UEFA Nations League 2019

Group A4

Croatia 3 - Spain 2

Croatia: Kalinic; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Jedvaj; Modric, Brozovic, Rakitic (Vlasic 66’); Rebic (Brekalo 72’), Kramaric (Pjaca 89’), Perisic. 4-3-3.
Spain: De Gea; Sergi Roberto (Azpilicueta ‘),Sergio Ramos, Iñigo Martínez, Jordi Alba; Saúl Ñíguez (Suso 73’), Busquets, Dani Ceballos; Rodrigo (Morata 63’), Iago Aspas (Marco Asensio 60‘), Isco. 4-3-3.

Goals:
1-0. 53. Kramaric. Ran on to beat De Gea after Perisic intercepted Roberto pass.
1-1. 55. Ceballos. Connected with return Isco pass and fired shot past Kalinic.
1-2. 68. Jedvaj. Got free of markers to head long Modric cross inside far post.
2-2. 77. Sergio Ramos (penalty). After Vrsaljko handled the ball inside the area.
3-2. 93. Jedvaj. Turned ball back past De Gea after keeper saved from Brekalo.

Yellow cards: Rebic 69’, Busquets 88’, Perisic 88’, Ceballos 88’.

Spain lost their last group match against Croatia, and they now need England and Croatia to draw on Sunday for them to qualify for next summer’s finals. Despite scoring six against the East Europeans in the first leg, a defeat against England meant that they had to win this match to be sure of finishing top of the group. However De Gea had to push an early effort from Persisic on to the post, and Kalinic was not troubled until he tipped a long shot from Isco over the bar before the break. Some ten minutes into the second half Kramaric opened the scoring for the hosts after a poor clearance from Sergi Roberto was intercepted, and although Dani Ceballos combined with Isco to make it all square just two minutes later, Jedvaj headed in a Modric cross to restore the lead soon afterwards. Rebic and Morata both missed good chances before Sergio Ramos levelled it again from the penalty spot after Vrsaljko handled in the area, but with the game in time added on Jedvaj got the winner after De Gea could only push out a shot from Berkalo. The result means that any of the three teams could finish top of the group, and the only thing for sure is that Spain won’t finish last.