There was tension until the very end of Sunday night's four UEFA Nations League quarterfinals.

Only Germany qualified in 90 minutes after a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Italy, while Portugal needed extra time against Denmark, Spain endured a tense penalty shootout against the Netherlands after drawing 4-4 on aggregate, and France also snuck through 5-4 on penalties against Croatia after fighting back in Paris.

Mikel Oyarzabal drilled Spain ahead from the penalty spot in the eighth minute after he had been brought down from behind, and he had the ball in the net just three minutes later, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.

Spain was clearly on top and only a brilliant save from Bart Verbruggen denied Nico Williams what looked like a certain goal.

The Netherlands gained more control of the ball as the half progressed, but failed to trouble Unai Simon in the Spain goal.

Sandi Lovric (R) of Slovenia shoots during the UEFA Nations League B play-offs 2nd leg football match between Slovenia and Slovakia in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on March 23, 2025. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Memphis Depay, playing his 100th game for the Netherlands, leveled from the penalty spot in the 54th minute after going down easily as he and Robin Le Normand challenged for a cross, before picking himself up and firing high into the net.

Williams' pace set up Oyarzabal for Spain's second goal, with the striker nodding home after Verbruggen had blocked his original shot.

It was 2-2 on the night when Ian Maatsen drilled home from 10 meters after an excellent pass from Xavi Simons to force extra time.

Lamine Yamal scored Spain's third with a brilliant left-foot finish after a raking pass from young defender Dean Huijsen, but Simons leveled for a third time for the Netherlands after another penalty.

That took the tie into a shoot-out, with Pedri netting the decisive spot-kick for Spain after Simon had saved from Donyell Malen.

Michael Olise got France back into their tie against Croatia after a 2-0 first leg defeat with a 52nd-minute free kick, and after the home side had pushed hard all game, Ousmane Dembele leveled the tie with 10 minutes left.

Les Bleus looked for the win in extra time, with Croatia looking happier to wait for penalties, but it was France who qualified with Dayot Upamecano scoring the decisive kick in a shootout that needed 14 attempts to be decided.

Germany quickly built on its 2-1 first leg win in Italy on Thursday to book its place in the final four, as it blitzed Italy with three goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half.

Joshua Kimmich opened the scoring in the 30th minute after Tim Kleindienst was bundled over, and then turned provider for Jamal Musiala to double the lead on 36 minutes, and for Kleindienst to add a third in the last minute of the half.

Moise Kean pulled a goal back for Italy three minutes after the break and scored his second 20 minutes later, with Giacomo Raspadori scoring a 95th minute penalty to make it 3-3 on the night as Italy produced a much-improved second-half display, although it was not enough to get them into the semifinals, with Germany qualifying 5-4 on aggregate.

Portugal came back from a 1-0 loss in Copenhagen with a 5-2 win after extra time to qualify 5-3 on aggregate against Denmark.

Cristiano Ronaldo had an early penalty saved as Kasper Schmeichel got down magnificently to his left, but Joachim Andersen's own goal gave Portugal the lead when he nodded into his own net four minutes from halftime.

Denmark leveled on the night after 56 minutes when Rasmus Kristensen got on the end of Christian Eriksen's deep corner.

Ronaldo took advantage of a stroke of luck to put Portugal back in front after Bruno Fernandes' shot hit both the post and Schmeichel to leave him with a tap-in, but Eriksen quickly leveled with a simple finish after great work from Patrick Dorgu.

Francisco Trincao scored Portugal's third of the night with four minutes left to play to take the tie to extra time, and he added a fourth early in extra time, with Goncalo Ramos ensuring the win with five minutes left. 

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