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Italy boss Luciano Spalletti believes it will "take something extraordinary" for his side to overcome Germany and reach the Nations League final four.

"We knew we were up against a strong team... In my life, I've hidden plenty of defeats, but I didn't want to treat this one like that, because we did what we had to do," Spalletti said.

"We need to do something new. It will take something extraordinary because we're starting from a disadvantage, but we need another performance like Thursday's. We don't need to invent the impossible.

"We just need to change a few moments in the game and have some individuals make a difference."

Elsewhere in Nations League action, Scotland have been relegated to League B after losing in their play-off second leg to Greece. You can read all the reaction here.

Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland are bidding to stay in League B as they take on Bulgaria tonight (19:45 GMT). Follow that here.

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Heck of a show going on at the Stade de France right now as France leading scorer Olivier Giroud is being honoured.

He's stood on a platform in the middle of the pitch with his family watching on as a big fireworks display takes place.

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France will need Kylian Mbappe at his best tonight if they are to progress.

The 26-year-old is back in the French squad for the first time since September after being left out of the team's Nations League fixtures in October and November following his move to Real Madrid in July.

He was unable to get a goal in the first leg, but boss Didier Deschamps was happy with his performance.

"Kylian is very good, he's on form," he said.

"He wasn't very effective. But I found him involved on the pitch, available, making a lot of effort.

"He had a magnificent save from the Croatian keeper. He's involved as captain and he's taking on his role."

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France captain Kylian Mbappe's return to the national side ended in a shock defeat against Croatia in their Nations League quarter-final first leg.

Ante Budimir's header bounced off France goalkeeper Mike Maignan and spun into the net as the hosts took a 26th-minute lead.

Former Tottenham winger Ivan Persic fired home a crisp finish into the bottom corner to increase their advantage in first-half added time.

Croatia could have been ahead earlier, but Andrej Kramaric's eighth-minute penalty was saved by Maignan with his feet, while Josko Gvardiol's powerful shot from long range was also kept out by the AC Milan keeper.

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This is the first competitive meeting between these teams on Spanish soil since La Roja triumphed 1-0 in a European Championship qualifier in February 1983.

Another narrow victory here would suit Spain perfectly after Mikel Merino’s last-gasp equaliser in Rotterdam on Thursday, which stretched their unbeaten run to 17 matches.

The 2023 winners have not lost in their last 10 games in the competition, but Ronald Koeman’s team have only been beaten once in their last nine Nations League matches outside of the Netherlands – against Germany back in October.

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It is a somewhat unusual situation for the Netherlands because if they lose to Spain it could actually work out better for them in World Cup qualifying.

If they win, they go into qualifying Group E and have tough away matches against Bulgaria and Turkey to begin with, but if they lose they will go into Group G and will play Finland away and then Malta at home in their opening World Cup qualifiers in June.

It would also be a five-team group that also features Poland and Lithuania.

"It's true that the group with five teams is perhaps a bit more favourable," Dutch boss Ronald Koeman said.

"But it's not something we've discussed with the players, or something we're going to take into account during the match.

"We absolutely want to reach the semi-finals of the Nations League. It's a trophy. That's what we're going for,"

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Arsenal's Mikel Merino scored a stoppage-time equaliser to earn Spain a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their Nations League quarter-final first leg.

Second-half substitute Merino converted from close range after Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen had parried Nico Williams' low shot into his path.

Williams had earlier given Luis de la Fuente's European champions a first-half lead with a smart finish after Dutch full-back Jorrel Hato had lost possession deep inside his own half.

The Netherlands responded well and equalised before the hour mark when Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo powered home a low shot from Bournemouth attacker Justin Kluivert's pass.

Tijjani Reijnders' low shot 39 seconds into the second period appeared to have earned the hosts a narrow lead to take into the second leg, but after Hato was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Mikel Oyarzabal with nine minutes remaining, Merino struck to salvage a draw for the holders.

Merino's late goal stretches Spain's unbeaten run in all competitions to 17 matches - since a 1-0 friendly defeat by Colombia in March last year.

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Germany recovered from a goal down to record their first away victory over Italy in 39 years in the teams' Nations League quarter-final first leg.

Sandro Tonali, who helped Newcastle beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, opened the scoring with a first-time finish after Jonathan Tah had cleared Matteo Politano's cross into his path.

But Germany responded well and after Leon Goretzka twice went close to an equaliser before the break, half-time substitute Tim Kleindienst headed the visitors level early in the second period from Joshua Kimmich's delivery.

Moise Kean sent a fierce effort over the crossbar and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann denied Giacomo Raspadori with an outstretched leg, before Goretzka headed in another Kimmich cross to complete the turnaround with 14 minutes remaining.

Julian Naglesmann makes four Germany changes to the side that won 2-1 in Italy.

Former Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross is among those to drop out, while Tim Kleindienst, who scored at the San Siro, starts up front.

Germany XI: Baumann, Schlotterbeck, Rudiger, Tah, Kimmich, Goretzka, Mittelstadt, Stiller, Musiala, Sane, Kleindienst.

Subs: Nubel, Ortega, Koch, Bisseck, Raum, Gross, Amiri, Andrich, Burkardt, Leweling, Undav, Adeyemi.

Four changes from Italy boss Luciano Spalletti. Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori sustained a knee injury late on in the first leg and is expected to be out of action for three weeks.

Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie and Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali keep their places.

Italy XI: Donnarumma, Gatti, Bastoni, Di Lorenzo, Udogie, Tonali, Buongiorno, Barella, Ricci, Maldini, Kean.

Subs: Meret, Vicario, Bellanova, Comuzzo, Rovella, Politano, Frattessi, Ruggeri, Zaccagni, Casadei, Raspadori, Lucca.

Cristiano Ronaldo says he has "no problem" with Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund copying his "siu" celebration after scoring the winner against Portugal on Thursday.

Manchester United's Hojlund said he was not mocking his "idol" Ronaldo after the 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo said he does not think Hojlund was being disrespectful.

"For me, it is not a problem," the Portugal captain, 40, said before tonight's second leg in Lisbon.

"This is not because he don't have respect for me. I'm smart enough to understand that not only him, but around the world, other sportspeople do it, my celebration.

"For me, it's an honour. But I hope that tomorrow you can see my celebration, not [that] I still see his celebration."

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As just mentioned, Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to score the winner for Denmark against Portugal in their quarter-final first leg.

The Manchester United forward produced a calm finish from Andreas Skov Olsen's cross to secure the win.

He marked the strike by doing Portugal star Ronaldo's 'sui' celebration.

"It was not to mock him or anything, I've always said he has had great importance for me and my football career," Hojlund told Danish broadcaster TV2.

"I'm playing against the world's best footballer, my idol, and to score and become the [match] winner, it couldn't be better.

"Scoring against him and Portugal is huge, I went to see him in 2009, where he scored from a free-kick, and I've been a fan ever since."

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Denmark may hold a narrow aggregate lead thanks to Rasmus Hojlund’s winner on Thursday, but Portugal will be confident of booking a semi-final spot in front of their own supporters.

Roberto Martinez’s team have won their last eight competitive games on home soil, scoring 30 goals and conceding only five in the process.

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo has found the net four times in Portugal’s last three Nations League home matches, including a double in a 5-1 win over Poland in November.

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Bernardo Silva makes his 100th Portugal appearance as Roberto Martinez makes three changes to the team that started Thursday’s first leg.

The Manchester City midfielder is joined by Goncalo Inacio and Francisco Conceicao, with Joao Neves, Renato Veiga and Pedro Neto dropping out.

Portugal XI: Diogo Costa, Dalot, Ruben Dias, Goncalo Inacio, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Francisco Conceicao, Ronaldo, Rafael Leao

Subs: Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Nelson Semedo, Antonio Silva, Joao Palhinha, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Geovany Quenda, Joao Neves, Ruben Neves, Francisco Trincao, Diogo Jota

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Manchester United duo Patrick Dorgu and Rasmus Hojland start for Denmark in the only two changes to the side that triumphed 1-0 on Thursday.

Dorgu replaces Joakim Maehle, while Hojlund is preferred to Mika Biereth in attack after scoring the winner in Copenhagen.

Denmark XI: Schmeichel, Kristensen, Andersen, Vestergaard, Dorgu, Eriksen, Hjulmand, Norgaard, Isaksen, Hojlund, Lindstrom

Subs: Hermansen, Jorgensen, Nelsson, Kristiansen, Frendrup, Skov Olsen, Biereth, Hogsberg, Wind, Harder, Froholdt

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Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen makes his full Spain debut in place of the injured Pau Cubarsi as Luis de la Fuente makes four changes to the team that snatched a 2-2 draw in Rotterdam.

Oscar Mingueza, Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal also come in, while Pedro Porro, Pedri and Alvaro Morata drop to the bench.

Spain XI: Unai Simon, Mingueza, Le Normand, Huijsen, Cucurella, Olmo, Zubimendi, Fabian Ruiz, Yamal, Oyarzabal, Williams

Subs: Raya, Remiro, Pedro Porro, Grimaldo, Raul Asencio, Merino, Morata, Samu, Ferran Torres, Garcia, Alex Baena, Pedri

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Ronald Koeman makes just change to the Netherlands team that started the first leg, with Aston Villa’s Ian Maatsen replacing the suspended Jorrel Hato.

Netherlands XI: Verbruggen, Geertruida, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Maatsen, Reijnders, Kluivert, De Jong, Frimpong, Depay, Gakpo

Subs: Olij, Flekken, Simons, Koopmeiners, Brobbey, De Ligt, Taylor, Lang, Malen, Wieffer, Baas

Trailing 2-0 after the first leg, France boss Didier Deschamps has made five changes, with Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate one of those to not start, while ex-Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise is one of those to come in.

France XI: Maignan, Hernandez, Saliba, Upamecano, Kounde, Kone, Tchouameni, Olise, Dembele, Barcola, Mbappe.

Subs: Samba, Chevalier, Pavard, Digne, Konate, Clauss, Guendouzi, Camavinga, Rabiot, Zaire-Emery, Doue, Kolo Muani.

Just the one change for Croatia from the first leg as Petar Sulic replaces Martin Baturina, with Manchester City duo Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic both starting.

Croatia XI: Livakovic, Gvardiol, Sutalo, Caleta-Car, Stanisic, Kovacic, Modric, Kramaric, Sulic, Perisic, Budimir.

Subs: Kotarski, Ivusic, Pongracic, Sosa, Juranovic, Moro, Fruk, Jakic, Vlasic, Pasalic, Baturina, Ivanovic.

Team news has dropped but before we get to that, here's the results from the first leg.

The Nations League quarter-finals conclude today when eight teams will become four.

After the first legs it is advantage Croatia, Germany and Denmark, but the tie between European champions Spain and the Netherlands is in the balance.