Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon saved two penalties as Spain edged out Croatia on penalties to win 2023 UEFA Nations League
Starting Lineup
Croatia: Livakovic, Erlic, Sutalo, Kovacic, Kramaric, Modric, Brozovic, Perisic, Pasalic ,Ivanosec, Juranovic
Spain: Simon, Normand, Morata, Ruiz, Gavi, Asensio, Laporte, Pino, Rodri, Alba, Navas
Spain started the game on the front foot with a good press, looking set to take an early lead.
The La Roja were ahead in stats and came across a couple of early chances to nick an early goal. Jordi Alba set up Gavi with a long pass down the right but the Barcelona star could not race to catch up with the ball.
Gavi came close again in the early minutes after Spain won the ball in the Croatian half and charged down the box. The Barcelona star dribbled pass a Croat defender Gavi and wrong-footed the Croatian goalkeeper but his low shot was off target.
Croatia subsequently quelled the early pressure and began to build their presence into the game, making attempts on a press up Spain’s half.
Ivan Perisic was proving dangerous for the Spanish defense on the left hand side. Twice, he beat the defense to attempt a fine header on goal which were saved by Spain goalkeeper.
Spain were confident in possession when with the ball but could not pull clear threats on Croatia defense after the first early chances.
Meanwhile, Croats running midfielders Kovacic and Modric were proving difficult for the Spaniards to handle. Kovacic and Modric easily got their way pass the block to frequently set up Perisic who came close with threats of putting the Croats ahead.
In the 32nd minute, Perisic missed a golden chance to put the Croats ahead after he came one on one with the goalkeeper on the back post. He crossed back to the center of the box but there was no leg to tap it as the ball lazied pass the open net.
It was a game of few chances going forward. Late in the first half, Jordi Alba teed up Morata after another clinical press by the Spaniards. Rising above Croatian defender for a header, Morata ended up heading Alba’s cross wide off the post.
Morata’s header was the last first half chance in the game. The two sides battled it out at the middle with no clearcut chances again as the first half ended without a goal.
It was a good start from both sides in the second half. Spain had the possession but the Croats were fearless commiting more men into Spain’s half to attack.
The Spaniards came across a big chance early in the second half with Asensio coming one-on-one with Livakovic after being feed with a good ball up. He rose high into the air but his header flew over the crossbar and hit the roof of the net.
The Croats were also building momentum on the attack with the game taking on a faster pace. Kramaric came close with header to put the Croats ahead but his header fell off the target.
With less than 20 minutes into the game, Spain were yet to record their first shot on target in the second half with Croatia on the ascendancy.
Spain wrestled back the game in the 72nd minute. Ansu Fati, who was subbed on in the second half, overran the Croatian defense on the left to pick a throughball. He came on against Livakovic but was not fast enough to pick the ball.
Spain had another great chance to take the lead in the 83rd minute. Ansu Fati again ripped apart the Croatian defense and came up against Livakovic again but crossed to the center. Livakovic quicky repositioned and blocked a feeble low attempt from the center.
It was still 0-0 with less of five minutes of the regulation time left. Spain were on the press and dominating play thanks to late substitutions by De La Fuente.
Again the La Roja were on the move with Jesus Navas feeding Asensio on the run with a long ball inside the Croatian box but the angle was too tight as he blast it pass the goal mouth.
Four minutes was added but it still ended all squares with both sides heading into extra time.
Extra time
Spain maintained their dominance but did not create a real clear chance. Against the run of play, Croatia got the first big chance in the extra time in the 98th minute after Spain lost possession near the halfway line.
Modric got the ball inside Spain’s half and was one-on-one with Simon, before Nacho made a goal-saving tackle to stop him.
Spain had their chance in the 103rd minute. Asensio’s shot was blocked by a Croatian defender. The rebound fell on the path of Olmo. Olmo had just Livakovic and post to beat but fired it over the crossbar. The first 15 minutes ended barren.
Spain had a succession of two quick corners in the opening minutes of the second half of the extra time as they mounted pressure but could not find the back of the net. Croatia also had late corners. The extra time still ended 0-0 as they headed into penalties.
Spain goalkeeper, Unai Simon, saved two penalties as Spain won 4-3 on penalties to end over a decade wait for a European crown.
