Spain seeks glory against combative Croatia
Luis de La Fuente’s men want to be crowned League of Nations champions eleven years after lifting their last title
MADRID, 17 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish soccer team faces this Sunday at the legendary De Kuip (8:45 p.m. / La 1) its second consecutive final of the League of Nations with the aim of raising its first title in eleven years, all against a combative Croatia that seeks the prize for the best generation in its history, with Luka Modric as the leader.
Only Jordi Alba and Jesús Navas ‘survive’ the last great success of ‘la Roja’, Eurocopa de Poland and Ukraine 2012, and since then all attempts to assault glory have been in vain. They touched it, still with Luis Enrique in front, precisely in the 2020-21 Nations League final in Milan, but a goal from Kylian Mbappé in the final minutes frustrated Spanish hopes (1-2).
Since that October 10, 2021, 20 months have passed and a disappointing World Cup in Qatar, but Spain has returned to its appointment – it is the only team that has managed to advance to the final of the competition twice in the three editions played – to try to take the scepter from the French team.
Before, at the beginning of the Final Four, he had to get rid of Italy in the semifinals on Thursday (2-1), before which he took the lead with a goal from Yeremy Pino and, after Ciro Immobile’s equalizer from the penalty spot, finished off with a superb second half and a saving goal from Joselu in the 88th minute.
Now, Luis de la Fuente, a key man in the RFEF and for the successes of the lower categories, will have before him the opportunity to revive old laurels for the national team and claim as a coach in the spotlight. Only José Villalonga (Euro 1964), Luis Aragonés (Euro 2008) and Vicente del Bosque (World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012) have won trophies for Spain and the coach from La Rioja can join that select club this Sunday.
“Those that give recognition are the titles, but I am a romantic and I think that the important thing is the work prior to achieving the titles. The title is the varnish,” De la Fuente said at a press conference, warning that his players they are “in the best moment of the season”. “I have seen the team very strong and able to hold an extra time and another game the next day if necessary,” he said.
The Spanish coach clings to key men like Rodri Hernández, Manchester City hero and “the best midfielder in the world”, or Gavi, who has played every game with ‘la Roja’ since that Final Four in Milan. The realist Mikel Merino, another of De la Fuente’s ‘praetorians’, will also form in midfield.
He also doesn’t plan changes to the defensive line. Robin Le Normand and Aymeric Laporte will continue in the center of the rear ahead of Unai Simón, while Dani Carvajal and Jordi Alba could repeat on the wings.
Above, with Marco Asensio immovable, Dani Olmo, with a Croatian past due to his stay at Dinamo Zagreb and recovered from the inconvenience that prevented him from playing against the ‘Azzurra’, and Álvaro Morata could complete the trident, although Joselu, who has accumulated three goals, could snatch the place from the athletic striker.
Opposite, Croatia is looking for a long-awaited title with which to crown the best generation in its history, which was left without a prize in the 2018 World Cup final in Russia and finished third in Qatar 2022. Now, in Rotterdam, it hopes to take revenge on a national team who defeated them in their last face-to-face, in the round of 16 of Euro 2020, with victory for Luis Enrique’s men in extra time (3-5).
Precisely, the extra time gave victory to Zlatko Dalic’s team last Wednesday in the semifinals against the Netherlands (2-4) after 2-2 after 90 minutes; goals by Bruno Petkovic, in the 98th minute, and by Luka Modric, in the 116th, gave them a place in the grand final.
The incombustible 37-year-old Madrid midfielder, accompanied by Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic, will lead a team that will bring powder to the Spanish area with Mario Pasalic, Andrej Kramaric and Luka Ivanusec.
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Preview statistics Croatia vs Spain (UEFA Nations League Final): https://www.epdata.es/preview-statistics-croatia-vs-espana-…
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
CROACIA: Livakovic; Juranovic, Sutalo, Vida, Perisic; Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric e Ivanusec.
SPAIN: Unai Simón; Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho, Jordi Alba; Rodri, Merino, Gavi; Asensio, Olmo and Morata.
–REFEREE: Felix Zwayer (ALE).
— STADIUM: Stadium Feijenoord ‘De Kuip’ in Rotterdam.
–TIME: 8:45 p.m./1:00 a.m.