Spain makes history with penalties: first UEFA Nations League title
Facing Croatia in the final match of the UEFA Nations League, Spain won the penalty shootout and became champions.
Eliminating Italy in the semi-finals, Spain shared its trump card in the final with Croatia, who knocked out the Netherlands. The match, which did not score a goal either in regulation time or in extra time, was played with few positions and low rhythm. The Spaniards, who dominated Croatia in the penalty shootout, managed to reach the Nations League championship for the first time in history.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon saves Lovro Majer’s penalty with his feet. Photo: Reuters.
In Croatia, Nikola Vlasic, Marcelo Brozovic, Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic were the names that turned penalty shoot-outs into goals. Lovro Majer and Bruno Petkovic were hit by the Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon. In Spain, Joselu, Rodri, Mikel Merino, Marco Asensio and the last shot Daniel Carvajal hit the net. Aymeric Laporte was the only one who missed the penalty.
Croatian footballers experienced great sadness as a result of the penalty shootout. Photo: Reuters.
Portugal and France had previously won the UEFA Nations League, which was held for the third time this year.