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Jose Luis Gaya’s late aim gave Spain a 1-1 draw away in Germany on Thursday as the beginning of the UEFA Nations League marked the return of worldwide soccer in Europe following a hiatus of 10 months as a result of coronavirus pandemic. Valencia defender Gaya was readily available to attain from shut vary within the sixth minute of added time in Stuttgart after Rodrigo Moreno had nodded down a Ferran Torres cross, in a dramatic ending to the League A, Group Four encounter.
Earlier, new Chelsea striker Timo Werner had given Germany the lead simply after half-time in an entertaining contest between two of the final three World Cup winners.
It was Luis Enrique’s first recreation of his second spell as Spain coach, regardless of being re-appointed in November 2019 simply after their final recreation in Euro 2020 qualifying.
“This team is full of faith and hunger. We didn’t deserve to lose and we kept fighting to the end,” mentioned Spain captain Sergio Ramos, who earned his 171st cap.
These two groups will hope to characteristic prominently within the European Championship, which was postponed by a 12 months due to the pandemic and can now go forward — all going to plan — in June and July subsequent 12 months.
In the meantime, this second version of the Nations League can be crammed into the following three months, with the 4 group winners in League A advancing to the finals later in 2021.
– Fati debut –
For now, all video games are being performed behind closed doorways, similar to the current Champions League and Europa League ‘Final Eight’ tournaments in Lisbon and in Germany.
The stands in Stuttgart have been due to this fact empty as Barcelona winger Ansu Fati got here on for the second half to make his Spain debut.
Fati, who was born in Guinea-Bissau, doesn’t flip 18 till October. At 17 years and 308 days, he’s the second-youngest participant ever to characterize Spain, behind Angel Zubieta, who was just a few weeks youthful when he performed in opposition to Czechoslovakia in 1936.
– Ireland seize late draw –
Elsewhere on Thursday in the identical group, Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko scored a advantageous aim to offer Ukraine a 2-1 win over Switzerland in Lviv.
Andriy Yarmolenko of West Ham United had put Ukraine forward with a backheel effort, earlier than Haris Seferovic equalised.
In League B, Artem Dzyuba netted a brace as Russia beat Serbia 3-1 in Moscow, whereas in the identical Group 3, Hungary have been shock 1-Zero winners away in Turkey.
In Group 4, out-of-favour Real Madrid star Gareth Bale began for Wales however was taken off at half-time of their 1-Zero victory over Finland in Helsinki. Kieffer Moore scored the winner 10 minutes from time.
“Gareth Bale has had no football at all,” Wales coach Ryan Giggs informed Sky Sports.
“It was a real juggling act, picking the team. Gareth has had the least football out of everyone and I thought, ahead of Sunday, it would be best to take him off.”
On Sunday Wales host Bulgaria, who have been held to a 1-1 draw by the Republic of Ireland in Sofia.
Bozhidar Kraev put Bulgaria forward just for current Celtic mortgage signing Shane Duffy to move in a stoppage-time equaliser for Ireland of their first recreation underneath new supervisor Stephen Kenny.
The Nations League motion continues each evening till Tuesday, with Friday highlights together with Italy internet hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina in Florence.
Promoted
The Netherlands, who misplaced to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal within the inaugural Nations League ultimate final 12 months, entertain Poland in Amsterdam of their first recreation since coach Ronald Koeman give up to take the Barcelona job.
As nicely because the four-team finals, the Nations League options promotion and relegation and gives the 2 greatest group winners who don’t qualify routinely for the 2022 World Cup a second probability to make it to Qatar by way of play-offs.
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