A fantastic semifinal
Croatia reaches Nations League final through more extra time!
14.06.2023.
Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
Croatia national football team will play in the UEFA Nations League final, following the extra-time victory (4:2) over the host nation!
NETHERLANDS - CROATIA 2:4 (2:2, 1:0)
UEFA Nations League, semifinals.
De Kuip Stadium, Rotterdam.
Referee: I. Kovacs (Romania)
Goals: 1:0 - Malen (34'), 1:1 - Kramarić (55' - 11m), 1:2 - Pašalić (73'), 2:2 - Lang (90+6'), 2:3 - Petković (98'), 2:4 - Modrić (116' - 11m)
Cautions: Kovačić (17'), Pašalić (24'), De Jong (38'), Brozović (64'), Livaković (90+2'), Koopmeiners (93'), Malacia (116')
Netherlands: Bijlow, Ake (106' Malacia), Van Dijk, Geertruida, Dumfries (85' Lang), F. de Jong, Koopmeiners, Wieffer (75' Wijnaldum), Simons (64' Weghorst), Malen (75' Bergwijn), Gakpo (106' De Roon). Head coach: R. Koeman.
Croatia: Livaković, Perišić, Vida, Šutalo (91' Petković), Juranović (78' Stanišić), Brozović, Modrić (119' Barišić), Kovačić (85' Majer), Pašalić, Ivanušec (78' Vlašić), Kramarić (90' Erlić). Head coach: Z. Dalić.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
Zlatko Dalić's men managed to write another page in the history books of Croatian football, reaching their first UEFA Nations League final, in the third edition of this competition.
In a dramatic semifinals encounter, they have presented their winning mentality once again, especially after going a goal down in the first half, courtesy of Malen on 34 minutes.
Croatia came back in the second half: on 55 minutes, team captain Modrić won a penalty kick, with Kramarić converting to equalize, and the better performance was crowned in 73rd minute, when Ivanušec found Pašalić to make it 2:1.
However, six minutes into added time, Dutch substitute Lang reacted well to send the match into extra time.
Croatia was ready to reply. On 98 minutes, it was Petković's long-range effort that found the target, while Modrić scored from the spot four minutes from time to seal the 4:2 victory. The Croatian party, with thousands of Croatian fans in the stands, was about to begin.
In the final, on Sunday, Croatia will face the winner of the Spain - Italy semifinal.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
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