Spain is the new laureate of the Nations League. After an exhausting and mediocre final against the tough Croats, a blistering penalty series saved the day. Dani Carvajal scored the winning goalkeeper, but goalkeeper Unai Simón was the nation’s true hero with two scenic saves from penalties.
De Kuip in Rotterdam did not get a flashy final, but the Nations League final has become a true war of attrition.
The experimental selection of the Spaniards tried it with combination football, the Croats were always on the lookout for the counter-attack. A clash of styles that ensured a permanent state of preparedness for both teams.
Despite a lot of good will, the game remained largely locked. The result: no goal after 45 minutes, no goal after 90 minutes and even after 120 minutes it remained dry in Rotterdam.
Ansu Fati came closest to a liberating goal five minutes before the end of regular time, but a strong Ivan Perišic ultimately deflected his shot off the line. The final had to be decided with penalties.
It was hard against soft between the lines.
Music to the ears of the Croats, who eliminated both Japan and Brazil on penalties at the World Cup and had a true specialist between the posts in Dominik Livakovic.
Spain, on the other hand, carried with it the memory of the World Cup elimination against Morocco. It didn’t make a single eleven meter then.
Yet it was neither Livakovic nor the Croats who were celebrated after a blistering penalty shootout. Unai Simón emerged as the hero of his nation with two spectacular saves.
First, a possible winning goal from Aymeric Laporte splashed on the crossbar, but the experienced Dani Carvajal finally finished it off with a glorified panenka.
Spain was allowed to celebrate as usual, the Croats in turn had to settle for a silver consolation prize.
Juranovic: “Wild trophy for Modric”
Josip Juranovic (defender of Croatia): “We really wanted to offer a trophy to Luka Modric, he is the greatest sportsman in our country, the greatest footballer. Maybe he still has a chance at the European Championship next year.” Rodri (Spain midfielder): “We are very happy, it was a tough match. It is difficult to achieve this. This generation has a lot of promise. Mentally we were very strong. Things have to be better, but a win is always Good.” end, 23h30. Spain wins the Nations League. Dani Carvajal finishes it! Spain is crowned the new winner of the Nations League after a pressing penalty series against Croatia. Unai Simon is the hero of the evening with two spectacular saves during the penalty shootout. .
Spain wins the Nations League
Dani Carvajal finishes it! Spain is crowned the new winner of the Nations League after a pressing penalty series against Croatia. Unai Simon is the hero of the evening with two spectacular saves during the penalty shootout.
clock 23:30 penalty kicks, 23h30 match endedpenalty kicks, 23h30. Penalty kick scored in penalty shootout by Dani Carvajal of Spain. 4, 5.Croatia Spain end
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penalty shootout, 23h29. Missed penalty kick in penalty shootout by Bruno Petkovic of Croatia.penalty shootout, 23h28. Penalty hero Simon? Unai Simon does it again. Like a cat he saves Petkovic’s penalty kick. Carvajal can finish it. .
Penaltyheld Simon?
Unai Simon does it again. Like a cat he saves Petkovic’s penalty kick. Carvajal can finish it.
penalties, 23h28. Missed penalty kick during penalty shootout by Aymeric Laporte of Spain.Croatia Spain end
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penalty kicks, 23h27. Penalty kick scored on penalties by Ivan Perišic of Croatia. 4, 4. Laporte on the crossbar! Laporte has the unique opportunity to finish from the spot, but his penalty kick and the Spanish hopes explode on the crossbar. . penalty kicks, 23 hours 27.
shot on goalpost Laporte op de lat!
Laporte has the unique opportunity to finish from the spot, but his penalty kick and the Spanish hopes explode on the crossbar.
penalty kicks, 23h27. Penalty kick scored on penalties by Marco Asensio of Spain. 3, 4.Croatia Spain end
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penalties, 23 hours 26. Croatia – Spain: 3-4. Asensio gives Spain the lead. .
Croatia – Spain: 3-4
Asensio gives Spain the lead.
penalties, 23h26. Missed penalty kick during penalty shootout by Lovro Majer of Croatia.Croatia Spain end
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penalties, 23h25. Penalty kick scored on penalties by Mikel Merino of Spain. 3, 3.penalties, 23h25. The first miss! Lovro Majer is screwed. The substitute kicks the ball hard to the right corner, but Simon can parry nicely. It stays like this 3-3. .
The first miss!
Lovro Majer is screwed. The substitute kicks the ball hard to the right corner, but Simon can parry nicely. It stays like this 3-3.
penalties, 23 hours 24. Penalty kick scored on penalties by Luka Modric of Croatia. 3, 2.Croatia Spain end
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penalty kicks, 23 hours 24. Penalty kick scored on penalties by Rodri of Spain. 2, 2.penalties, 23 hours 24. Croatia – Spain: 2-2. As if we were watching a replay, Rodri also quietly pushed the ball into the left corner. .
Croatia – Spain: 2-2
As if we were watching a replay, Rodri also quietly pushed the ball into the left corner.
penalty kicks, 23h23. Penalty kick scored on penalties by Marcelo Brozovic of Croatia. 2, 1.Croatia Spain end
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penalties, 23 hours 23. Croatia – Spain: 2-1. Brozovic played a strong game and now does not disappoint. The midfielder quietly puts the 2-1 in. .
Croatia – Spain: 2-1
Brozovic played a strong game and now does not disappoint. The midfielder quietly puts the 2-1 in.
penalty kicks, 23h 22. Penalty kick scored on penalties by Joselu of Spain. 1, 1.Croatia Spain end
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penalties, 23 hours 22. Croatia – Spain: 1-1. Joselu also does his duty. The invisible attacker smashes the leather into the roof of the goal. .
Croatia – Spain: 1-1
Joselu also does his duty. The invisible attacker smashes the leather into the roof of the goal.
penalties, 23 hours 22. Penalty kick scored on penalties by Nikola Vlašic of Croatia. 1, 0. Croatia Spain end
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penalties, 23 hours 19. Croatia – Spain: 1-0. Vlasic hits the first hard in the right corner. Well begun, half done? .
Croatia – Spain: 1-0
Vlasic hits the first hard in the right corner. Well begun, half done?
clock 23:21 penalty kickspenalty kicks, 23 hours 21 match started halftime after 120 minutes, 23 hours 18. The games seem to boil over for a while. The two groups of players are partly nose to nose, but are soon separated again. .
The jars seem to boil over for a while. The two groups of players are partly nose to nose, but are soon separated again.
halftime after 120 minutes, 23 hours 16. Penalties! The extra time also produced no goal. Croatia – two more winners at the World Cup after a penalty shootout – and Spain have to decide between themselves with a penalty shootout. .
Penalty kicks!
The extra time also produced no goal. Croatia – two more winners at the World Cup after a penalty shootout – and Spain have to decide between themselves with a penalty shootout.
second overtime, minute 117. Modric drops another bomb in the large rectangle. From 40 meters he searches for and finds Vlasic, who plucks the ball out of the air excellently. The substitute puts the leather aside to the tireless Kovacic, but he completely cracks his shot. .
Modric drops another bomb in the large rectangle. From 40 meters he searches for and finds Vlasic, who plucks the ball out of the air excellently. The substitute puts the leather aside to the tireless Kovacic, but he completely cracks his shot.
second extra time, minute 114. Almost a déjà vu of the Champions League final. Rodri then was the match winner with a long shot and seemed to do it again. The City midfielder curls the ball from the second line to the far post, but his place ball still deviates completely. .
Almost one already seen of the Champions League final. Rodri then was the match winner with a long shot and seemed to do it again. The City midfielder curls the ball from the second line to the far post, but his place ball still deviates completely.
second extra time, minute 112. Replacement at Croatia, Josip Stanisic in, Josip Juranovic outsecond extra time, minute 107. Croatia is shaking. O la la, Spain gets two more excellent opportunities in the slot. Alba Asensio first plays free for the goal, but the Spanish attacker walks outside with the leather. Afterwards, Olmo also gets a shooting opportunity from the large rectangle, but his volley also flutters over the back line. Croatia escapes with a fright. .
Croatia is shaking
O la la, Spain gets two more excellent opportunities in the slot. Alba Asensio first plays free for the goal, but the Spanish attacker walks outside with the leather. Afterwards, Olmo also gets a shooting opportunity from the large rectangle, but his volley also flutters over the back line. Croatia escapes with a fright.
second extra time, minute 107. Felix Zwayer kicks off the last fifteen minutes of the third edition of the Nations League. Will we get another ultimate winning goal? .
Felix Zwayer kicks off the last fifteen minutes of the third edition of the Nations League. Do we get another ultimate winning goal?
clock 106′ second overtimesecond overtime, minute 106 match startedview allview allarrow-circle
