Spain, France advance to Nations League semis

PARIS, France:

Defending champions Spain, and France needed penalty shootouts yesterday to reach the Nations League semi-finals, where they were joined by Germany and Portugal.

Spain were pegged back three times by the Netherlands in a 3-3 draw after extra time in the second leg for a 5-5 aggregate score. Barcelona midfielder Pedri scored the decisive penalty kick after Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon had saved Donyell Malen's effort as the shootout finished 5-4.

France won the shootout by the same score against Croatia after leading 2-0 after 90 minutes to level the tie overall and force extra time, which saw no more goals scored. Dayot Upamecano scored the decisive spot kick after goalkeeper Mike Maignan brilliantly saved from Josip Stanisic.

Germany scored three first-half goals against Italy but then held on grimly for a 3-3 draw to win 5-4 on aggregate. Giacomo Raspadori's penalty deep into second-half stoppage time of the second leg had put Italy within one goal of forcing extra time in Dortmund.

Portugal beat Denmark 5-2 after extra time in Lisbon after losing the first leg 1-0. Francisco Trincao scored twice for Portugal late on, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing an early penalty.

The semi-finals begin on June 4 with Germany playing Portugal in Munich, followed on June 5 with France vs Spain in Stuttgart.

The final is on June 8.

MBAPPE DROUGHT

Kylian Mbappe's seventh game without a goal for France is his longest drought for the national team and he remains stuck on 48 goals.

Michael Olise got France back into the tie when he curled in a 52nd-minute free kick for his first international goal, then set up Ousmane Dembele 10 minutes from time to make it 2-2 on aggregate.

Mbappe missed a good chance in extra time but held his nerve to score France's first penalty in the shootout at the Stade de France.

RESILIENT DUTCH

Mikel Oyarzabal's early penalty put Spain ahead in Valencia, but Memphis Depay equalised from the spot in the 54th minute.

Oyarzabal grabbed his second goal midway through the second half following a counterattack, but defender Ian Maatsen's left-footed strike sent the game into extra time.

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal put the Spanish ahead again in the 103rd minute with a neat finish, but midfielder Xavi Simons equalised as the Dutch took Spain to penalties.