The international break in Europe kicked off in sensational manner with the UEFA Nations League group matches winners of the inaugural edition, Portugal, claimed a 2-1 win over Croatia inside Benfica’s Estadio de Luz on Thursday.
Goals from Diogo Dalot and a milestone-reaching 900th goal from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 7th and 34th minutes, respectively, put the hosts in front. Although Croatia drew one back through an own goal from Dalot in the 41st minute, Portugal held on for the victory as they sit second in League A, Group 1 behind Poland.
Elsewhere, the Polish team edged Scotland 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Hampden Park in Glasgow. A strike from Sebastian Szymanski and a penalty from Barcelona talisman Robert Lewandowski put the Poles in a comfortable lead.
However, two goals thirty minutes apart from newly-signed Napoli midfielders Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay, drew Scotland level. With the game heading to a stalemate, 22-year-old wing-back Nicola Zalewski scored the winner in the 97th minute with Poland’s second penalty of the day.
Meanwhile, in League A Group 4, reigning Nations League and European champions Spain were held to a goalless draw by Serbia at the Red Star Stadium
Denmark, on the other hand, got off to a great start with a 2-0 win over 9-man Switzerland, with Ballon d’or nominee Granit Xhaka and defender Nico Elvedi seeing red for the visitors inside the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
For the Danes, two late goalsdid the job: Nigerian-descent Patrick Dorgu broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute before Marseille midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg added the second to wrap up the victory for the Scandinavians.
Best performance?! 🌟#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/5PmZMkeacm
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) September 5, 2024
In the other games, Slovakia pipped Estonia to a 1-0 win, while Sweden dominated Azerbaijan at home with a dominant 3-1 win courtesy of a brace from Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak and a penalty from red-hot Sporting Lisbon forward Victor Gyokeres in League C Group 1.
Still in League C, Belarus failed to get a win over 10-man Bulgari, settling for a draw away from home in Group 3, while Northern Ireland secured a well-deserved 2-0 win over Luxembourg.
In League D, only one match was played with San Marino, FIFA’s lowest-ranked team, recording a historic 1-0 win over Liechtenstein in Serravalle.
Nicko Sensoli became a national hero as his 53rd-minute strike fired San Marino to their first international victory in 20 years.
