Nations League: Portugal into semis after goalless draw at Italy

1. Immobile, Florenzi and Bonucci miss chances for hosts
2. Portugal win group and reach last four
3. Italy finish second, Poland are relegated

Thanks for reading. Portugal have taken a step closer to Euro 2020, and Italy will have to go down the traditional route.

It's England v Croatia on Sunday.

Until then.

Breaking: Portugal to host Nations League finals

This from Uefa:

"June's inaugural Uefa Nations League Finals is set to take place in Portugal after the European champions secured top spot in Group A3 of the league phase.

"This is subject to formal appointment by the Uefa executive committee at their meeting in Dublin on Monday 3 December. The Finals draw will also take place that day.

"Poland, Portugal and Italy had all expressed an interest in hosting the finals. As all three nations were in Group A3, the winners were always assured of being hosts. European champions Portugal made sure it would be them with Saturday's 0-0 draw in Italy.

"They will be joined in the finals by the other three group winners from League A, with Portugal having proposed Porto's Estadio do Dragao and the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimaraes as host venues in their bid dossier."

Stat attack

Italy are now unbeaten in their last 46 matches played in Milan (W32 D14), drawing each of the last five - their last defeat was back in 1925 against Hungary.

Not entirely sure that will make them feel loads better.

Yup.

Getty Images

Getty Images

Reuters

Meanwhile, in Albania...

.

That's how you do it Italy (yes, Albania aren't as good as Portugal)

Reaction to that result over here.

FULL-TIME

It's all over - Portugal are through to the finals of the Nations League next summer.

Do you celebrate this?

As for Roberto Mancini's Italy they remain in League A, but it could be that they will have to book their place for Euro 2020 the 'proper way' aka through normal qualification.

Lorenzo Pellegrini gets his head to the delivery but it's straight at keeper Rui Patricio.

Two of the four minutes of stoppage time remaining.

SUBSTITUTION

Andre Silva comes off and is replaced by Porto's Danilo.

Meanwhile, Italy have a corner...

There are lot of layers to Kevin Lasagna - sorry, not sorry - good runner and not a bad striker, but he fails to get away from the alert Ruben Dias, about 20 yards from goal.

Not long left - two minutes plus stoppage to be precise.

Lorenzo Insigne goes on another one of his purposeful drives forward, and fires a shot that has plenty of power but lacks direction.

Meanwhile, in the build-up, Federico Chiesa fell to the deck having appeared to have launched an arm at the Portugal player marking him.

Not sure how that works.

SUBSTITUTION

Marco Veratti - one of Italy's few shining lights in MIlan - comes off and is replaced by Roma midfilelder Lorenzo Pellegrini.

He has nine minutes to make a difference.

It's four!!

Scotland are winning 4-0!

Away!

Albania don't know what's hit them - well, they do... James Forrest, twice.

Follow the live text comm of this match here.

The corner is cleared but Portugal appear to have finally wrested control from their opponents.

Better late than never, I guess.

GREAT SAVE!

Gianluigi Donnarumma has had to make a save, a great save at that.

The ball comes out to William Carvalho on the edge of the area whose low shot, bound for the bottom corner, is pushed away by the AC Milan teenager.

Portugal now have a corner.

SUBSTITUTION

Italy have had 13 efforts on goal but only two on target.

That tells the story so far.

Now Portugal have got second wind - or is that first wind? - substitute Joao Mario fires his shot over the bar from inside the area.

Kevin "Lasagne" Lasagna comes on for Ciro Immobile.

Hope he provides some meat in attack.

Portugal have their first shot since, it seems, the invention of leather balls.

Mario Rui hits one from the far left but it ambles wide of Gianluigi Donnarumma's left-hand upright.

19 to go.

Italy continue to press, but the tempo appears to have slowed down.

Don't they fancy reaching the latter stages of the Nations League?!!

What else are the players going to do next summer after a long hard season?!!

Reuters

Nicolo Barella sizes up glory with an angled volley at the far side of the area, but his effort, which appeared to be on target, is blocked.

The Italians have less than 30 minutes to grab a winner.

As it stands Portugal are heading into the Nations League finals next summer.

They've scored again!

Is it just like watching Brazil?

Alex McLeish's men are now 3-0 up in Albania.

Celtic winger Craig Forrest has bagged for the visitors.

You can follow this live text by clicking here.

The free-kick is floated into the area, but 6ft 5in AC MIlan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma trots out from his line and plucks the ball from the air.

Was that the first time he's handled the ball in the match?