Thanks to a penalty goal by Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric, Croatia has qualified for the final of the Nations League and can dream of its first major international title. The top scorer scored from the spot in the 55th minute on Wednesday and started a 4-2 (2-2, 0-1) victory over the Netherlands in Rotterdam after extra time.
However, his team-mates Bruno Petkovic (98th) and Real star Luka Modric (117th / penalty kick) scored the decisive goals. The hosts took the lead in the 34th minute through Donyell Malen from Dortmund. After equalizing with a penalty kick, the game tipped over. Mario Pasalic scored the second goal for Croatia (72′), before Noa Lang (90’+6) saved Oranje into extra time.
Croatia, vice world champions from 2018, will now meet the winner of the second semi-final between Spain and European champions Italy in the final on Sunday (8.45 p.m. / RTL and DAZN) in Rotterdam. The two former world champions will compete against each other in Enschede on Thursday (8.45 p.m. / RTL and DAZN).
50,000 spectators in the sold-out Stadion de Kuip experienced a first half in which both teams avoided the last risk. Malen’s fifth international goal, which left the Croatian defender unsorted, was the only clear scoring opportunity in the first 45 minutes.
And so Bond coach Ronald Koeman thoughtfully scratched his head despite the lead at half-time. When the European Championship triumphed in Germany in 1988, the now 60-year-old was still on the pitch himself.
Even after the restart, the players noticed that they were at the end of a long season. Only after the 1:1 equalization did the actions become more purposeful and the duels harder. Croatia got more and more upper water – but the Dutch came back again.
After the third goal for Croatia, the resistance of the hosts flagged. With the bigger physique, Croatia brought the hard-fought victory over time.