- Spain Lifts Trophy in Nations League
- Luka Modric’s Disappointment
- Spain’s Triumph and the Quest of the New Generation
It may be too early to say they’re back, but 11 years after they have crowned World and European champions and went unbeaten for four years and three tournaments, Spain lifted a trophy again, watched by the team that came so close but may never have another opportunity. The greatest generation Croatia has ever produced, a nation of only 3.8 million people and a team of extraordinary talent and strength, apparently unbreakable resilience, gave so much to football but received so little in return. Zlatko Dalic’s squad, which finished second at the 2018 World Cup and third in 2022, fell in the Nations League final on Sunday night.
Previously defeated by France and Argentina, Spain was now the victor. Just as they appeared to have done it again, navigating their way to their destination. This time, however, they escaped punishment. In the last 16 and quarterfinals of each of those World Cups, Croatia had won four penalty shootouts, but as they ventured into sudden death, Unai Simón saved Bruno Petkovic’s penalty kick and Dani Carvajal scored to give the trophy to Madrid.
While Spain celebrated, Luka Modric appeared defeated. His 166th and presumably final game for his country ended in a loss, and it was difficult not to feel as though something greater had been lost.
He ran to the very end, at age 37, and there was reason to be proud once more, but he could not cross the finish line. Yet again, for the eighth time in 11 knockout matches, one of the most legendary and seemingly invincible national teams in football had to play extra time. Six of the previous seven had resulted in their survival, but not this time, not even after Aymeric Laporte’s penalty strike hit the crossbar and gave them a lifeline.
Simón had saved Lovro Majer’s penalty, the first penalty miss by Croatia in their previous thirteen tournaments, allowing the Manchester City defender to triumph. When his shot collided with the goal’s frame, it felt a little like destiny. These extraordinary survivors were going to do it once more; these individuals, this group, were finally going to complete their quest. At De Kuip, however, as at Lusail and the Luzhniki Stadium, they were denied, and Spain won 5-4 on penalties thanks to a second outstanding save by Simón.
The national team triumphed. No, it is not a World Cup, nor is it a European Championship, and the Nations League may never win a “major” trophy, but it was significant. Spain had not won anything since 2012, and they were acutely aware that their greatest generation was all but gone – only Jess Navas and Jordi Alba remained from South Africa in 2010 and the Euros two years later, respectively.
Croatia knew this was possibly their last opportunity.
Their midfield trio alone, and what a midfield trio it is, had 345 international appearances before tonight. Ivan Perisic added 126 more points. After the night, he was still flying at the age of 33. Modric was four years older than him. Both men scored their penalties, but the medals they ultimately donned indicated that they were runners-up.
As they approached, there was an honor guard from Spain. There was acclaim from the crowd of patriotic citizens. “Spain will feel like they’re playing in Croatia,” insisted Dalic. There were more than 25,000 of them here chanting for Modric to remain, and there were pyrotechnics everywhere. However, the fact that Spain was the “away” team was irrelevant in the end. Alba, the unanticipated captain of the team, hoisted silver into the heavens.
It had taken some time, but an intermittently entertaining game had emerged from the haze. Despite Andrej Kramaric running through early, Simón scrambling to stop a Perisic header, and Josip Juranovic missing a wonderful opportunity at the start of the second half, the game was notably tense and drew seemingly inexorably to extra time. In the meantime, Marco Asensio approached the opposite end.
Luis de la Fuente stated that Spain would attempt to avoid the additional time, which Ansu Fati should have accomplished. With five minutes remaining, his drive from eight yards out was blocked by Perisic. Possibly, this was inevitable. Perhaps penalties were as well, with an additional 30 minutes providing opportunities but no breakthrough. Nacho’s incredible challenge prevented Lovro Majer from advancing. Dani Olmo’s strike missed the mark. And at the very end, Mateo Kovacic’s shot was deflected wide. This time, Spain received a dispatch for a gunfight.
