A 120-Minute Deadlock
The UEFA Nations League final was determined through penalty kicks after an intense match. Croatia secured a spot in the final by defeating the host country, the Netherlands, in extra time. Spain also advanced to the final with a late goal from Joselu against Italy, resulting in a 2-1 victory. The final showdown between the two teams was evenly matched, and despite Croatia’s reputation for success in penalty shootouts, Spain emerged as the victors with a 5-4 win. This victory crowned Spain as the champions of the UEFA Nations League, marking a remarkable campaign for La Furia Roja. Let’s review the final match and the 2022-23 Nations League.
Match Review
Before the match, Spain was favored with even-money odds. The game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams struggling to break the deadlock. Although there were several chances, Spain’s Gavi had the first notable opportunity but missed the target. Croatia later found success with long balls, which put pressure on Spain’s defenders, resulting in some last-ditch tackles. Unai Simon, Spain’s goalkeeper, made an impressive save on a header from Ivan Perisic in the 31st minute.
Both teams had their chances in the second half, but Spain had clearer opportunities. Fabian Ruiz missed an open net, Ivan Perisic cleared a shot from Ansu Fati off the goal line, and Marco Asensio failed to convert his chance in the 90th minute. The match entered extra time, where both teams played cautiously, leading to a penalty shootout.
Croatia had a reputation for excelling in penalty shootouts, having won their four previous encounters, while Spain had experienced a penalty shootout loss to Morocco in the round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, Spain remained composed as their penalty takers successfully converted their first four shots. Unai Simon saved Lovro Majer’s weak effort, and Aymeric Laporte had the chance to secure the victory for Spain. Unfortunately, Laporte’s shot hit the crossbar, giving Croatia a lifeline. Nevertheless, Bruno Petkovic’s penalty was saved by Simon, and Dani Carvajal sealed Spain’s UEFA Nations League championship with a penalty, resulting in a 5-4 shootout triumph. This victory marked the first major honor for head coach Luis de la Fuente with La Furia Roja.
Spain’s journey to the final in the UEFA Nations League began last June in a challenging group. They faced Portugal, Czech Republic, and Switzerland in a double round-robin format. Spain started slowly with draws against Portugal and Czech Republic. On the third matchday, they secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Switzerland with Pablo Sarabia scoring the only goal. Spain continued their winning streak with a 2-0 triumph over Czech Republic in the reverse fixture. They suffered a 2-1 defeat against Switzerland on Matchday 5 but bounced back with a crucial 1-0 win against Portugal on the final day, thanks to Alvaro Morata’s late winner. Spain topped the group and advanced to the UEFA Nations League finals.
In the semifinal against Italy, Spain engaged in a hard-fought match. Both teams scored early goals in the first half, but Joselu, who substituted for Morata, scored an 88th-minute winner, sending Spain to the final.
Rodri eyes the Ballon d’Or
Another noteworthy storyline is the success of midfielder Rodri, who has now won four trophies in just three weeks. His outstanding performances have put him in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or, and he scored the winning goal in the Champions League final.
Hard luck for Modric?
On the other hand, Croatia, led by Luka Modric, continues to strive for a major international trophy. Under the management of Zlatko Dalic, Croatia came close to winning on a few occasions, finishing as runners-up in the 2018 World Cup and claiming third place in Qatar 2022. However, their defeat in the UEFA Nations League final added to their heartbreak. The future remains uncertain for Modric, Croatia’s greatest-ever player, regarding his international retirement.
Italy secured the bronze medal in the Nations League for the second consecutive time by defeating the Netherlands in the third-place game. Italy held a 2-0 lead for most of the match, but three goals were scored in the final 25 minutes. Steven Bergwijn narrowed the score to 2-1, but Federico Chiesa responded just four minutes later, putting the Azzurri ahead 3-1. Georginio Wijnaldum scored a late consolation goal for the Netherlands, but it was not enough.
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