Germany humiliated by Spain in Nations League

FOOTBALL

SEVILLE: Spain handed visiting Germany its worst defeat in a competitive match after a sensational 60 demolition secured the home side a place in the final four of the Nations League yesterday.

Germany’s only fivegoal loss in a competitive game had been West Germany’s 83 defeat by Hungary at the 1954 World Cup group stage.

In noncompetitive matches, Germany lost 60 to Austria in a friendly in 1931.

Ferran Torres scored his first career hattrick to lead Spain to the historic victory in league A, group 4.

The Germans would have advanced with a draw but

Spain dominated early and finished the game with three goals in each half.

The result left outgoing holder Portugal second in in

group A3, behind world champion France, which beat Sweden 42 at home after having previously wrapped up a finalfour berth in the Euro

pean competition.

Croatia finished third and Sweden was relegated from the top tier.

In Group C1, Luxembourg

drew 00 with Azerbaijan and Montenegro secured promotion by beating now relegated Cyprus 40.

Latvia pushed Andorra into

relegation with 50 win in D1 and Malta drew 11 with promoted Faroe Islands, the same score between Gibraltar and Liechtenstein in D2. — AP