At 2:45 a.m. Beijing time on June 19, the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League final kicked off, with Spain facing Croatia. In the first half, Spain had the advantage but failed to score; In the second half, Fati and Asensio wasted chances in the final moments. At the end of the 90 minutes, both sides failed to score and the game went into extra time. After 30 minutes of extra time, both sides were unable to score and the game came to a penalty shootout. In the penalty shootout, Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon saved two penalties and Carvajal scored the winning penalty. In the end, Spain beat Croatia 5-4 on penalties to win the UEFA Nations League for the first time.
In the semi-finals, Spain eliminated Italy 2-1, while Croatia beat the Netherlands 4-2 in extra time. In the three or four place finals played earlier, Italy and the Netherlands played a good match, and in the end, Italy finished third 3-2.
In the 10th minute, Alba's cross from the left side of the pitch was too close to the goalkeeper, but Livakovic's save was missed and Morata's shot was blocked by Livakovic, who was also offside. In the 12th minute, Garvey received a low right-footed shot from a return pass in front of the penalty area, and the ball deflected off the upright.
In the 21st minute, Spain hoisted the ball into the box, Garvey leaned over with a header, and the ball was suspected to hit Ivan Nušec's arm, but the referee did not award a penalty. In the 23rd minute, Spain pressed hard and Croatia counterattacked, Kramaric was given a solo chance, Laporte quickly chased back and cleared the ball from the line in the box.
In the 24th minute, Pasalic crossed from the right side of the pitch and Kramaric's tackle in the box was blocked by a defender, and Unai Simon confiscated the ball. In the 27th minute, Spain's 45-degree cross from the left flank was headed by Rodri in the box, and the ball was headed over Morata, who paid tribute to Lukaku and also became the "pestle king".
In the 31st minute, Modric's 45-degree cross from the right flank was headed by Perisic in the box, and Unai Simon saved the ball sideways. In the 39th minute, it was another cross from Modric and another header from Perisic, and Unai Simon held the ball again. In the 42nd minute, Alba crossed from the left side of the pitch and Morata's header from inside the box was deflected over the net. At the end of the first half, neither team scored.
In the 57th minute, Alba crossed from the left side of the field, and Asensio in the middle of the penalty area jumped high, headed slightly higher and the ball hit the top net.
In the 60th minute, Croatia's Perisic crossed from the left flank and Pasalic headed in at the back of the penalty area, and the ball hit the side-netting.
In the 65th minute, Rodri fired a long-range shot up front, the ball deflected off the upright. In the 74th minute, Livakovic scooped the ball out of the box, Fabian dangled the ball from outside the box, and the ball went slightly above the crossbar.
In the 78th minute, Spain's long-range shot was blocked by a defender, and Asensio in the box stopped the ball in the chest and turned again, and the ball deflected off the upright. In the 84th minute, Spain organized an attack on the left side of the front, Merino crossed, Fati in front of the small penalty area stopped the volley, and Perisic cleared the ball on the goal line.
In the 90th minute, Asensio had a chance to kill the game when he received a cross from Keylor Keylor Keylor Navas on the right side of the midfield, and his shot into the far corner on the right side of the penalty area was slightly deflected.
After 90 minutes, neither side scored and the game went into extra time. In the 99th minute, Mateo Kovacic sent in straight up front, Mayer had a solo chance, and Nacho put a tackle to break the ball.
In the 103rd minute, Asensio's shot bounced off the defender and Olmo added a shot high over the crossbar. In the 108th minute, Fathi's cross from the left side of the penalty area was stopped by Joselu in the middle and Olmo volleyed wide.
After 120 minutes, the two sides are still 0-0, and the winner of this edition of the UEFA Nations League will be decided by a penalty shoot-out. In the first three rounds, all penalties were hit by both sides.
In the fourth round, Croatia's Mayer's penalty was saved by Unai Simon, and Spain's Asensio scored the penalty.
In the fifth round, Croatia's Perisic hit a penalty kick and Spain's Laporta bounced off the crossbar.
In the sixth round, Croatia's Petkovic's penalty was saved by Unai Simon, and Spain's Carvajal won the penalty.
In the end, Spain defeated Croatia 5-4 on penalties to win the UEFA Nations League.