International roundup 09/6: Portugal & Spain both collect important wins
The 2022/23 UEFA Nations League continued on Thursday night with nine more fixtures played across all four tiers of the continent-wide competition.
Portugal, Spain, Norway and Sweden were among those in action.
Here's how each country fared...
Group A2
Portugal 2-0 Czech Republic
Portugal maintained their advantage over Spain at the top Group A2 courtesy of a 2-0 win over Czech Republic in Lisbon.
The victory was ultimately wrapped up in the first half thanks to goals from Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo and Valencia winger Goncalo Guedes. Cancelo's clubmate Bernardo Silva laid on both for the reigning Nations League champions.
Veterans Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe also started, as did Liverpool's Diogo Jota.
Switzerland 0-1 Spain
Spain secured their first win of this Nations League campaign by beating Switzerland in Geneva, having previously recorded draws against Portugal and Czech Republic so far.
It took just a single early goal from Pablo Sarabia assisted by Marcos Llorente to get the job done, although Switzerland did have two late chances from Breel Embolo and Djibril Sow that could have turned the game on its head.
Group B4
Norway 0-0 Slovenia
A Norway side featuring Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard missed the chance to extend their perfect start to their Nations League campaign when they failed to break down Slovenia.
The Norwegians had 18 shots in total but registered just five on target and will it see it as a good opportunity that went begging after Slovenia were reduced to 10 players in the final half hour.
Sweden 0-1 Serbia
A goal from Luka Jovic in first half stoppage time gave Serbia an important away win over Sweden to keep pace with Norway at the top of B4.
Serbia have now won two in a row and are just a point behind Norway at the halfway stage. But the result means that Sweden's own chances of promotion to League A now look slim.
Group C2
Greece 3-0 Cyprus
Greece made it three wins from three with a comfortable victory over neighbours Cyprus. Dimitrios Limnios added to first half goals from Tasos Bakasetas and Vangelis Pavlidis.
Kosovo 3-2 Northern Ireland
Kosovo survived a late fightback from Northern Ireland to make it two wins from three games and stay within touching distance of leaders Greece in C2. Vedat Muriqi (2) and Zymer Bytyqi had put Kosovo 3-1 by the early stages of the second half, with Daniel Ballard going on to pull one back.
Group C4
Gibraltar 1-1 Bulgaria
Gibraltar claimed their first point of the campaign by holding Bulgaria to a 1-1 draw. A goal from Georgi Minchev in first half stoppage time was cancelled out by Liam Walker in the second half.
North Macedonia 0-3 Georgia
A prolific Georgia side made it 12 goals from three games so far as they remain on course for promotion to League B, ultimately making light work of a North Macedonia side that had played at Euro 2020 just last summer.
Group D2
Malta 1-2 Estonia
A stoppage time winner from Henri Anier has given Estonia the advantage over Malta in League D's three-team group 2. The sides were level on points before this one, having both beaten San Marino.