Another weekend, another European final for Rodri.
The midfielder whose goal in Istanbul secured Manchester City바카라s first Champions League title on Saturday played another key role as Spain beat European champion Italy 2-1 on Thursday to advance to the Nations League final against Luka Modric바카라s Croatia on Sunday.
바카라I바카라m thrilled with my year,바카라 Rodri said. 바카라It바카라s been a huge effort 바카라 with the World Cup and winning the historic treble with Manchester City and now we바카라re in the (Nations League) final.바카라
With extra time looming, Rodri바카라s deflected shot fell to substitute Joselu in the 88th minute and the Espanyol striker 바카라 who was only just onside 바카라 turned in the winner from close range at FC Twente Stadium.
바카라I didn바카라t actually celebrate too much because I wasn바카라t sure it would count,바카라 Rodri said. 바카라Joselu got into the space. He scored a really important goal for us.바카라
It is a second chance for Spain, which reached the Nations League final in 2021 바카라 beating Italy in the semifinals before losing to France.
It also was a turnaround in fortunes for Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who replaced Luis Enrique after the World Cup in Qatar. He entered the match under pressure after his first two matches in charge were a hard-fought victory against a Norway team missing Erling Haaland and a 2-0 loss to Scotland.
바카라We just needed time,바카라 he said. 바카라I바카라ve always said that this is a process and it takes time to establish ideas. It takes time in training. We were unlucky that day.바카라
Spain had opened the scoring in the third minute when veteran Italy captain Leonardo Bonucci was tackled by Gavi and dispossessed by Yeremy Pino, who then calmly fired past Gianluigi Donnarumma for his second international goal.
But Ciro Immobile hit back quickly for Italy, converting an 11th-minute penalty after Nicolo Zaniolo hit a powerful shot that hit the arm of France-born Real Sociedad defender Robin Le Normand, who was making his debut for La Roja.
Spain takes on Croatia in Rotterdam on Sunday in the final while Italy will face hosts the Netherlands in the third-fourth match also in Enschede.
Davide Frattesi thought he had put Italy ahead in the 22nd after running onto a long pass by Jorginho and slotting a low shot through the legs of Unai Simón, but the effort was ruled offside.
The crowd at FC Twente stadium in the eastern Dutch city of Enschede was far quieter than the raucous Croatia supporters who roared their side to a 4-2 victory over hosts the Netherlands. The exception was Spain fans often calling on Rodri to shoot. They got their wish in the 88th minute when his effort set up the winner.
While 37-year-old Luka Modric starred in Croatia바카라s victory, Bonucci 바카라 one year younger 바카라 could not make amends for his early error and was substituted at halftime.
In his absence of Italy바카라s defensive talisman, Spain started the second term strongly and twice came close to taking the lead.
바카라We dropped off too much in the second half. Absolutely,바카라 Italy coach Roberto Mancini said.
Donnarumma denied Mikel Merino with a good save in the 49th minute. Morata then gathered the rebound with his back to the goal, but shot just wide.
Three minutes later, Rodri connected with an acrobatic effort that sailed just over the bar after Donnarumma weakly punched away a Jordi Alba free kick.
Italy came close to taking the lead in the 65th minute, but Unai Simon바카라s reflex save denied Davide Frattesi a goal.
Mancini lamented the lack of world class forwards at his disposal.
바카라For a while now, Italy have been lacking some forwards, I don바카라t know why,바카라 he said.
The match started with a moment바카라s silence for Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian premier and owner of AC Milan who died Monday.
