Spain바카라s 11-year trophy drought is over. Croatia and its veteran captain Luka Modric are still waiting for their first international title. (More Football News)
Goalkeeper Unai Simon saved two shots as Spain beat Croatia in a penalty shootout after their tense Nations League final had finished 0-0.
Spain바카라s 11-year trophy drought is over. Croatia and its veteran captain Luka Modric are still waiting for their first international title. (More Football News)
Goalkeeper Unai Simon saved two shots as Spain beat Croatia in a penalty shootout after their tense Nations League final had finished 0-0 on Sunday.
The Bilbao goalkeeper used his feet to save a penalty by Lovro Majer when the shootout was level at 3-3 and then dived full-length to tip Bruno Petković바카라s spot kick around the post.
Dani Carvajal converted his penalty 바카라 with a 바카라Panenka바카라 chip 바카라 to seal the victory.
Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said Carvajal had taken penalties well in practice ahead of the final.
바카라He has a fantastic personality and that바카라s the way he decided to take it,바카라 he said. 바카라We have total confidence in his ability to take penalties.바카라
Spain바카라s other previous titles came in 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 this season after also winning a historic treble with his club, Manchester City. He was named the player of the Nations League tournament to cap 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 like breaking the stalemate, Ivan Perišić was on the goal line to block his effort. It was Spain바카라s only goal-bound attempt, compared to five by Croatia.
In the first period of extra time, Majer broke through and fell in the penalty area under a challenge by Nacho, but German referee Felix Zwayer ruled that the Spain defender had played the ball and waved off Croatia바카라s appeals for a penalty.
바카라I think it makes the win even more epic doing it this way,바카라 De La Fuente said.
Croatia바카라s fans 바카라 many wearing shirts with Modric바카라s name and No. 10 on the back 바카라 far outnumbered their Spanish counterparts at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam.
But they were forced to leave disappointed as their nation and the 37-year-old Modric continued their wait for a first international title.
Croatia finished second at the World Cup in 2018 and third in Qatar last year. Modric, meanwhile, has won the Champions League five times with Real Madrid and was named FIFA바카라s world player of the year in 2018, breaking the decade-long dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the title. But he has not been able to cap his glittering career with international honors.
Whether he will have another try at next year바카라s European Championships remains to be seen.
바카라I바카라d love Luka to stay,바카라 Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said. 바카라He바카라s a very important player for us.바카라
De La Fuente agreed.
바카라I hope he carries on because we never want great players to leave the game,바카라 he said.
Spain went a step better than the last Nations League final in 2021, when it lost to France. Not bad for a team with a coach, Luis De La Fuente, who only took charge after the World Cup in Qatar and came in for criticism when his team lost 2-0 to Scotland in European Championship qualifying.
Spain바카라s players went to a small section of their fans in one corner of the stadium to celebrate their victory.
Both sides came close in the first half.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković fumbled an innocuous shot by Fabián Ruiz and the ball bounced off the post in the ninth minute, but Livaković recovered quickly to block an attempt by Álvaro Morata, who was flagged offside. Three minutes later, Gavi dragged a shot just wide.
But after weathering the early storm, Croatia 바카라 with Modric directing the action from midfield 바카라 then created the best chances.
Twice, Modric curled crosses to find Ivan Perišić at the far post but both times Simon in the Spain goal saved. But he saved his two best saves for the penalty shootout.
ITALY THIRD 바카라 AGAIN
Federico Dimarco scored in the sixth minute and Davide Frattesi poked home a rebound to double the lead in the 20th to put Italy on course to beating the Netherlands 3-2 to secure third place 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 Azzurri바카라s two-goal lead four minutes later. Substitute Georginio Wijnaldum completed the scoring with one minute of regulation time to go as Italy held on.
The defeat in Enschede meant that Ronald Koeman바카라s team 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 beat Italy 2-1 to set up the final.