Croatia-Spain is the final of the 2022-23 Nations League Final Four and is scheduled for Sunday at 20:45: free-to-air TV, formations, predictions
Croatia or Spain: Whichever direction the Nations League cup takes, a different name will appear in the roll of honour of this young event conceived by Uefa five years ago after Portugal and France. For the red and white chequered national team, which never ceases to amaze, it would be the first ever title in its (short) history.
La Roja, on the other hand, is aiming to lift a trophy that has been missing since 2012, the year that witnessed the swan song of an unrepeatable generation. The Croatian cycle, on the other hand, has no intention of ending: adjectives to describe the exploits of Zlatko Dalic’s selection are becoming scarce. A country of not even four million inhabitants that in the space of five years has reached a World Cup final, a third place at the last World Championships and that now risks climbing the highest step of the podium of an event certainly less important than the others, but that would be the right prize for Modric and his companions. Croatia, as usual on the tip of their toes, took out the Netherlands, organisers of the Final Four, in the semi-finals at the end of a pyrotechnic 4-2. It took extra time to decide the contest: Kramaric and Pasalic overturned Malen’s early goal in the second half, were caught by Lang’s goal in the second half and then went on to score in extra time, thus avoiding penalties. First former Bologna man Petkovic and then the infinite Modric allowed Croatia to secure their pass to the last act of the continental competition.
Second consecutive final for Spain
Croatia have not lost since their World Cup semi-final against Argentina last December, when they extinguished their dream of playing in a second consecutive final. Since then the Balkan selection has had three wins and a draw, between the final for third and fourth place in Qatar, the Nations League and the 2024 European Championship qualifiers (draw with Wales and success in Turkey).
The Spanish players’ jubilation
It will not be easy to get the better of a qualitatively strong and assorted national team like Spain, who are trying to start a new cycle after the Qatari flop – they were eliminated by Morocco in the round of 16 – and the farewell of Luis Enrique. The era of Luis de la Fuente, the former coach of the Under-21 team who took Lucho’s place, could be immediately wet with a title: against Italy, in the other semi-final, the Roja made a good impression, even if the two goals by Yeremy Pino and Joselu (2-1) originated from two defensive botches by the Azzurri, who fell drastically in the second half after finding the equaliser on a penalty kick. Greater concreteness at goal will be needed against a Croatia that will not remain passive for an entire half of the game like Mancini’s national team. Two wins and one defeat is de la Fuente’s tally since taking charge of the Red Furies: the success against Italy erases the poor showing he made last March in Scotland (2-0). For Spain it is the second Nations League final in a row after losing to France in 2021 at the San Siro: the French side prevailed 2-1 in the last act in Milan.
The latest line-up news
No changes are expected in Croatia’s line-up, which is expected to field the same eleven that faced the Netherlands last Wednesday. Up front it will be Pasalic and Ivanusec supporting Kramaric, while we will see Perisic at full-back in the four-man defence, which also includes Juranovic, Sutalo and Vida.
Little will also change for de la Fuente, whose main doubts are in attack. Gavi and Pino are certain to start, while Rodrigo is in the running against Asensio. Ansu Fati will also come off the bench. On the flanks, there will be space for the experienced Navas and Jordi Alba, while in midfield, Rodri, who was the absolute protagonist against Italy as well, cannot be ignored.
The prediction
Spain shone for only one half against Italy, thanks to the Azzurri’s excessively reluctant attitude, who let themselves be crushed in their own half of the field. The feeling is that Croatia will give them a harder time, in a match that is perhaps more balanced than the bookmakers’ odds suggest. In short, it cannot be ruled out that the regulations will end in a draw. In recent matches between these two teams, there has been no shortage of goals: both should score at least one in the 90 minutes.
Croatia v Spain: likely line-ups
- CROATIA (4-3-2-1): Livakovic; Juranovic, Sutalo, Vida, Perisic; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Ivanusec; Kramaric.
- SPAGNA (4-3-3): Unai Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho, Jordi Alba; Merino, Rodri; Asensio, Gavi, Ansu Fati; Morata.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
