Defeating Italy with a score of 2-1, Spain secures their second consecutive entry into the UEFA Nations League final. Croatia stands before them, a team hungry for their first major title. It is a final that recalls the thrilling back-and-forth encounter in the Round of 16 at EURO 2020.
Similar to Croatia, Spain is also in a drought for titles. The Spanish national team has not won any championship in the past 11 years since their triumph in EURO 2012. The current generation, following in the footsteps of legends like Xavi, Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets, is struggling to reclaim the dominance they held a decade ago.
Spain reached the UEFA Nations League final in 2021, but it was a bitter defeat against France. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Luis Enrique's team before their opponents staged a remarkable comeback. Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe shone, crushing Spain's dream of victory.
Just a few months earlier, Spain suffered a painful exit in the EURO 2020 semi-finals (held in June 2021). Luis Enrique's team outplayed Italy but ultimately fell in the penalty shootout. It was a tournament that witnessed one of the most dramatic comebacks in history between Spain and Croatia. In the Round of 16 match, Spain led 3-1 until the 85th minute when Croatia equalized 3-3 in the closing minutes. However, in extra time, Alvaro Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals, securing a thrilling 5-3 victory for Spain.
Two years after that crazy match, Spain and Croatia meet again in the UEFA Nations League 2023 final. Leading La Roja this time is Luis de la Fuente, replacing Luis Enrique. While Luis Enrique's Spain played an extreme style of football with the philosophy of "all-out attack, all-out defense," De la Fuente's team is more balanced and pragmatic.
That was the approach that helped Spain overcome Italy in the semi-finals. They didn't create many chances but made the most of Joselu's decisive goal in the 88th minute. This was De la Fuente's third match since taking charge in December last year. Spain won against Norway (3-0), lost to Scotland (0-2) in the EURO 2024 qualifiers, and defeated Italy in the UEFA Nations League 2023 semi-finals. De la Fuente still has much to do with a rejuvenating squad.
On the other hand, Spain's opponent in the final, Croatia, has enjoyed stability over the years. They possess a strong and experienced squad consisting of players like Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Perisic, and Andrej Kramaric. Croatia's resilience is evident in how they overcame obstacles to reach the final.
Croatia had a poor start in the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 group stage with a 0-3 defeat against Austria and a 1-1 draw against France. However, Zlatko Dalic's team bounced back and won four consecutive matches to secure a spot in the finals. In the semi-finals, they fell behind against the Netherlands and were equalized 2-2 in injury time. However, in the second half of extra time, Luka Modric stepped up with a decisive goal, securing a dramatic 4-2 victory.
This is the second time Croatia has reached the final of a major tournament after their defeat to France in the 2018 World Cup final. In the 2022 World Cup, Luka Modric and his teammates left an impressive mark, reaching the semi-finals but falling to Argentina, who later became champions.
The perseverance of Croatia's golden generation is admirable. However, Zlatko Dalic and his players understand that this is their last chance to win their first major title. Luka Modric and his teammates deserve a trophy after leaving a strong impression on the international stage over the years.
But Croatia will face a youthful Spanish side. It will be a mini El Clasico in the midfield between the experienced veteran Luka Modric and the talented young Gavi, who has been performing exceptionally well in this tournament. On Sunday night, Rotterdam will witness whether Croatia lifts their first title or Spain regains glory after 11 years of longing.
Spain holds the advantage in their head-to-head record. In their nine encounters across all competitions (including friendlies), Spain has the upper hand with 5 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses. Their first meeting was a friendly match in March 1994, with Croatia winning 2-0. The most recent clash was two years ago when Spain defeated Croatia 5-3 in the EURO 2020 Round of 16. After nine matches, Spain has scored 20 goals against Croatia and conceded 12 goals.
