Spain were crowned UEFA Nations League champions after a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over Croatia on Sunday evening.
Martin Erlic was the sole change from Croatia’s extra-time victory over the Netherlands, with Marco Asensio and Fabian Ruiz installed as La Roja’s two changes.
Spain caused the early scare ten minutes in when a floated ball to the area wrong-footed goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who punched onto the post before Alvaro Morata spurned the follow-up.
The Spaniards were in again after two minutes as a stray pass from a build-up pattern granted Gavi the opportunity to take hold and unleash, but he narrowly shaved the near post.
However, the Croats pulled a response and nearly got ahead through a loose effort in the area by Mario Pasalic off a cutback but he missed out.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup finalist managed to launch another scare on the half-hour mark when a thumping header by Ivan Perisic forced Unai Simon to scramble to his near post and parry.
Croatia cut through La Roja once again two minutes after halftime as good play on the left by Perisic resulted in a pin-point ball for Josip Juranovic, but he fired way across target.
It became a tense set of affairs inside the closing stages before a belter of a strike way out by Rodri narrowly flashed beyond target, as Bruno Petkovic replaced Pasalic.
Spain continued to have the lion share of chances inside fulltime and could’ve gone ahead through a snap shot by Ansu Fati, but Perisic cleared off the line.
With the deadlock difficult to come, the two teams battled on but were fortunately not able to get an opening and it went to extra-time.
Both teams got chances to get the winner during the course of additional periods, but once more failed to find target and a penalty shoot-out set in.
Spain goalkeeper Simon was the hero in the shoot-out when he produced two saves and saw Dani Carvajal net the decisive kick to land his team the Nations League.
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