SPAIN had to win tonight to access automatically into the final 4 stage of the UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE Top 4 Finals but complicated their chances, & negatively, after being defeated 3 - 2 by CROATIA in Zagreb.
Spain now has to sit & wait for the outcome of the England - Croatia clash to see if they continue on, a victory by England or Croatia with give them respectively the ticket through to the Top 4 Finals
Spain now has to sit & wait for the outcome of the England - Croatia clash to see if they continue on, a victory by England or Croatia with give them respectively the ticket through to the Top 4 Finals
Spain started with the following starting 11 team as the above & below photo highlights.
The Croatians in front of their home crowd were nothing like the team which Spain defeat by 6 goals in the 1ºst game. While Spain attempted to play its traditional touch ball & dominating Football, Croatia was lead by a midfield Master in the name of Modric, was rapid & very vertical. Spain was on the back foot from the kick-off & Croatia did not mind later to wait & defend. Spanish goalkeeper DE GEA made a save on the right post from a Persic shot worth a mention.
Spain slowly crawled back into action towards the last 15 mins of the 1ºst half & created some goal chances but kept smashing into the Croatian wall.
The 2º half was spectacular & hats must be taken off to both sides. Spain lifted in their play & Croatia waited for errors to occur to then counter-attack. Plus Spain in their need to score & find a victory tonight left spaces in their defence that were exploited by Croatia to score their goals. All the goals occurred in the 2º half :
1 - 0 (54') Andrej Kramaric
1 - 1 (56') Dani Ceballos
2 - 1 (69') Tin Jedvaj
2 - 2 (78'pen.) Sergio Ramos
3 - 2 (93') Tin Jedvaj
...including a penalty to Spain that evened things. But in the last moment Croatia got the winner.
It was end to end & see-saw as Spain attacked, hit the post (Aspas) & missed some clear goal opportunities. But Croatia with speed & very direct attack which found spaces & depth managing to comeback & score in the crucial moments.
Lastly both goalkeepers deserve a mention, Kalinic for Croatia for his important interventions & De Gea who deviated an almost certain goal from Rebic in latter part of the 2º half.
Looked at the match globally Croatia deserved their victory & managed to win back some lost pride. Spain will be disappointed as they again fell into their own "control Football trap" (need to be more direct) & again missed some very clear opportunities. Some Spanish names could have given something more; Saul, Rodrigo, Morata (when on)... but you can't have it all every time.
FINAL RESULT : CROATIA 3 - SPAIN 2
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