Spain beats Italy to set up UEFA Nations League final with Croatia

Joselu scored his third goal in his last three games for Spain in Thursday’s 2-1 over Italy to send the La Roja to the Nations League final on Sunday against Croatia at De Kuip in Rotterdam.

Both countries were looking to boost their status with the Nations League title after recent poor outings on the international scene. While Spain could only manage a quarter-final ouster in the hands of Morocco at the last World Cup in Qatar last December, Euro 2020 winners, Italy, couldn’t even qualify for the World Cup.

The game started with Italy going asleep at the back just four minutes into the game as Villarreal forward European Yeremi Pina stole the ball at the edge of the box and put it past Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. 

It took Italy just eight minutes to level after Robin Le Normand handled the ball in the box as Ciro Immobile scored the equalizer from the spot. Neither side could find the back of the net as the rest of the first half went with a series of half-chances and missed opportunities.

However, with Croatia waiting in the final, Spain scored the winner with two minutes left on the clock as Joselu scored the winner. The victory is revenge for Italy’s 2-1 win over Spain at Euro 2020, which saw the Italians go on to win the trophy against England at Wembley Stadium.

The clash between Croatia and Spain will be a repeat of the eight-goal thriller in the round of sixteen of Euro2020, where Spain went through after a 5-3 win after extra time.

Italy will now hope to make amends in the third-place match against hosts the Netherlands on Sunday in Enschede. Croatia will hope that they can finally win a trophy after finishing in the last four of the last two FIFA World Cups with the 2018 final loss to France succeeded by a third-place finish at Qatar 2020.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu