—- Croatia booked their place in the Nations League quarter-finals by drawing with already-qualified Portugal.

The visitors had already wrapped up top spot in Group A1 and consequently decided to rest some of their star players, including Cristiano Ronaldo.

Despite that, Portugal took the lead in the 33rd minute when Chelsea forward Joao Felix latched on to Vitinha’s pass before drilling home.

Andrej Kramaric hit the woodwork as Croatia, who needed a point to progress, pushed for an equaliser.

It finally arrived in the 65th minute when Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol turned in a Kristijan Jakic cross at the back post.

Portugal goalkeeper Jose Sa then kept out a shot from Kramaric as Croatia pushed for a winner, but the point was enough in the end to send them into the last eight.

Scotland finished third in the group as they snatched a 2-1 win in Poland through Andy Robertson’s injury-time header.

For long spells after John McGinn’s third-minute goal – guided in wonderfully from a Ben Doak pass – it looked like Scotland might not only escape immediate demotion but perhaps even steal a top-two place.

With Croatia trailing Portugal in Split and the Scots ahead at the break, one more goal for either visiting side would have nudged Steve Clarke’s side above the Croats.

However, Poland centre-back Kamil Piatkowski punctured the optimism with a stunning equaliser, before Josko Gvardiol levelled for Croatia to squeeze the last of the quarter-final hope out of the Scots.

Another goal, though, would earn Scotland a relegation play-off against a League B runner-up in March.

With time running out, captain Robertson – on the occasion of his 80th cap – burst on to the end of a John Souttar cross to thump in an unlikely winner.

That means Scotland face a two-legged tie in the spring to decide their Nations League status and are likely to be in the third pot of seeds for the World Cup qualifying draw which takes place on Friday, December 13.

Only Czech Republic failing to beat Georgia or Estonia earning a point in Slovakia on Tuesday would avert that scenario, and bump the Scots into pot 2.

Spain leave it late

Spain scored a dramatic late winner to edge Switzerland in the Nations League.

The game in Tenerife was effectively a dead rubber with the hosts having already won Group A4 and Switzerland guaranteed bottom spot.

Pedri, in his hometown, had a penalty saved but fellow Canary Islander Yeremy Pino slammed in the rebound for the 32nd-minute opener.

Joel Monteiro levelled for the Swiss in the 63rd minute, but Bryan Gil put much-changed Spain back ahead five minutes later.

With five minutes left, Andi Zeqiri netted a penalty to make it 2-2, but Bryan Zaragoza’s spot-kick in the third minute of added time sealed the success for La Roja.

Denmark joined European champions Spain in the quarter-finals after a goalless draw in Serbia.

Hosts Serbia, who needed a victory to finish second, had 22 shots without scoring and had defender Strahinja Pavlovic sent off in the fifth minute of injury time.

They finish third and will face a League B side in a relegation-promotion play-off.

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