Spain WIN the UEFA Nations League for the first time after a penalty shootout victory over Croatia… with Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal scoring the decisive penalty after a 0-0 draw
- Spain won the UEFA Nations League after a penalty shootout victory
- Aymeric Laporte gave Croatia hope when he hit the crossbar from the spot
- However, Dani Carvajal made no mistake in handing Spain the trophy
Manchester City midfielder Rodri made it a club and country trophy double in just eight days as he helped Spain beat Croatia in a penalty shoot-out to win the Nations League final.
It was brutal for Luka Modric, who wanted to crown his international career by taking Croatia to what would have been their first trophy. In the end it was his Real Madrid teammate Dani Carvajal who scored the winning kick.
In the dramatic shoot-out, both sets of players kept their spirits up. Nikola Vlasic scored the first kick for Croatia, but Joselu buried his penalty for Spain.
Marcelo Brozovic made it 2-1 for Croatia and Rodri, who won man-of-the-match on the night, emphatically equalized for Spain. Modric then effortlessly stroked his into the roof of Unai Simon’s net but with even cooler Mikel Merino made it 3-3.
Simon then saved from Lovro Majer and when Marco Asensio scored, Spain were in the lead. But Ivan Perisic scored and, with a chance to win, Aymeric Laporte, who can also boast of having won two trophies in eight days, hit the crossbar.
Spain won the UEFA Nations League after a penalty shootout against Croatia
Aymeric Laporte had a chance to win the shootout, but his attempt hit the crossbar
Real Madrid’s Dani Darvajal made no mistake as he scored with Spain’s next penalty kick to seal the win
The 25,000 Croatian fans in Rotterdam thought it was going to be their night, but there was another twist as Simon made another save from Bruno Petkovic this time and Carvajal, with a Panenka style kick, won it to give Spain their first trophy since winning the euro in 2012.
Croatia had soaked up Spain’s early pressure and tried to hit Spain at the break with Andrei Kramaric, but this was denied by a vital first-half interception from Laporte.
For Spain, Jordi Alba’s crosses posed the greatest threat. The captain, and a goalscorer in that Euros 2012 victory, sent over a center from the left, but Asensio got his head under as Spain started to create more chances.
They should have won six minutes from time when an inspired Alba pass found Mikel Merino crossing ahead of Ansu Fati.
His effort was goal-bound, but Perisic managed to clear it off the line and send the game into extra time.
A saving tackle from substitute Nacho prevented Lovro Majer from scoring in the first half of extra time.
Croatian players were dejected after losing a final where they were the slightly better team during the 120 minutes leading up to the penalty shoot-out
Luka Modric battles for possession with Man City’s Champions League hero Rodri
Jesus Navas sprints along the right flank past Croatian Luka Ivanusec during the final
Gavi puts his hands to the back of his head after missing an early chance to put Spain ahead
He was injured in the process and was forced to limp for the rest of the game as Spain had deployed all of their substitutes.
Spain had their chances in the last 15 minutes of the marathon, with Asensio squandering a chance made for him by Alba and Dani Olmo going wide again. Even the tireless Modric sank towards the end.
Once again he had been Croatia’s passing master, but they had failed to capitalize on their chances and held on to penalties. At the shoot-out, Modric’s friend Carvajal came up with the decisive kick.
“There is no discussion,” Rodri said when asked about the future of Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente. He was only under pressure for four games after taking over from Luis Enrique.
“We played the final and won it,” said the City midfielder as Alba bagged Spain’s first silverware in 11 years.
Spanish players celebrate after winning their first international trophy in 11 years