San Marino ecstasy: record-breaking national team wins Nations League Group D2

San Marino turns up for its date with history by playing a first half bordering on perfection, where the only blemish is the failure to convert the many chances created. Yet at the break the Titani are left to rue Sele’s moment of brilliance, his 30‑metre strike kissing the top corner of Colombo’s goal in one of the home side’s few forays in the opening period. After 250" San Marino have already found the net, but Pignard rules it out for an alleged foul on Zannoni’s goalkeeper – even though Benjamin Büchel had lost the ball entirely on his own. The Titani press from the very first exchanges, threatening again from a set piece with Valentini’s right-footed effort over the bar. Berardi, Lazzari and Tosi are a constant menace to Liechtenstein’s back line, who are in trouble when the mezzala surges through on 11 minutes. A minute later Contadini’s left-footed strike from the edge of the box is blocked, before Fabbri skins an opponent with a nutmeg and releases Nanni, whose low cross is frantically turned behind for a corner. From that very set piece, Tosi fires blanks with his right foot from the edge of the area, before delivering a perfect cross onto Berardi’s head – the forward glancing it just wide. The Principality’s national team threaten on the break, giving Colombo a scare through the Luque Notaro-Saglam combination. But it is always San Marino making the play, and they carve out two big chances in quick succession for Berardi, who first volleys just wide with his left from a Battistini cross, then sends a shot from the edge over the bar. Liechtenstein try to drag the contest onto a more physical, nervous plane with two very tough challenges on Contadini and Tosi – penalised but not booked by the referee. The French official then sees no grounds for a penalty when Traber challenges Zannoni, who clearly gets to the ball first before colliding with the defender in the box. There is no over rule from VAR and play continues until Sele’s wonderful strike puts Liechtenstein in front on 40 minutes. The midfielder carries the ball to the final third, gliding past Valentini before unleashing a thunderbolt into the top corner. It is the last action of a first half that is perhaps the best San Marino have produced in recent years, and one on which the Titani are determined to build a storming second period. Their intent is immediately rewarded, as the Biancazzurri hit the target just 50" after the restart. Contadini drifts inside and slides the ball through for Lazzari, who beats the offside trap and keeps his cool to slot past Benjamin Büchel into the corner. The momentum is all with San Marino and, after Zannoni heads over, Contadini has the chance to put them ahead, but Büchel produces a stunning save and Fabbri cannot capitalise on the rebound. Two efforts from Sandro Wolfinger and Saglam reflect Liechtenstein’s nervous reaction, and they are duly punished when a player is hauled down in the box. The penalty is once again entrusted to Nanni, who puts the Titani ahead with a side-foot finish on 66 minutes. San Marino show how much they have grown in their approach, refusing to park the bus. That attitude brings the clincher: Tosi reaches the byline and cuts the ball back for Alessandro Golinucci, who connects sweetly with his left to beat Büchel again. Never before had the Biancazzurri won away from home, and never had they scored three times in a single match. That this is a historic night is underlined by Zünd’s miss, stabbing into the side-netting from close range on 81 minutes. In the closing stages Colombo makes two fine saves from Sele and Ospelt before the final whistle sparks wild celebrations among the Biancazzurri. San Marino win Group D2 of the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League and seal promotion to League C, also securing a potential place in the play-offs for qualification to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States – depending on how the upcoming World Cup qualifiers unfold.

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UEFA Nations League 2024-25, Matchday 4 | Liechtenstein-San Marino 1-3   LIECHTENSTEIN B. Büchel; Marxer (84' Schlegel), Wieser, Traber; S. Wolfinger (77' Zünd), Meier (71' Kranz), M. Büchel (71' Kindle), Sele, Göppel; Saglam, Luque Notaro (84' Ospelt) Substitutes: Foser, Lo Russo, Beck, Graber, F. Wolfinger, Lüchinger, Hasler Head coach: Konrad Fünfstück   SAN MARINO Colombo; Fabbri, Valentini, T. Benvenuti, Tosi; Zannoni (61' A. Golinucci), Mi. Battistini, Lazzari (75' Mularoni); Contadini (84' Vitaioli), Berardi (61' Sensoli); Nanni (84' Giacopetti) Substitutes: Amici, Zavoli, G. Benvenuti, Franciosi, Rossi, E. Golinucci, Pasolini Head coach: Roberto Cevoli   Referee: Jérémie Pignard (FRA) Assistant referees: Aurélien Drouet (FRA), Laurent Coniglio (FRA) Fourth official: Hakim Ben El Hadj (FRA) VAR: Bastien Dechepy (FRA) AVAR: Mathieu Vernice (FRA) Scorers: 40' Sele, 46' Lazzari, 66' pen. Nanni, 76' A. Golinucci Booked: Wieser, Berardi, Traber, Sensoli, Marxer, Mi. Battistini Attendance: 1,300

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