Defending Nations League winners end league phase in style

Despite a missed penalty early in the game by Barcelona youngster Pedri, Bryan Gil was on target, while Bryan Zaragoza scored a late penalty as Spain held off a 3-2 win over Switzerland in their final Nation’s League game on Monday.

The Spaniards, by the result, qualified for the quarterfinal and playoffs of the competition, dropping points just once in six games, winning sixteen points from a possible eighteen. The defending champions were put in front in the 32nd minute in an interesting fashion.

Swiss player Ricardo Rodriguez committed a foul in the box, but Pedri’s penalty was pushed by the goalkeeper. Nico Williams got in and had his effort cleared off the line, but it was Yeremy Pino who tapped in for the lead.

Switzerland will later equalize in the second half through Joel Monteiro in the 63rd minute but tha equalizer last only five minutes before Bryan Gil put the La Roja in front.

There was enough drama for the final stages as the visitors thought they had equalized and won a point with five minutes left after Andi Zeqiri’s goal from the spot after Fabian Ruiz’s mistake in the box.

Spain got their second penalty on the night, and the game’s third overall, and Bryan Zaragoza won and converted the late spot-kick. The result means Spain has been unbeaten in 21 consecutive matches and has won their last 20. However, Switzerland ended the Nations League campaign without a win and dropped out of League A.

Luis De La Fuente’s side on Tuesday were largely rotated but the team still has some of Euro 2024 winning players in the line up as they showed why they are the team to beat and also the holders of the current two European international trophies in the European Championship and the Nation’s League, the latter which they will hope to win in the finals next summer and defend their title successfully.