Spain won the fifth title in its history, 11 years after the Euro Cup in Poland and Ukraine, in dramatic fashion. Twelve penalties had to be taken until Carvajal, à la Panenka, gave victory after a goalless draw against Croatia.
Luis de la Fuente this time forgot about revolutions and only made two changes in the eleven. Asensio entered for the injured Rodrigo Moreno and Fabián for Mikel Merino in the core An eleven with which to maintain the automatisms seen against Italy and offer greater consistency.
Some objectives that the Spanish team met, which soon took control. The first goal could have come unintentionally in a center by Fabián that Livakovic resolved poorly and the ball went to the post. Morata did not reach the subsequent rejectioneven though he was offside.
Gavi’s claw
Spain had a few moments of spark in their pressure and Gavi, couldn’t be another, recovered a ball and shot from the edge, leaving the ball licking the post with Livakovic making the statue.
La Roja pressed as a block, with a very good attitude, as was seen with a foul by Yéremi to cut off a dangerous counter. Of course, Croatia has a lot of trade and was looking for any loophole to do damage.
Laporte’s speed prevented a one-on-one from Kramaric against Unai Simón, although the point was offside. Le Normand did the same shortly after against Palisic. The centrals were fast and attentive.
Rodri, the necessary stopper
Another Croatian resource was the crosses to the far post where Perisic was more powerful than Jesús Navas, although his headers were easily saved by the Spanish goalkeeper. Rodri was key in assisting Navas and came out whenever he needed it to cover the dangerous lane.
The flashes of the Balkans went out with the football control of Spain, who was looking for his moment to percussion. The team was patient and a great opportunity came before the break with an incursion by Jordi Alba and a cross that was headed high by Morata.
After the break, the script continued in the same direction. Spain with the ball and Croatia lashing out. Perisic left Jesús Navas again, who suffered a lotand his center was finished off very poorly by Juranovic.
Perisic and Alba, very offensive
After the break, the script continued in the same direction. Spain with the ball and Croatia lashing out. Perisic left Jesús Navas again, who suffered a lotand his center was finished off very poorly by Juranovic.
Jordi Alba was the resource by the opposite Spanish side. The captain took the motorcycle again and from the bottom line put a ballon d’or for Asensiobut he was not successful in his shot with the head.
History repeated itself on the opposite side. Perisic continued to destroy Jesús Navas and this time it was Pasalic, who was unsuccessful thanks to the opposition of Jordi Alba. De la Fuente had to react and decided to do it from the front. Joselu and Ansu Fati came on for Yéremi and Morata just after Rodri tried a cannon shot from the front.
Ansu chance
It was difficult for Ansu to get into play, but the first time he broke, he forced Livakovic to come out at his feet and Fabián, with little angle, tried to surprise the rival goalkeeper. The selection returned to generate danger in another play started by Ansu and that Marco Asensio culminated with a deflected cross shot.
The fatigue of the parties was accusing and Nacho had to leave through Le Normand, while a tired Fabian left his post to Mikel Merino. The presence of Ansu Fati was noticed even more when he picked up a ball in the area, he passed the goalkeeper and Perisic avoided the goal on the same line.
An exhausted Gavi and with a yellow card left his position to an applauded Dani Olmo by the Croatian fans after passing through Dinamo Zagreb. Spain had it at the last minute in a bounced pass from Navas for Asensio who crossed excessively again.
Related news
The match went to extra time. Carvajal had to enter through Navas and Nacho barely saved a goal from Majer. Olmo did not hit two replicas nor tamoco Croatia and the penalties arrived
penalty shootout
Vlasic, Brozovic and Modric scoredwhich they launched first, for Croatia. Unai stopped Majer and Perisic scored the fifth. For Spain they scored Joselu, Rodri, Merino, Asensio and Laporte the one who would have given the victory failed. However, Unai stopped the sixth Croatian to Petkovic and Carvajal, from penenka, gave glory.