Soccer Nations League Final Spain – Croatia in Rotterdam, June 18, 2023. Spain players with the winner's cup.
Rotterdam/Enschede – The Spanish footballers defeated Croatia after a penalty shootout and won the third edition of the League of Nations. The final match in Rotterdam ended goalless after 90 minutes and extra time, and for the first time in the history of the competition, the winner had to be decided by penalty kicks. “La Roja” was successful in them 5:4, defender Dani Carvajal decided in the sixth series.
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The 2010 world champions and three-time European champions won the prized trophy after 11 years, having last dominated Euro 2012. The Spaniards partly made amends for their two-year-old defeat in the Nations League final. The Croatians, on the other hand, just like at the 2018 World Cup, did not manage the final duel and are still waiting for their first triumph in independent history
Coach Luis de la Fuente's wards succeeded the French, who did not make it to the Final Four. In the match for third place, Italy defeated the Netherlands 3:2.
The last three mutual duels between Spain and Croatia have always offered at least five goals, but today in Rotterdam careful football was played. Gavi was the first to threaten in the 12th minute, but Livakovič did not have to intervene after his quick shot. On the other side, goalkeeper Simón dealt with Perišič's header after half an hour. Even in the third final in the history of the competition, no goal was scored in the first half.
Great scoring opportunities did not come for a long time even after the change of sides, although the game opened up more in places. It wasn't until the 84th minute that Merino returned the ball under him to the penalty spot, from where Fati was unable to place the ball out of Livakovič's reach.
The duel reached extra time, just like in Wednesday's semi-final between the Croatians and the Dutch, or in the last meeting in the round of 16 of the Euro two years ago, in which the Spaniards succeeded. The selection of “La Roja” was closer to the winning goal today as well, but Olmo failed twice from the goalpost in the chances.
The last penalty shootout went better for the Croatians, who eliminated Japan in the round of 16 on their way to the bronze medals at last year's World Cup even in the quarter-finals against Brazil. On the contrary, the Spaniards did not manage the same discipline in Qatar in the round of 16 with Morocco. Today, however, they were infallible for a long time, Joselu, Rodri, Merino and Asensio gradually gained ground.
Vlašič, Brozovič and captain Modrič scored for Croatia, until in the fourth series Simón kicked Majer's attempt into the middle of the goal. Perišič kept his team in the game in the fifth set and subsequently shot Laporte off the crossbar. In the sixth series, Simón again shone against Petković and Carvajal ended the match with a fine finish in the middle of the final. The reigning European champions beat the Netherlands 3:2 in Enschede.
The Italians led 2-0 after 20 minutes thanks to goals from Dimarco and Frattesi, who scored for the first time in his sixth international match. The home team managed to reduce the score in the 68th minute thanks to Bergwijn, but immediately Chiesa returned the two-goal advantage to coach Roberto Mancini's men. Wijnaldum gave the final shape to the result in the end.
Final tournament of the League of Nations:
Final in Rotterdam:
Spain – Croatia 0:0 after extra time
Referees: Zwayer – Lupp, Achmüller – Fritz (video, all German). ŽK: Gavi, Nacho, Rodri – Petkovič. Spectators: 51,000.
Spain: Simón – Navas (97. Carvajal), Le Normand (78. Nacho), Laporte, Alba – Rodri, Ruiz (78. Merino) – Asensio, Gavi (87. Olmo), Pino (66. Fati) – Morata (66. Joselu). Coach: De la Fuente.
Croatia: Livakovič – Juranovič (112. Stanišič), Šutalo, Erlič, Perišič – Modrič, Brozovič, Kovačič – Pasalič (61. Petkovič), Kramarič (90.+1 Majer), Ivanušec (78. Vlasič). Coach: Dalič.
For 3rd place (Enschede):
Netherlands – Italy 2:3 (0:2)
Goals: 68. Bergwijn, 89. Wijnaldum – 6. Dimarco, 20. Frattesi, 72. Chiesa.
