Portugal first to reach semifinals

European champions Portugal became the first team to qualify for the Nations League semifinals on Saturday after holding Italy to a 0-0 draw at the San Siro.

The Portuguese, despite the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, progressed with one match to play, and are sure to finish top of Group A3, with Italy's hopes in the tournament over.

Poland had already been relegated to League B.

Roberto Mancini's Italians needed a win to keep their hopes of advancing to the final four next June alive.

But despite pushing Portugal for more than an hour in front of 73,000 spectators at the San Siro, Italy could not find a way through.

Instead, they earned a goal- less draw which echoed the stalemate against Sweden a year ago that ended their hopes of reaching the World Cup in Russia.

"It's really satisfying to reach the final phase of this competition,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said.

“But it was a very difficult match.”

Portugal host Poland on Tuesday in Guimaraes, in a match that has no significance for either side.

But Santos insisted: "The final match against Poland will be important because it will be in front of our supporters, who are always with us.

"We have to have a great match and to win."

Mancini said: “I think we played an excellent match but we didn't manage to score which is an important detail.”

Italy maintained their record of never having been beaten at the San Siro.

Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini celebrated his 100th Italy cap, exactly 14 years to the day since his debut against Finland.

Italy play a friendly against the US in Genk on Tuesday.