Penalty shootout in Rotterdam
Croatia wins silver as Spain claims Nations League title
18.06.2023.
Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
In the third edition of the UEFA Nations League, Croatia national football team won the silver medal, as Spain prevailed in the penalty shootout.
CROATIA - SPAIN 4:5 (0:0, 0:0)
UEFA Nations League final.
De Kuip Stadium, Rotterdam.
Referee: F. Zwayer (Germany)
Goals: -
Penalty shootout: Vlašić - 1:0, Joselu - 1:1, Brozović - 2:1, Rodri - 2:2, Modrić - 3:2, Merino - 3:3, Majer - Simon saves, Asensio - 3:4, Perišić - 4:4, Laporte - crossbar, Petković - Simon saves, Carvajal - 4:5
Cautions: Gavi (81'), Petković (90+2'), Nacho (96'), Rodri (97')
Croatia: Livaković, Perišić, Erlić, Šutalo, Juranović (112' Stanišić), Brozović, Modrić, Kovačić, Ivanušec (78' Vlašić), Pašalić (62' Petković), Kramarić (90+1' Majer). Head coach: Z. Dalić.
Spain: Simon, Alba, Laporte, Le Normand (78' Nacho), Navas (97' Carvajal), Ruiz (78' Merino), Rodri, Pino (66' Fati), Gavi (87' Olmo), Asensio, Morata (66' Joselu). Head coach: L. de la Fuente.
Following the semifinal extra time victory over the Netherlands (4:2), Croatia was ready to face Spain the UEFA Nations League decider. No goals were scored in 90, then 120 minutes, and it all came down to a penalty shootout.
Both teams allowed only a couple of chances - in the first half, Perišić and Brozović took a shot, while Morata was dangerous on the other side of the pitch. After the break, Juranović, Asensio, and Rodri all missed their opportunities, with Perišić saving Fati's effort on the goal line.
Later on, Olmo has almost become the Spanish hero, and Majer has almost escaped the Spanish defence.
There was no mistake in the first three series, and then Simon save Majer's attempt, but Laporte hit the crossbar as Spain had the match point. However, Simon saved Petković's effort too, and Carvajal sealed Spanish triumph.
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