MADRID — Cristiano Ronaldo showcased his exceptional talent by scoring a penalty and a stunning overhead kick, leading Portugal to a decisive 5-1 victory against Poland. This win ensured Portugal’s advancement to the quarterfinals of the Nations League. Meanwhile, Scotland managed to secure its first victory in nine matches, keeping its hopes alive for survival in the tournament’s top tier.
In other matches, Spain, having already clinched first place in Group A4, secured a 2-1 win against Denmark in Copenhagen. Furthermore, Serbia scored a late equalizer against Switzerland, which ultimately resulted in Switzerland’s relegation to the second tier of the competition.
France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal have all confirmed their spots in the quarterfinals, scheduled to take place from March 20-23. The eight qualified teams will also be placed in Pot 1 for the qualifying draw for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
Ronaldo’s brilliance was on full display in Porto, where he delivered a man-of-the-match performance during an explosive second half. Portugal initially faced difficulties against a struggling Poland. However, the team lit up in the final moments of the game with three goals in the last 10 minutes, sealing a resounding victory.
Rafael Leão opened the scoring with a well-placed header just 14 minutes into the second half. Ronaldo then added to his legendary tally with his 134th international goal from the penalty spot. Bruno Fernandes followed up with an extraordinary strike from nearly 30 meters out, and shortly after, Ronaldo’s assist allowed Pedro Neto to score a fourth goal from a difficult angle. Ronaldo capped the impressive performance by netting his 135th international goal with a skillful overhead kick just three minutes before the final whistle. Polish player Dominik Marczuk managed to secure a late consolation goal, but the result dashed Poland’s quarterfinal aspirations.
In Glasgow, Scotland snapped its nine-match winless streak with a last-gasp goal from John McGinn, clinching victory against a 10-man Croatia in Group A1. Following a controversial sending-off of Petar Sucic for a second yellow card shortly before halftime, Scotland struggled to leverage the advantage. Young talent Ben Doak emerged as a standout player in the second half, but it wasn’t until the closing moments that substitute McGinn found the back of the net, much to the delight of the Hampden Park crowd. This result leaves Scotland with two points, while Poland remains at four, setting the stage for their crucial clash in Warsaw where Scotland must win to avoid relegation.
In the match between Spain and Denmark, the latter extended its winless streak against Spain since 1993. Denmark’s poor defense allowed Mikel Oyarzabal to score early, putting Spain ahead after just 15 minutes. Spain maintained control throughout the match, with Oyarzabal and Ayoze Pérez effectively combining in the attacking third. Pérez, who hit the bar earlier, scored an impressive goal with a precise finish following a pass from Olmo about 58 minutes into the game. A late defensive error allowed Gustav Isaksen to score a consolation goal for Denmark. Despite this, Denmark remains in a solid position in the fight for the top two spots in Group A4, currently sitting in second place with seven points, just ahead of Serbia.
In Zurich, Switzerland’s hopes for a win were dashed late in the game as Zeki Amdouni initially put them ahead with a goal in the 79th minute. However, with just three minutes left, Serbia countered effectively, leading to Aleksa Terzi? leveling the score in a calm finish. Earlier in the match, Gregor Kobel had showcased his goalkeeping prowess by denying Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovi? from the penalty spot.