Dani Carvajal transformed his penalty — with a “Panenka” chip — to seal the victory.

Spain coach Luis De La Fuente mentioned Carvajal had taken penalties properly in follow forward of the ultimate.

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“He has a fantastic personality and that’s the way he decided to take it,” he mentioned. “We have total confidence in his ability to take penalties.”

Spain’s different earlier titles got here within the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in 1964, 2008 and 2012.

Midfielder Rodri, who punched the air after scoring his penalty, has 4 titles this season after additionally profitable a historic treble together with his membership, Manchester City. He was named the participant of the Nations League match to cap his memorable 12 months.

Spain didn’t handle a shot on course till the 84th minute of the match and when substitute Ansu Fati lastly seemed like breaking the stalemate, Ivan Perišić was on the purpose line to dam his effort. It was Spain’s solely goal-bound try, in comparison with 5 by Croatia.

In the primary interval of additional time, Majer broke by and fell within the penalty space underneath a problem by Nacho, however German referee Felix Zwayer dominated that the Spain defender had performed the ball and waved off Croatia’s appeals for a penalty.

“I think it makes the win even more epic doing it this way,” De La Fuente mentioned.

Croatia’s followers – many carrying shirts with Modric’s title and No. 10 on the again — far outnumbered their Spanish counterparts at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam.

But they had been pressured to depart upset as their nation and the 37-year-old Modric continued their look forward to a primary worldwide title.

Croatia completed second on the World Cup in 2018 and third in Qatar final 12 months. Modric, in the meantime, has received the Champions League 5 instances with Real Madrid and was named FIFA’s world participant of the 12 months in 2018, breaking the decade-long dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the title. But he has not been capable of cap his glittering profession with worldwide honors.

Whether he can have one other attempt at subsequent 12 months’s European Championships stays to be seen.

“I’d love Luka to stay,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic mentioned. “He’s a very important player for us.”

De La Fuente agreed.

“I hope he carries on because we never want great players to leave the game,” he mentioned.

Spain went a step higher than the final Nations League last in 2021, when it misplaced to France. Not unhealthy for a workforce with a coach, Luis De La Fuente, who solely took cost after the World Cup in Qatar and got here in for criticism when his workforce misplaced 2-0 to Scotland in European Championship qualifying.

Spain’s gamers went to a small part of their followers in a single nook of the stadium to have a good time their victory.

Both sides got here shut within the first half.

Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković fumbled an innocuous shot by Fabián Ruiz and the ball bounced off the put up within the ninth minute, however Livaković recovered rapidly to dam an try by Álvaro Morata, who was flagged offside. Three minutes later, Gavi dragged a shot simply large.

But after weathering the early storm, Croatia — with Modric directing the motion from midfield — then created the perfect probabilities.

Twice, Modric curled crosses to search out Ivan Perišić on the far put up however each instances Simon within the Spain purpose saved. But he saved his two finest saves for the penalty shootout.

ITALY THIRD — AGAIN

Federico Dimarco scored within the sixth minute and Davide Frattesi poked residence a rebound to double the lead within the twentieth to place Italy on the right track to beating the Netherlands 3-2 to safe third place within the Nations League for the second time in two makes an attempt.

Steven Bergwijn put the Netherlands again in rivalry within the 68th minute just for Federico Chiesa to revive the Azzurri’s two-goal lead 4 minutes later. Substitute Georginio Wijnaldum accomplished the scoring with one minute of regulation time to go as Italy held on.

The defeat in Enschede meant that Ronald Koeman’s workforce conceded seven targets in two matches as hosts of the Nations League last 4, after shedding 4-2 to Croatia after additional time on Wednesday. Spain beat Italy 2-1 to arrange the ultimate.