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Tin Jedvaj’s first ever international goals earned Croatia a win that leaves their Nations League group wide open, while there was a dour draw in Dublin

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Thu 15 Nov 2018 16.52 ESTFirst published on Thu 15 Nov 2018 13.45 EST
Scenes in Zagreb as Croatia grab a 3-2 victory over Spain through Tin Jedvaj’s second goal.
Scenes in Zagreb as Croatia grab a 3-2 victory over Spain through Tin Jedvaj’s second goal. Photograph: Antonio Bronić/Reuters
Scenes in Zagreb as Croatia grab a 3-2 victory over Spain through Tin Jedvaj’s second goal. Photograph: Antonio Bronić/Reuters

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That’s all from this live blog, but we’ll have reports and reaction from tonight’s games online soon. Thanks for reading.

Leroy Sané scored his first international goal as Germany cantered past Russia 3-0, while Michy Batshuayi’s brace was enough to take Belgium past Iceland.

Greece held on to beat Finland and Austria drew 0-0 with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

So Croatia will face England on Sunday knowing that a victory could be enough to top the group. It’s quite a turnaround considering Spain hammered them 5-0 in the first match but Luis Enrique’s side have now lost two on the bounce.

Not a classic derby by any stretch but both sides showed some defensive resilience. It’s at the other end where the problems are, however.

It’s all over in Zagreb and the Croatians have done it thanks to unlikely hero Tin Jedvaj. The defender had never scored an international goal before tonight but managed two in just 21 minutes to keep alive his side’s chances of winning Group 4. Stunning

A last-gasp winner from defender Jedvaj stuns Spain! De Gea could only parry the shot and the left-back was on hand to slam home from close range. What a game!

Tin Jedvaj celebrates scoring the winner for Croatia. Photograph: Antonio Bronić/Reuters
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Lovren heads straight at De Gea after another great ball in from Modric. Four minutes of stoppages as Ramos denies Perisic in the area. This one is going to the wire.

A great save from the Republic of Ireland’s Darren Randolph keeps the scores level in Dublin. It’s the visitors who look most likely to score as we approach injury-time.

A brilliant run from Kramaric ends with a blocked shot and corner. The referee waves away appeals for a penalty and it’s getting ugly as Sergio Busquets engages in some handbags with Luka Modric. He’s in the book.

Eight minutes to play in Zagreb and it’s anyone’s game still. Some mesmerising stuff on display, a great advert for the Nations League concept. As things stand, though, this result would suit England best.

Cristian Martinez has scored for Andorra to make it 1-1 against Georgia. Elsewhere, Stanislav Dragun has made it 2-0 to Belarus in Luxembourg

Morata misses a sitter! It looked like he had to score but somehow the Chelsea man failed to head the ball over the line after Isco’s shot was well saved. Vrsalko with a brilliant clearance to deny him. But now a penalty conceded by the same man as the referee rules he handled the ball. Looked harsh to me.

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Michy Batshuayi has given Belgium the lead against Iceland in Brussels, while Hungary’s Adam Szalai looks to have secured victory over Estonia with their second goal of the night.

Michy Batshuayi gives Belgium the lead against Iceland. Photograph: John Thys/AFP/Getty Images
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A brilliant save from David De Gea keeps Spain in the game. Ante Rebic really should have done better but it’s still 2-1 for now

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A brilliant cross to the back post from Luka Modric and it’s headed home by Tin Jedvaj of Bayer Leverkusen for his first international goal!

Iago Aspas hits the bar! Some brilliant play from Isco to set him up but the former Liverpool striker can only poke his follow up onto the woodwork with the goal gaping. This is thrilling stuff. And on comes Chelsea’s Álvaro Morata

Ivan Rakitic fires high and wide after a brilliant run. If he’d squared it then Kramaric was waiting for a tap in

James McClean has something resembling a shot for Ireland but it’s deflected out for a corner. Still frantic stuff in Dublin

A fantastic response from Spain sees them hit back immediately as Isco picks out Daniel Ceballos to slide home. What a start to the second half!

And it’s a disastrous goal from Spain’s point of view. Sergio Ramos tried to clear but his effort was intercepted by Perisic and headed perfectly into the path of Kramaric

Ante Rebic clatters Sergio Ramos to the delight of the home fans in Zagreb. Spain have started in the front foot in the second half and have Marco Asensio warming up, perhaps sensing blood.

It’s an international debut for Portsmouth’s Ronan Curtis as he replaces Callum O’Dowda up front for Republic of Ireland. He has shown some great form in League One so can he translate that to the international stage? Apparently he’s Chris Coleman’s godson so that may stand him in good stead.

Another couple of half-time scores for you... Germany are now 3-0 up thanks to Serge Gnabry’s strike just before the break and it’s 0-0 between Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. England are also in action and lead 2-0 at half-time against USA thanks to goals from Jesse Lingard and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Thanks to J.R. in Illinois for getting in touch to point out my faux pas. “Though I wish Wes Hoolahan had replaced Glenn Whelan (and while I’m at it I’ll wish Wes was ten years younger) sadly the Irish Messi retired from international football earlier this year. It was Conor Hourihane who was subbed in. I’m watching with the hope that Michael Obafemi gets into the game sometime soon.”

Could the Southampton teenager provide a much-needed spark in the second half?

Isco records Spain’s first effort on target but it’s an easy save and the teams head off for half-time with the deadlock yet to be broken. Not a bad half of football though....

Elsewhere, it’s also Republic of Ireland 0 Northern Ireland 0 after a whole-hearted first 45 minutes in Dublin, with Belgium drawing with Iceland.

Some other scorelines to give you as we approach half-time in most of the games. Greece are ahead against Finland in Group C, while Hungary lead Estonia in the same section. And Pavel Savitskiy has scored for Belarus in their meeting with Luxembourg.

Ivan Perisic holds his face after a tackle by Sergi Roberto. It looked more like his leg if anything. Spain starting to get a grip on this game now.

Glenn Whelan’s night has ended early I’m afraid. He limps off to be replaced by Conor Hourihane. Still 0-0 in Dublin.

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Germany have doubled their lead against Russia in Leipzig and it’s giant defender Niklas Süle who scored the goal. Meanwhile, Israel have smashed seven past Guatemala and Giorgi Chakvetadze’s goal for Georgia has put them in front against Andorra.

Yet more tasty challenges in the Croatia v Spain match. This time it’s Isco who brings down Sime Vrsaljko. Somehow this is still 0-0 but it’s been a breathless first 28 minutes. Remember, Croatia could feasibly win this group ahead of Spain and England but anything other than victory tonight will end those hopes.

Not much to report in the Irish showdown I’m afraid. Both teams showing some attacking endeavour but not enough quality so far. Still a long way to go of course.

Leroy Sane fires in the opening goal in Leipzig. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images
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Another close shave for Spain as Ivan Perisic’s cross-cum-shot just eludes Ante Rebic at the back post. They are definitely up for this one.

The tackles are really flying in tonight. First it’s Iago Aspas who is sent flying by Dejan Lovren, then another strong challenge in Dublin sees a Northern Ireland player go down. Who says no one cares about international football?!

There’s a fantastic atmosphere in Zagreb, where the last match against England had to be played behind closed doors, of course. Ivan Perisic goes close as his effort comes back off the post to plenty of oohs and ahhs. This looks and sounds like a proper international but Croatia have still yet to0 score in the Nations League.

It’s national anthem time in Zagreb. That followed a special presentation to Vedran Corluka, Mario Manduzkic and Danijel Subasic after all three retired from international football. No special match for them then.

A couple of other matches have also just ended. Iran scraped a 1-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago thanks to a goal from Karim Ansarifard, while Jakub Jankto scored the only goal of the game as Czech Republic edged out Poland in Gdansk.

That’s it in Ferrera, where England Under 21s have beaten Italy 2-1 thanks to two goals from Dominic Solanke. Quite a result for Aidy Boothroyd’s side, who were playing in one of the stadiums that will feature in next summer’s finals. Having racked up an astonishing 36 matches unbeaten, they will be big favourites to win that tournament, especially if the likes of Solanke and emerging stars like Reiss Nelson and Ryan Sessegnon can continue to improve.

A @DomSolanke brace gives our #YoungLions victory over Italy! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9fD291HeV5

— England (@England) November 15, 2018
Dominic Solanke scores the winner in Ferrara. Photograph: Tim Rogers/REX/Shutterstock
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Over in Dublin there is much excitement about the return of Robbie Brady. The Burnley man hasn’t played for his country since the end of last year but he’s in the side tonight. Glenn Whelan is also back and captains the team.

BREAKING: Martin O'Neill has named his side to face Northern Ireland with Robbie Brady returning to the team for the first time in a year! #COYBIG #IRLNIR pic.twitter.com/aeRV1xxV2x

— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) November 15, 2018
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Team news! Team news! Spain have selected a strong-looking side to face Croatia in Zagreb. Ex-Liverpool forward leads the line, with Isco and Rodrigo providing attacking support

⚠ OFICIAL | ¡Tenemos #ElOnceDeEspaña! Estos son los elegidos para llevarnos a la Final Four de la UEFA Nations League. ¡Victoria o victoria! ¡Ganar o ganar!

¡¡¡VAMOS, ESPAÑA!!!💪🏻🇪🇸#UnaNuevaIlusión pic.twitter.com/NXuNITpQY1

— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) November 15, 2018

The action is already under way in Ferrera where England Under 21s are bidding to make it an incredible 36 matches unbeaten. They’re not doing too badly at the moment, with Dominic Solanke’s two goals either side of half-time giving the visitors a 2-1 lead. Moise Kean scored for Italy if you were wondering...

Preamble

Good evening and welcome to another exciting evening of international football. Think I’m joking? Think again. Where else could you keep up with the crucial Nations League match between Croatia and Spain that could allow England actually to win something for the first time since Le Tournoi AND the “don’t mention Brexit” derby between the Republic and Northern Ireland? Nowhere, probably.

But that’s not even all. I’ll keep you on top of the best of the rest from Belgium’s meeting with Iceland in Brussels, Austria v Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece v Finland and, of course, the big one: Andorra v Georgia. So hold on to your hats because the fun is just getting started...

Quick Guide

Nations League fixtures and results

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Thursday 15 November

League A, Group 2: Belgium 2-0 Iceland
A4: Croatia 3-2 Spain
B3: Austria 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina
C2: Hungary 2-0 Estonia, Greece 1-0 Finland
D1: Kazakhstan 1-1 Latvia, Andorra 1-1 Georgia
D2: Luxembourg 0-2 Belarus, San Marino 0-1 Moldova

Friday 16 November

League A, Group 1: Netherlands 2-0 France
B1: Slovakia 4-1 Ukraine
B4: Wales 1-2 Denmark
C3: Cyprus 1-1 Bulgaria, Slovenia 1-1 Norway
D4: Gibraltar 2-6 Armenia, Liechtenstein 0-2 FYR Macedonia

Saturday 17 November

League A, Group 3: Italy 0-0 Portugal
B2: Turkey 0-1 Sweden
C1: Albania 0-4 Scotland
C4: Serbia 2-1 Montenegro, Romania 3-0 Lithuania
D3: Azerbaijan 2-0 Faroe Islands, Malta 0-5 Kosovo 

Sunday 18 November

League A, Group 2: Switzerland 5-2 Belgium
A4: England 2-1 Croatia 
B3: Northern Ireland 1-2 Austria 
C2: Hungary 2-0 Finland, Greece 0-1 Estonia
D2: San Marino 0-2 Belarus, Moldova 1-1 Luxembourg 

Monday 19 November

League A, Group 1: Germany 2-2 Netherlands
B1: Czech Republic 1-0 Slovakia
B4: Denmark 0-0 Republic of Ireland
C3: Cyprus 0-2 Norway, Bulgaria 1-1 Slovenia
D1: Georgia 2-1 Kazakhstan, Andorra 0-0 Latvia
D4: FYR Macedonia 4-0 Gibraltar, Liechtenstein 2-2 Armenia

Tuesday 20 November

League A, Group 3: Portugal 1-1 Poland
B2: Sweden 2-0 Russia
C1: Scotland 3-2 Israel
C4: Serbia 4-1 Lithuania, Montenegro 0-1 Romania
D3: Malta 1-1 Faroe Islands, Kosovo 4-0 Azerbaijan

Ups and downs so far

League A
Finals: Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, England
Relegated: Germany, Iceland, Poland, Croatia

League B
Promoted: Ukraine, Sweden, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Denmark
Relegated: Slovakia, Turkey, N Ireland, Rep of Ireland

League C
Promoted: Scotland, Finland, Norway, Serbia
Relegated: Estonia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Cyprus

League D
Promoted: Georgia, Belarus, Kosovo, Macedonia

Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA
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