Spain have won the UEFA Nations League

Spain have crowned themselves as UEFA Nations League champions after they defeated Croatia through penalties last Sunday. It was a momentous occasion for Spain as they have won a trophy once again after the 2012 Euros against Italy, which was the last peak of the Barcelona-led generation in Spanish football.

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Despite ending 0-0 after 120 minutes, it was a very interesting match. Both sides had clear opportunities, with their goalkeepers having to save the day, and there was an element of excitement that had been missing from the competition in several instances. Considering how both teams could use this trophy to boost their respective projects was probably a motivation for that.

The match started to get interesting when Spain did a quick transition in the 12^th minute after stealing possession, but Gavi’s shot was too wide. Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric had a similar chance in the 23^rd minute but it was stopped by Spain center-back Aymeric Laporte at the last moment.

Perhaps one of the biggest moments in the final was when Ansu Fati entered in the 84^th minute. Manchester City midfielder Rodri, recent goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League final, set up the Barcelona man with a clear shot but Ivan Perisic made a last-ditch tackle to clear the shot, which added to the dramatics of the match at the time.

Extra time arrived and Spanish defender Nacho also had to do a last-ditch tackle to save a shot from Majer. Dani Olmo had a similar chance for the Spanish side but blew away when taking his shot.

In the final moments of extra time, it seemed that Spain had a little more left in the tank as Dani Olmo and Rodri had some chances to get the upper hand but ultimately it was to no avail. The game went to penalties.

The hero of the match would end up being Unai Simon for Spain. The Athletic Bilbao keeper was paramount for the team’s success in the penalty shootouts as he saved two shots from Bruno Petkovic and Lovro Majer. This would prove to be the decisive factor in this equation for Spain to be crowned champions of the 2023 version of the UEFA Nations League.

While the UEFA Nations League might not be viewed as a very significant trophy, with some players such as Kevin De Bruyne or Frenkie De Jong mentioning how little interest they have in the competition, this is a step in the right direction for Spain. Winning a trophy is a boost of confidence for many of the players in this squad, including new manager Luis de la Fuente, who is now starting on the right foot in his tenure.

On the other hand, it is another moment of heartbreak for Croatia. The generation of players such as Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric has taken the national team to far new heights but hasn’t been able to win a trophy for their country. However, reaching a World Cup final in 2018, a semifinal in 2022, and a Nations League final in 2023 is something this group of players should be very proud of.

Lifting the trophy 🏆🇪🇸@SEFutbol | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/94suZF4KET

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 20, 2023