BELGRADE, SEPT 6 – Euro 2024 champions Spain tied with Serbia in their first match since winning the Euros, while Cristiano Ronaldo made history by scoring his 900th career goal as Portugal beat Croatia in the UEFA Nations League yesterday.
The eight Spanish players who featured in the Euro 2024 final against England two months ago started against Serbia in Belgrade. Among them, Lamine Yamal from Barcelona, who was denied a goal several times by the home goalkeeper, Predrag Rajkovic.
Luis de la Fuente’s side, who are also the reigning UEFA Nations League champions, will now hope to record their first win in League A Group 4 when they take on Switzerland in Geneva on Sunday.
In other matches, Switzerland lost 2-0 to Denmark yesterday, with Patrick Dorgu and captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scoring late goals for the hosts in Copenhagen.
Switzerland were forced to finish the match with nine men after Nico Elvedi and Granit Xhaka were sent off in the second half.
In Lisbon, Ronaldo made history with the 900th goal of his career which proved decisive as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in Group A1.
Ronaldo, 39, who has not scored a goal in Euro 2024, headed home Nuno Mendes’ cross in the 34th minute at the Estadio da Luz. – AFP
