OFFICIAL: Spain already has a rival in the quarter-finals of the Nations League

Published:22/11/2024 - 16:31h

Updated:23/11/2024 - 14:55h

UEFA on Friday drew the Nations League finals. Spain will face the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, in a two-legged tie that will be decided on Spanish soil

Spain will face the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie. This Friday, the draw brought about the match that repeats the 2010 World Cup final, on that occasion settled in favor of La Roja (0-1) in South Africa. The duels will be played on March 20 (probably in Amsterdam) and March 23, 2025 (with venue to be defined).

Starting with the 2024/25 edition, UEFA added a quarter-final round-robin phase prior to the 'final four' that will be played from June 4 to 8. If they qualify, Spain is guaranteed home-field status for the final, having overcome the group stage with the best score (16), the result of 5 wins and 1 draw.

La Roja beat Serbia and Switzerland in group 4, while Denmark advanced as second in the group. Only Serbia (0-0 in Belgrade) was able to get points off the national team, which after drawing in the debut added five wins in a row, the last this week in Tenerife, precisely against the Serbians (3-2).

The Netherlands, for its part, advanced to the quarterfinals as second in group 3 with 9 points (5 less than Germany). The 'Orange' beat Bosnia (5-2) and Hungary (4-0) at home, where they also drew with Germany (2-2). As visitors, Ronald Koeman's team failed to win any game, after drawing with Hungarians and Bosnians (1-1) and falling to the Germans (1-0).

Croatia or France, possible rivals of Spain in the semis

If they beat the tulips, the national team will face the winner of the match between Croatia and France. Both will repeat the final of the World Cup in Russia, with the French as clear favorites after leading group 2 with 13 points, the same as Italy. However, 'Les Bleus' left the 'azzurri' in second place after their resounding victory on the last day at San Siro.

Croatia, on the other hand, advanced as second in group 1 with only 8 points, 6 less than Portugal (14). Zlatko Dalic's team fell in the final of the 2022/23 edition against Spain (0-0, 4-5) in Rotterdam. Likewise, France left Spain on the verge of the title in 2020/21, with a narrow victory at San Siro (1-2). Both teams lost to La Roja in the last European Championship (Croatia, 3-0 in the group stage; France, 2-1 in the semi-finals).