Stunning Spain beat Germany by six as Giroud’s star for France

PARIS – Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick as Spain condemned Germany to their worst defeat in 89 years on Tuesday, winning 6-0 in Seville to qualify for the UEFA Nations League finals and join France, who came back to win Sweden 4-2.

Manchester City striker Torres was the star of Spain, who was as brilliant as bad Germany. The result raises further questions for Germany coach Joachim Loew, who was already under pressure before this match.

“This has been a black day for us,” Loew admitted after Germany’s toughest loss since losing 6-0 to Austria in 1931.

They reached their last match in League A, with Group 4 at the top, one point ahead of Spain, so they only needed a draw in an empty La Cartuja to qualify for the final in October next year.

But Álvaro Morata led Spain to the front in the 17th minute before Torres crashed in the second in the 33rd minute after a header from Dani Olmo hit the crossbar.

His City teammate, Rodri, headed another to make it 3-0 for Spain before the end of a first half in which they lost Sergio Canales and skipper Sergio Ramos through injury, and the latter came out feeling his hamstring .

Germany’s defense was lost when José Gaya broke in and tied for Torres to take fourth in the 55th minute, and Fabian Ruiz put 20-year-old Torres ahead to complete his hat-trick.

Serge Gnabry hit the crossbar for Germany before substitute Mikel Oyarzabal completed the win.

“It was one of the best and most complete matches for the Spanish team,” Spain coach Luis Enrique said.

Germany now has several months to reflect on this defeat before the start of qualification for the 2022 World Cup in March and after the delayed Euro 2020 in June and July.

Spain, meanwhile, become the second team to qualify for the Nations League finals after France secured their spot by beating Portugal at the weekend.

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The World Cup champions ended their League A, Group 3 campaign by beating Sweden behind closed doors at the Stade de France, while Olivier Giroud continued his remarkable scoring record with Les Bleus with a double.

Viktor Claesson’s deflected early shot gave Sweden the lead but Giroud soon leveled and Benjamin Pavard put France ahead before the break.

Giroud then headed a cross from Kylian Mbappé to make it 3-1 before time, and Kingsley Coman scored France’s final goal after Robin Quaison scored Sweden’s second.

Having recently surpassed Michel Platini’s 41-goal tally with Les Bleus, Giroud now has 44 and is close to Thierry Henry’s overall record of 51.

The 34-year-old remains a key player for France despite being on the periphery with his club Chelsea, for which he has started only once this season, in the League Cup.

Sweden finishes at the bottom of the group behind Croatia and is relegated to the second division of League B for the next edition of the competition.

That’s despite the 10-man Croatia losing 3-2 at home to Portugal in Split, with Manchester City defender Ruben Dias getting a winning goal in the 90th minute for the Nations League champions of 2019.

Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic had scored twice for Croatia, on either side of the first of Dias of the night and an effort by Joao Félix for Portugal, which included Cristiano Ronaldo with the captain’s armband.

Marko Rog was sent off by Croatia.

The remaining two spots in the Nations League semi-finals will be decided on Wednesday, with Italy and Belgium currently in pole position.

The other Group 4 match scheduled for Tuesday between Switzerland and Ukraine in Lucerne was postponed after six cases of Covid-19 on the Ukrainian team led to its entire delegation being quarantined by Swiss health authorities.

Furthermore, Montenegro’s 4-0 victory over Cyprus saw them top League C, Group 1 and win promotion to League B. Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands won promotion to League C.