Croatia - Spain
Europe - UEFA Nation League, Final
Croatia Analysis: Croatia had a remarkable performance in the semi-finals, defeating the Netherlands 4-2 in extra time in Rotterdam. They fell behind in the first half, conceding a goal (34'). However, they significantly improved in the second half and completed a comeback with goals from Kramaric (55' pen.) and Pasalic (72') to equalize in the 90+6th minute. The match intensified in extra time, as Croatia took the lead again with Petkovic (98'). The Netherlands missed a crucial chance to level the score in the 110th minute, and Modric secured the victory with a penalty (116'). With this win, the "golden" generation of Croatian football, who finished third in the World Cup twice (1998, 2022) and were runners-up once (2018), now has a chance to finally lift a trophy. "There is no clear favorite in the match. We gave our all during the 120 minutes in the semi-finals, and we are ready for more if needed. I have faith in all the players on the bench," said coach Zlatko Dalic, who has been in charge of the Croatian national team since 2017. More than 25,000 Croatian fans will be present in the stands.
Team news: The major loss for Croatia is their key central defender, Guardiol (Leipzig), who has been sidelined due to injury. Kalinic (T, Hajduk), Sucic (M, Salzburg), Chaleta-Czar (A, Southampton), Brekalo (E, Fiorentina), Orsic (E, Southampton), and Livaja (E, Hajduk) are also unavailable. However, there are no new issues for Dalic to address.
Spain Analysis: Spain secured their place in the final with a 2-1 victory over Italy. They took the lead in the 3rd minute, with Pino capitalizing on a defensive mistake, but Italy equalized from the penalty spot in the 11th minute through Pino. Both teams had opportunities throughout the match, with Spain missing chances in the 48th and 52nd minutes, while Italy had a goal disallowed in the 21st minute and a clear chance in the 65th minute. Spain ultimately clinched the win in the 88th minute with a goal from Joselou, exploiting another defensive lapse by Italy. Coach Luis de la Fuente, who took over from Luis Enrique after the World Cup, has garnered praise, and it's worth noting that he has won two European titles with Spain's U19 and U21 teams. This is Spain's second consecutive qualification for the Nations League final, with their previous appearance resulting in a 2-1 defeat to France in a surprising upset. The last time Spain faced Croatia was in the Euro 2021 Round of 16, where they advanced with a 5-3 victory in extra time (3-3 in regular time).
Team news: Balde (A, Barcelona), Pedri (M, Barcelona), Borja Iglesias (E, Betis), Oyartambal (E, Sociedad), and Hill (E, Sevilla) are unavailable for this set of matches. Bernat (A, Paris Saint-Germain), David Garcia (A, Osasuna), and Nico Williams (W, Bilbao) have been ruled out due to injuries, while Fran Garcia (A, Vallecano) and Le Normand (A, Sociedad) featured in the starting lineup. Olmo (ME) has recovered and is available.
Croatia will prove to be a tough opponent, as their players have a unique opportunity to claim a well-deserved trophy led by Modric