Soccer

Ireland to face Portugal in World Cup qualifiers after they see off Denmark in extra-time

Portugal’s Francisco Trincão came off the bench to score twice in Lisbon in Nations League quarter-final

Francisco Trincão scores Portugal's fourth goal during extra-time in the Uefa Nations League quarter-final against Denmark at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon. Photograph: Patricia De Delo Moreira/AFP via Getty Images
Francisco Trincão scores Portugal's fourth goal during extra-time in the Uefa Nations League quarter-final against Denmark at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon. Photograph: Patricia De Delo Moreira/AFP via Getty Images
Sun Mar 23 2025 - 22:58
Nations League quarter-finals, second legs
Portugal 4 [J Andersen 38og, Ronaldo 72, Trincão 86, 91 ET, Ramos 115 ET] Denmark 2 [Kristensen 56, Eriksen 76] [Portugal win 5-3 on agg]

Portugal’s Francisco Trincão came off the bench to score twice and Cristiano Ronaldo also netted as they beat Denmark 5-2 after extra-time on Sunday for a 5-3 aggregate win that sent them through to the Nations League semi-finals, where they will face Germany.

The result means that Portugal will complete Ireland’s World Cup qualifying group along with Hungary and Armenia.

With the Danes leading the tie 1-0 thanks to Rasmus Højlund’s goal in Thursday’s first leg in Copenhagen, Ronaldo won and then missed an early penalty before Portugal took the lead on the night in the 38th minute thanks to an own goal from Danish defender Joachim Andersen.

That goal was cancelled out by a Rasmus Kristensen header in the 56th minute, and though Ronaldo gave the home side the lead again with a finish from a tight angle, Christian Eriksen put Denmark back in front on aggregate in the 76th minute.

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Trincão then took over, scoring in the 86th minute to make it 3-3 on aggregate and force extra-time before netting again in the 91st, with Goncalo Ramos adding Portugal’s fifth to send them through to a final-four meeting with Germany, who beat Italy 5-4 on aggregate.

Germany 3 [Kimmich 30 pen, Musiala 36, Kleindienst 45] Italy 3 [Kean 49, 69, Raspadori 90+5] [Germany won 5-4 on agg]

Germany squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 against Italy on Sunday to earn a nerve-racking 5-4 aggregate victory and a spot in the Nations League last four.

The Germans shot out of the blocks in Dortmund and played their best first half in more than a decade with 16 efforts towards goal, Joshua Kimmich opening their account with a 30th-minute penalty.

They then caught Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and the entire defence napping with a quickly taken Joshua Kimmich corner for unmarked Jamal Musiala to slot in their second in the 36th minute. Tim Kleindienst added a third on the stroke of half-time.

It was a German mistake, however, that launched Italy’s comeback and allowed Moise Kean to cut the deficit four minutes after the restart. With the Germans a shadow of their earlier selves, Kean then beat defender Jonathan Tah in the 69th to make it 3-2.

Italy drew on the night with Giacomo Raspadori’s stoppage-time penalty but could not find another goal to level the tie on aggregate as Germany prepare to face either Portugal in the last four in June.

Spain 3 [Oyarzabal 8 pen, 67, Yamal 103 ET] Netherlands 3 [Depay 54 pen, Maatsen 79, Simons 109 ET pen] [5-5 on agg, Spain won 5-4 on pens]

Spain claimed a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over the Netherlands in Valencia to reach the Nations League semi-finals after the second leg of their thrilling contest ended 3-3 to leave the tie level 5-5 on aggregate.

Both sides missed their fourth penalties, but the decisive blow was landed in the sixth round when the Netherlands' Donyell Malen saw his attempt saved by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, allowing Pedri to convert and secure the win.

The hosts grabbed an early lead after Jan Paul van Hecke brought down Mikel Oyarzabal, who calmly converted the resulting penalty in the eighth minute.

The situation was reversed at the start of the second half as Spain’s Robin Le Normand fouled Memphis Depay, who converted with ease from the penalty spot to level the score for the Dutch.

Spain regained the lead in the 67th minute through a header by Oyarzabal after a counterattack, but the Netherlands equalised in the 79th with Ian Maatsen’s powerful strike, sending the match to extra-time.

Spain regained the lead 13 minutes into extra-time with a stunning left-footed strike from Lamine Yamal, but four minutes into the second period, Xavi Simons equalised for the Dutch from the penalty spot after a foul by Simon, sending the match to penalties.

France 2 [Olise 52, Dembéle 80] Croatia 0 [2-2 on agg, France won 5-4 on pens]

France overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the semi-finals by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France.

Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shoot-out in which France goalkeeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into a last four clash against Spain.

Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembélé doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra-time after their 2-0 loss in Split on Thursday.

France had a total of 22 chances while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes.

Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers

September 6th: Ireland v Hungary, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm

September 9th: Armenia v Ireland, TBC, 5pm Irish time

October 11th: Portugal v Ireland, TBC, 7.45pm Irish time

October 14th: Ireland v Armenia, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm

November 13th: Ireland v Portugal, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm

November 16th: Hungary v Ireland, TBC, 2pm Irish time