Euskaraz irakurri: Simon, Merino, Zubimendi eta Kepa, Nazioen Ligako txapeldunak Kroaziari penaltietan irabazita

Two saves by Unai Simón and a goal by Mikel Merino in the penalty shootout have been key for Spain to proclaim itself Nations League championafter the goalless draw against Croatia.

Spain had to fight until the end against the Croats. This started better, taking possession and with strong pressure that did not allow him to suffocate his rival at times, but without hitting the shot.

The Croats also gave Unai Simón a bit of a scare, especially with a long ball behind the back of Le Normand and laporte that Kramaric did not take advantage of.

The Balkan team did not threaten much more, except for a couple of headers from Perisic, while Spain was not able to worry Livakovic either.

De la Fuente did not change anything for the second 45 minutes. Spain had a hard time creating, but he responded with a header from Asensio after a good team move.

After a powerful shot from Rodri that went near the post, De la Fuente decided to move the bench with the entry of more offensive bite with Ansu Fati and Joselu.

Ansu Fati had the best of the game, but his shot was taken out by Perisic. Asensio, with his right, shot too cross in another good option and the final went to extra time.

In extra time, Croatia recovered some energy, but could not shake the greater dominance of the Spanish team. Even so, no one managed to score and the outcome was decided on penalties.

Unai Simón saved two maximum penalties and Dani Carvajal, like Panenka, left Aymeric Laporte’s ruling that lengthened the wait to nothing.

Data sheet

0 – Croatia:Livakovic; Juranovic, Sutalo, Erlic, Perisic; Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic; Pasalic (Petkovic, m.61), Ivanusec (Vlasic, m.78) and Kramaric (Majer, m.91).

0 – Spain: Unai Simon; Jesús Navas (Carvajal, m.97), Le Normand (Nacho, m.78), Laporte, Jordi Alba; Rodri, Fabián (Mikel Merino, m.78), Gavi (Dani Olmo, m.87); Marco Asensio, Yeremy Pino (Ansu Fati, m.66) and Morata (Joselu, m.66).

Penalties: 1-0, Vlasic. 1-1, Joselu. 2-1, Brozovich. 2-2, Rodri. 3-2, Modric. 3-3, Mikel Merino. 3-3, Mayer misses. 3-4, Asensio. 4-4, Perisic. 4-4, Laporte misses. 4-4, Petkovic fails. 4-5, Carvajal.

Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany). He booked Gavi (80), Nacho (96) and Rodri (97) for Spain; and Petkovic (91) for Croatia.

Italy repeats third place

Italy conquered third place in the League of Nations, defeating the host Netherlands at the Twente Stadion (2-3) in a game that he put on track in the first act and finished off the counterattack in the second.

The many early Federico Dimarco and Davide Frattesi they put everything in the face of Italy, who managed the game. The Netherlands reacted after 68 minutes with a goal from Bergwijn and, although in a counterattack it seemed to sentence Chiesa After 73 minutes, Ronald Koeman’s team searched unsuccessfully for penalties until the end after a goal from Wijnaldum.

Source: Eitb

Kingston

Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.