'We feel immensely happy': Stunning Spain hit Germany for six to reach Uefa Nations League finals

Manchester City forward Ferran Torres bags a hat-trick as Germany suffer heaviest defeat since 1931

Germany manager Joachim Low following the 6-0 Uefa Nations League defeat to Spain in Seville, in November 2020. Reuters

Spain's Alvaro Morata scores their first goal. Reuters

Alvaro Morata celebrates with teammates. EPA

Spain's Sergio Ramos and Rodri remonstrate with the referee. Reuters

Alvaro Morata in action against Jonathan Tah of Germany. EPA

Germany defender Niklas Suele vies with Spain midfielder Ferran Torres. AFP

Ferran Torres celebrates the first of his three goals against German. EPA

Spain's Ferran Torres scores their fifth goal. Reuters

Spain's Ferran Torres celebrates scoring their fifth goal. Reuters

Spain's midfielder Ferran Torres scores his third goal during the UEFA Nations League match against German. AFP

Spain coach Luis Enrique paid tribute to every player in his squad after Tuesday's incredible 6-0 win over Germany to reach the final four of the Uefa Nations League, which he said was just what they deserved for their efforts over the campaign.

"This victory belongs to every player, even those who didn't play," Enrique told reporters after his side finished top of League A4 above Germany.

"It would be unfair to single anyone out because to do what we did, to press a team like Germany all over the pitch, you need every player from defence to attack to work hard."

Luck seemed to desert Spain in Saturday's 1-1 draw in Switzerland as they missed a slew of chances including two penalties, while they were unfortunate to lose 1-0 to Ukraine last month.

Yet everything clicked in an astonishing display against the 2014 World Cup winners, as midfielders Fabian Ruiz, Koke and Rodri dictated play and forward Ferran Torres bagged a hat-trick.

"This was one of those nights that happen very rarely, when everything goes exactly as planned. The players went out all fired up and did everything right. This is what you get when you combine quality and attitude," Enrique added.

"We feel that we didn't deserve to lose a single game in this campaign. We scored 13 goals and only conceded three, the numbers speak for themselves.

"We feel immensely happy, this is a real boost for the players and we're going to enjoy this moment."

The result raises further questions about Germany coach Joachim Low, who was already under pressure coming into this game.

"This has been a black day for us," admitted Low after Germany's heaviest defeat since losing 6-0 to Austria in 1931.

Alvaro Morata headed Spain in front in the 17th minute before Torres crashed in the second on 33 minutes after Dani Olmo's header hit the bar.

His City team-mate Rodri headed in 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 to injury, with the latter coming off feeling his hamstring.

Germany's defence was posted missing as Jose Gaya burst through and squared for Torres to get the fourth on 55 minutes, and Fabian Ruiz teed up the 20-year-old Torres to complete his hat-trick.

Serge Gnabry hit the bar for Germany before substitute Mikel Oyarzabal completed the rout.

Giroud at the double for France

The World Cup holders finished off their League A, Group 3 campaign by beating Sweden behind closed doors at the Stade de France as Olivier Giroud continued his remarkable scoring record for Les Bleus with a brace.

Viktor Claesson's deflected early strike gave Sweden the lead, but Giroud soon equalised and Benjamin Pavard put France ahead before half time.

Giroud then headed in Kylian Mbappe's cross to make it 3-1 before the hour mark, and Kingsley Coman scored France's final goal at the death after Robin Quaison had netted Sweden's second.

Having recently overtaken Michel Platini's tally of 41 goals for Les Bleus, Giroud is now on 44 and is closing in on Thierry Henry's overall record mark of 51.

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

Sweden finish bottom of the group behind Croatia and are relegated to the second-tier League B for the next edition of the competition.

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

Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic had scored twice for Croatia, either side of Dias's first of the night and a Joao Felix effort for Portugal, who featured Cristiano Ronaldo wearing the captain's armband.

Marko Rog was sent off for Croatia.

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

Tuesday's other scheduled Group 4 game between Switzerland and Ukraine in Lucerne was postponed after six Covid-19 cases in the Ukrainian squad led to their entire delegation being ordered into quarantine by Swiss health authorities.

Elsewhere, 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.