taking place next March and the semi-finals and final being held in June 2025.

San Marino win…again!

You wait nearly 25 years for a first competitive win for San Marino – and then two come along in quick succession!

The minnows will play in League C after a 3-1 win over Liechtenstein saw them top Group D1 on seven points.

🇸🇲’s Nations League campaign:

– Their first win in 20 years
– Their first ever competitive win
– Their biggest win ever
– Their first ever comeback win
– THEIR FIRST PROMOTION TO THE NATIONS LEAGUE C

What a time to be alive.

FORZA TITANI 🇸🇲🇸🇲🇸🇲

— San Marino fan account (@SanMarino_FA) November 18, 2024