Spain win UEFA Nations League title after Unai Simon’s sensational penalty in final vs Croatia

Rotterdam: Spain’s 11-year trophy drought is over. Croatia and their experienced captain Luka Modric are still waiting for their first international title. Goalkeeper Unai Simon saved two shots as Spain beat Croatia in a penalty shootout as the Nations League final ended 0-0 on Sunday.

The Bilbao goalkeeper used his feet to save a penalty by Lovro Major when the shootout was level at 3–3 and then dived full length to tip Bruno Petkovic’s spot kick around the post. Dani Carvajal converted his penalty – with a Panenca chip – to seal the win.

Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente said that Carvajal had taken penalties well in practice before the final. “He has a great personality and decided to take it that way,” he added. We have full faith in his ability to take penalties.”

,#nationalleague pic.twitter.com/ZAX3Un1rhg— UEFA Euro 2024 (@Euro2024) June 19, 2023

Spain’s other previous titles came at the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in 1964, 2008 and 2012. Midfielder Rodri, who punched the air after scoring his penalty, has four titles to his credit this season after winning a historic treble with his club, Manchester City. , He was named the Nations League player of the tournament to round out his memorable year.

Spain did not manage a shot on target until the 84th minute of the match and when substitute Ansu Fati finally looked to break the deadlock, Ivan Perisic was on the goal line to block his effort. It was Spain’s only goal-bound effort, compared to five by Croatia. In the first period of extra time, Major broke and fell in the penalty area under a challenge by Nacho, but German referee Felix Zwer ruled that the Spain defender had played the ball and waved Croatia’s appeal for a penalty.

“I think it makes winning like this even more epic,” said de la Fuente.

Croatia fans at Rotterdam’s De Kuip Stadium – wearing shirts with Modric’s name and number 10 – far outnumbered their Spanish counterparts. But he was forced to disappoint as his nation and 37-year-old Modric continued his wait for a maiden international title.

Croatia finished second in the World Cup in 2018 and third in Qatar last year. Meanwhile, Modric has won the Champions League five times with Real Madrid and was named FIFA’s world player of the year in 2018, breaking Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s decade-long dominance of the title. But he hasn’t been able to cap off his illustrious career with international accolades.

Whether he will score another try at next year’s European Championships remains to be seen. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said, “I would love to be with Luka.” “He is a very important player for us.”

De La Fuente agreed. “I hope he continues because we never want great players to leave the game,” he added.

Spain went one step better than the previous Nations League final in 2021, when it lost to France. Not bad for a team with Luis de la Fuente, a coach who took over just after the World Cup in Qatar and was criticized after losing 2-0 to Scotland in European Championship qualifying.

The Spanish players went to a small section of their fans in one corner of the stadium to celebrate their victory. The two sides came close in the first half.

Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livkovic fumbled an innocuous shot from Fabian Ruiz and the ball bounced off the post in the ninth minute, but Livkovic soon recovered to stop Álvaro Morata’s effort, which was flagged for offside. Three minutes later, Gavi pulled off a shot perfectly.

But after weathering an early storm, Croatia – with Modric directing the action from midfield – then made the best of their chances. Modric twice found Ivan Perisic at the far post by turning his cross but both times the Spaniard was saved by Simon. But he saved two of his best saves for the penalty shootout.

Italy third – again

Federico DiMarco scored in the sixth minute and Davide Fratesi returned to double the lead in the 20th minute to help Italy beat the Netherlands 3–2 and finish third in the Nations League for the second time in two attempts. Steven Bergwijn put the Netherlands back in contention in the 68th minute, only for Federico Chiesa to restore the Azzurri’s two-goal lead four minutes later. Substitute Georginio Wijnaldum completed the scoring with one minute of regulation time remaining as Italy held on.

The defeat in Enschede meant that Ronald Koeman’s side conceded seven goals in two matches as hosts of the Nations League final four, after losing 4-2 to Croatia after extra time on Wednesday. Spain defeated Italy 2–1 to set up the final.