Croatia vs Spain : Who will lift the trophy ?
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| courtesy : uefa.com |
Following two thrilling semifinals in the Netherlands, the UEFA Nations League Final will feature Croatia against Spain (Sunday, June 18th; 2:45 pm ET). This decisive match, taking place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, will determine the champion of this prestigious tournament for young European national teams. In addition to the honor and trophy, the winning federation will receive a prize money of $11.3 million.
The stage is set for an exciting showdown where each pass, tackle, and goal will shape the outcome. As Croatia and Spain step onto the grand stage, the world eagerly watches, anticipating the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the UEFA Nations League. Furthermore, expect a high-scoring spectacle as the previous three encounters between these teams have produced a total of 19 goals!
Croatia is unlikely to make any changes to the lineup that secured their victory against the Netherlands in the semifinals. The reliable midfield trio of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Marcelo Brozovic will form the foundation in midfield. Croatia has experienced remarkable success in recent times, earning the silver and bronze medals in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively.
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| Courtsey: UEFA.com |
Croatia earned their spot in the maiden Nations League final by securing a thrilling 4-2 victory in extra time against the host nation, the Netherlands. They now return to Rotterdam with the goal of clinching their first-ever triumph in a final tournament. On the other hand, Spain secured their place in the final with a late 2-1 victory over Italy, thanks to a winning goal by Joselu in the 88th minute. Spain aims to improve on their performance in 2021, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat against France in the final.
These two nations have a history of engaging in captivating contests. Their first competitive meeting took place at UEFA EURO 2012, with Spain emerging victorious in the Group C match with a late goal by Jesús Navas, resulting in a 1-0 win. Croatia avenged that loss four years later at EURO 2016, triumphing 2-1 in the Group D encounter.
In a remarkable display, Spain achieved a resounding 6-0 victory over Croatia during the Nations League in 2018, only to suffer a 3-2 defeat to the same opponents just two months later.However, their most recent encounter was perhaps the most memorable. At EURO 2020, Spain and Croatia engaged in an extraordinary match that ended 5-3 in favor of Spain after extra time. Mario Pašalić scored a late equalizer in injury time for Croatia, leveling the score at 3-3. Nonetheless, Spain ultimately prevailed with extra-time goals from Álvaro Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal.
Based on their history, it is highly likely that this final will be packed with goals and provide an exciting spectacle.