Croatia vs Spain score, result as Unai Simon penalties heroics give Spain UEFA Nations League title

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Simon Borg
• 16 min read
Spain UEFA Nations League Trophy
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Spain won its first UEFA Nations League title, besting Croatia on penalties after a scoreless draw that persisted through extra-time.

Goalkeeper Unai Simon stopped shots by Lovro Majer and Bruno Petkovic in the shootout, and Dani Carvajal scored the clinching penalty kick on a panenka shot, as Spain ended an 11-year trophy drought.

The Spanish victory left large portions of the De Kuip Stadium in stunned silence with the Rotterdam facility filled with a majority of Croatian supporters hoping to see their team finally win their first trophy after coming close on several occasions.

Meanwhile, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente won a trophy in just his fourth game in charge of the senior team, earning his nation its first men's title since the 2012 Euros, where the team beat Italy 4-0 in the final.

Croatia have finished in third place at the 1998 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, and they were runners-up behind France at the 2018 World Cup. They fell short again, this time in the cruelest fashion.

The game had few clear-cut opportunities in the 120 minutes, with solid defending and sure-handed saves defusing half chances. The best look was an Ansu Fati shot cleared off the line by Ivan Perisic with five minutes left in regulation.

UEFA Nations League winners

  • 2019: Portugal (1-0 vs. Netherlands)
  • 2021: France (2-1 vs. Spain)
  • 2023: Spain (5-4 on pens vs. Croatia)

Croatia vs Spain final score

  Final (pens) Goal scorers
Croatia 0 (4) —
Spain 0 (5) —

Lineups:

Croatia (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Livakovic (GK) — 22-Juranovic (2-Stanisic, 112'), 6-Sutalo, 5-Erlic, 14-Perisic — 10-Modric, 11-Brozovic, 8-Kovacic — 15-Pasalic (17-Petkovic, 61'), 9-Kramaric (7-Majer, 91'+), 16-Ivanusec (13-Vlasic, 79')

Spain (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23-Simon (GK) — 22-Navas (2-Carvajal, 97'), 3-Le Normand (4-Nacho, 79'), 14-Laporte, 18-Alba — 16-Rodri, 8-Ruiz (6-Merino, 79') — 10-Asensio, 9-Gavi (21-Olmo, 87'), 15-Pino (12-Fati, 66') — 7-Morata (20-Joselu, 66')

Croatia vs Spain live updates, highlights from UEFA Nations League final

Penalties:

6th Round (CRO 4-5 SPA)

  • CRO: Unai Simon saves the Bruno Petkovic penalty
  • SPA: Dani Carvajal with another chance to win it. And he scores the panenka! Spain wins it!

5th Round (CRO 4-4 SPA)

  • CRO: Ivan Perisic scores and keeps Croatia alive!
  • SPA: Aymeric Laporte to win it, instead sends it off the bar! It's not over.

4th Round (CRO 3-4 SPA)

  • CRO: Kick save by Unai Simon on Lovro Majer's shot
  • SPA: Marco Asensio sends it to the top right corner. No shot for Livakovic.

3rd Round (CRO 3-3 SPA)

  • CRO: Luka Modric. No doubt. What a penalty
  • SPA: Livakovic can't guess right. Mikel Merino scores

2nd Round (CRO 2-2 SPA)

  • CRO: Brozovic scores, sending Unai Simon the other way.
  • SPA: Rodri does the same, sending Livakovic the opposite side.

1st Round (CRO 1-1 SPA)

  • CRO: Vlasic scores and Unai Simon barely moves.
  • SPA: Joselu roofs it! Livakovic had no chance.

End of Extra-time: Croatia 0-0 Spain

120th min. (Extra-time): Croatia close with two corner kicks of their own. But Unai Simon is surehanded in goal. We're heading to penalties!

118th min. (Extra-time): Spain had a couple of corner kicks (one which came from a shot by Champions League game-winner Rodri) and Croatia survived. We're a few minutes away from penalties.

112th min. (Extra-time): SUB Croatia. They bring on Bayern's Josip Stanisic for Josip Juranovic at right-back. Spain's Ansu Fati had been going at Juranovic, so this should help Croatia.

110th min. (Extra-time): Teams exchanging half-chances. Dani Olmo on one end (deflected wide) and Bruno Petkovic (saved) on the other.

106th min. (Extra-time): We're into the final 15 minutes of the match. And Ansu Fati is very active to start this final period.

End 1st Half of Extra-Time: Croatia 0-0 Spain

107th+ min. (Extra-time): Chance Croatia! Bruno Petkovic does a great job to keep the ball alive, and Marcelo Brozovic gets it in the box, does a dance, and fires a low shot which Unai Simon stops.

105th min. (Extra-time): Chance Spain! It's Marco Asensio who creates an opportunity for himself, but his shot deflects to Dani Olmo, who skies it.

The broadcast says that Spain have had 17 total shots in the game, but only two on target.

99th min. (Extra-time): Chance Croatia! Lovro Majer is in on goal, but Spain's Nacho Fernandez makes an exceptional recovery tackle in the box to take the ball of Majer's foot and the chance is lost.

Watch in USA:

97th min. (Extra-time): YELLOW card. Rodri gets it for taking down Croatia sub Lovro Majer.

96th min. (Extra-time): YELLOW card. It's Nacho Fernandez who gets it for a foul from behind on Bruno Petkovic.

SUB. And Spain brings on fresh legs at right-back. Dani Carvajal replaces Jesus Navas for Spain's final substitution. Reminder that teams get an extra sub in extra-time and Spain have used all six.

91st min. (Extra-time): Another extra-time match in an international tournament for Croatia. They may have the psychological edge given their history, their stamina, and their mental strength.

End of Regulation: Croatia 0-0 Spain

90th min.: Chance Spain! Marco Asensio gets a look, but his diagonal shot finishes well wide.

Watch in USA:

SUBS. And both teams have brought on subs with Dani Olmo coming on for Spain and Lovro Majer is on for Croatia. Olmo played in Croatia and he calls the country his second home. (He moved there from Barcelona to play for Dinamo Zagreb.)

85th min.: Chance Spain! Ball is cleared off the goal line! It's Ivan Perisic who thwarts an Ansu Fati shot from near the penalty spot.

Watch in USA:

80th min.: YELLOW card. It's the first caution of the match coming with 10 minutes left and it's shown to Gavi for a foul on Luka Modric.

79th min.: SUBS. Nikola Vlasic is on for Croatia, while Spain bring on Nacho Fernandez for Robin Le Normand at centre-back.

75th min.: Chance Spain! Ansu Fati makes a run down the left side of the box, but Dominik Livakovic comes off his line to clear. Except it goes right to Fabian Ruiz, who lofts an effort toward the empty net, but misses high. Both teams now back to playing cautious with 15 minutes remaining.

66th min.: SUBS Spain. Luis de la Fuente makes attack-minded subs with Ansu Fati and Joselu who are now on (Yeremy Pino and Alvaro Morata make way).

64th min.: The pace of the match has picked up a bit. There's a bit more intensity and urgency with each team's attack. They realise we're coming up on crunch time. Subs forthcoming.

57th min.: Chance Spain! Nice team movement and it ends with a Jordi Alba cross from the left and an Alvaro Morata header that goes over the bar.

53rd min.: This referee is going to let the players decide the game. This hand to the face by Marcelo Brozovic on Gavi wasn't sanctioned by the referee.

51st min.: Chance Croatia! Ivan Perisic beats Jesus Navas down the left and crosses, but Mario Pasalic can't get high enough to meet the cross, and then right-back Josip Juranovic just rips the ball from inside the box and fails to hit the frame. Juranovic had defenders converging so he rushed it.

46th min.: Second half underway. No changes so far.

Halftime: Croatia 0-0 Spain

Halftime: It's a proper chess match in Rotterdam. Both teams are skillful bringing up the ball into the attack, and they both pack some danger. But there haven't been clear-cut looks so far. That's because both teams are also very attentive and organised defensively.

Croatia have been most effective with balls over the top of the Spain defense, including balls by Modric into the Spain box. Meanwhile, Spain are capable of winning back the ball in the Croatia half, and creating danger from there with their dribbling, runs, and combinations. 

Good job by the German referee not to fall for any of the handball claims in the Croatia box. If this final is decided by a penalty, it has to be obvious.

39th min.: Chance Croatia! Another Luka Modric ball to Ivan Perisic who's in the box for a header. Unai Simon makes the stop again.

38th min.: Chance Croatia! Marcelo Brozovic with a run in behind for a ball served over the top. He pulls off an excellent dribbling move, but his cross from the left goes through the six-yard box and no one was there to meet it!

Watch in USA:

31st min.: Chance Croatia! A lofted ball into the box by Luka Modric finds Ivan Perisic in stride for the header. Unai Simon stops it.

Spain are doing well to swarm the ball and win it back. Croatia need to take better care of it.

Watch in USA:

24th min.: Croatia chances! Spain defender Aymeric Laporte saves his team on a long ball over the top to Andrej Kramaric, stopping the Croatia forward at the last second.

Then Croatia recover the ball in Spain's end and Kramaric's cross finds Mario Pasalic, but he can't get enough on the redirect effort to beat Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.

Watch in USA:

21st min.: Penalty for Spain? Replays seem to show the ball come off a Croatian arm, but it caromed off his body first. The VAR looked at it and determined it wasn't a clear and obvious error that the referee didn't point to the spot.

12th min.: Chance Spain! Croatia lose the ball in their own half and the ball ends up on Gavi's foot, who fires a shot that just misses the right post. Livakovic was beat, but it didn't hit the target.

Watch in USA:

10th min.: Chance Spain! Fabian Ruiz crosses from an advanced position and somehow Croatia 'keeper Dominik Livakovic bobbles it off the post and Alvaro Morata nearly gets to the loose ball. The offside flag goes up on Morata, but that was a close call for Croatia.

6th min.: It's been a measured start by both teams. Croatia are growing into the game and gaining more possession. You'd say it's Croatia in control of this one early on.

1st min.: We're off. Spain in red on the ball to start. Croatia are playing in blue.

Kickoff

4 mins to KO: There was some whistling from the Croatia fans during the Spain anthem. And then the entire stadium belts out the Croatian anthem.

Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic warned Spain that they would feel like they were playing in Croatia.

5 mins to KO: Teams are walking out onto the field past the trophy.

15 mins to KO: All eyes on Luka Modric and whether this might be his final match for his country. Or does he play through Euro 2024? There has been plenty of speculation already.

35 mins to KO: It's going to be some atmosphere at the De Kuip.

1 hour to KO: The two lineups are in. Just one change for Croatia and two for Spain.

Croatia bring in Sassuolo's Martin Erlic for 34-year-old Domagoj Vida along the backline. Spain introduce Fabian Ruiz in central midfield in place of Mikel Merino. The injured Rodrigo Moreno is replaced by Marco Asensio.

2 hours to KO: Spain have won 5 of 9 all-time matches played between the two countries. In the last 10 years they've played four times with a total of 22 goals scored.

Spain vs Croatia lineups

Manager Luis de la Fuente is without Leeds forward Rodrigo Moreno, who reportedly didn't finish training on Saturday with a foot issue. Marco Asensio replaces him at right wing. The other change is Fabian Ruiz in place of Mikel Merino in central midfield. The backline remains the same from the 2-1 win over Italy.

Spain lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23-Unai Simon (GK) — 22-Jesus Navas, 3-Robin Le Normand, 14-Aymeric Laporte, 18-Jordi Alba — 16-Rodri, 8-Fabian Ruiz — 10-Marco Asensio, 9-Gavi, 15-Yeremy Pino — 7-Alvaro Morata

Spain subs (12): 1-Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK), 13-David Raya (GK), 2-Dani Carvajal, 4-Nacho Fernandez, 17-Fran Garcia, 5-Martin Zubimendi, 6-Mikel Merino, 11-Sergio Canales, 21-Dani Olmo, 19-Rodrigo, 12-Ansu Fati, 20-Joselu

Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic makes just one change to the lineup after the extra-time semifinal against the Netherlands. Martin Erlic, 25, replaces 34-year-old Domagoj Vida at centre-back. Star World Cup centre-back Josko Gvardiol missed out entirely on the Nations League semifinal and final as he deals with a stomach injury. 

Croatia lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Dominik Livakovic (GK) — 22-Josip Juranovic, 6-Josip Sutalo, 5-Martin Erlic, 14-Ivan Perisic — 10-Luka Modric, 11-Marcelo Brozovic, 8-Mateo Kovacic — 15-Mario Pasalic, 9-Andrej Kramaric, 16-Luka Ivanusec

Croatia subs (11): 12-Nediljko Labrovic (GK), 23-Ivica Ivusic (GK), 2-Josip Stanisic, 3-Borna Barisic, 21-Domagoj Vida,19-Borna Sosa, 7-Lovro Majer, 13-Nikola Vlasic, 17-Bruno Petkovic, 18-Petar Musa, 20-Dion Brena Beljo

Spain vs Croatia live stream, TV channel

The UEFA Nations League final at De Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands kicks off on Sunday, June 18 at 8:45 p.m. local time.

  Date Time TV channel Streaming
USA Sun, June 18 2:45 p.m. EDT Fox Fubo, ViX+
UK Sun, June 18 7:45 p.m. BST Viaplay Sports 1,
Channel 4		 Viaplay
Australia Mon, June 19 4:45 a.m. AEST — Optus Sport
Canada Sun, June 18 2:45 p.m. EDT — DAZN
Hong Kong Mon, June 19 2:45 a.m. HKT UEFA.tv UEFA.tv
India Mon, June 19 12:15 a.m. IST SONY TEN 2 JioTV, Sony LIV
Malaysia Mon, June 19 2:45 a.m. MYT Astro SuperSport Astro GO, sooka
New Zealand Mon, June 19 6:45 a.m. NZST Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports beIN Sports Connect
Singapore Mon, June 19 2:45 a.m. SGT Hub Sports 2 StarHub TV+

USA: The match will be televised on national TV on Fox, and that channel is streamed on Fubo, which is available to new users on a free trial.

The match will not be televised in Spanish, but will be available via stream on ViX.

Canada: The final will be streamed on DAZN for viewers in Canada.

UK: The match will be broadcast on Viaplay Sports 1 and Channel 4 in the UK with streaming on Viaplay.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream the game on Optus Sport.

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Spain vs Croatia odds

The bookmakers are expecting Spain to win the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League final against Croatia in a lower-scoring game than these two teams have accustomed us to in recent years.

  SPA
win		 CRO
win		 Both teams
to score Y / N		 Over / Under
2.5 goals
BetMGM
(USA)		 1.50 2.40 1.80 / 1.88 1.93 / 1.77
Sports
Interaction
(Canada)		 +100 +255 -137 / -115 -105 / -125
SkyBet
(UK)		 1/2 6/4 8/11, 1/1 4/5, 10/11
Neds
(Australia)		 2.00 3.75 1.80 / 1.91 1.98 / 1.77
Dafabet
(India)		 1.48 2.53 1.86 / 1.88 2.08 / 1.75
Author(s)
Author Photo
Simon Borg
Simon Borg is a senior editor for football/soccer at The Sporting News.
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