UEFA Nations League Winners: Spain Takes it All
Spain has done it! Spain is the UEFA Nations League Winners after they beat Croatia in a penalty shootout to win the match. The UEFA Nations League final match finished 0-0 after extra time.
Unai Simon made two saves in the shootout, denying Lovro Majer and Bruno Petkovic before Dani Carvajal sealed the win with a Panenka penalty.
This is UEFA Nations League winners First Nations League title, and they join France and Portugal as the only winners thus far. This also marks Spain’s first major victory since the 2012 Euros.
Spain will get the chance to defend their UEFA Nations League winner’s medals in two years when the UEFA Nations League schedule gets released.
UEFA Nations League Winners PK Shootout
Carvajal scored the winning penalty as Spain was crowned UEFA Nations League winners for the first time with a 5-4 shootout victory over Croatia.
The game at Feyenoord’s De Kuip finished 0-0 after 90 minutes, and after nothing could separate the sides in extra time, the contest was decided on spot kicks.
Spain was allowed to win the final inside five penalties after Unai Simon saved Lovro Majer’s effort. However, Aymeric Laporte sent his potential match-winning penalty against the bar to send the shootout to sudden death.
Simon provided more heroics between the sticks for Spain as he denied Bruno Petkovic, leaving Carvajal to seal the victory in style with a Panenka penalty.
The Spanish UEFA Nations League winners left large portions of the De Kuip Stadium in stunned silence, with the Rotterdam facility filled with Croatian supporters hoping to see their team finally win their first trophy after coming so close so many times before.
The victory sees manager Luis de la Fuente lift silverware in just his fourth match in charge. The 61-year-old succeeded Luis Enrique after the 2022 World Cup.
What’s next for Spain?
After winning the World Cup and two Euros in the past 15 years, the UEFA Nations League winners trophy doesn’t mean as much to Spain as it would to Croatia, but Carvajal’s winning penalty still sparked wild celebrations.
The last-16 exit to Morocco in Qatar was disappointing, but the signs are there that new boss Luis de la Fuente, who took over from Luis Enrique after the World Cup, can lead Spain into another triumphant era.
In Gavi and Pedri, the UEFA Nations League winners have two of the best young midfielders in the world. Meanwhile, Rodri, fresh from his treble triumph with Manchester City, was outstanding in Spain’s two games in the Netherlands. He barely missed a game for City last season and scored the winner in the Champions League final against Inter Milan, but he still had enough energy to put in a man-of-the-match performance against Croatia.
The ingredients are there for Spain to build on their UEFA Nations League winners success when they get to the Euros next year. They can also expect to rise in the national league rankings here soon.
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