37-year-old Modric hates again! Croatia fell to the penalty shootout UEFA Nations League + World Cup double runner-up

In the early morning of June 19, Beijing time, the UEFA Nations League final was played between Spain and Croatia. In terms of total value, Spain has a team of 1.02 billion, while Croatia has only 380 million. However, in the latest FIFA rankings, Croatia, with a total population of 4.06 million, ranked seventh, and Spain ranked 10th.

Coincidentally, in the World Cup, both teams were eliminated by Morocco. It's just that Spain stopped outside the quarter-finals, while Croatia were kept out of the quarter-finals.

In fact, in addition to the UEFA Nations League final, Spain's recent situation is not good, losing to Japan in the World Cup group stage and losing 0-2 away to Scotland in the European Cup qualifiers, Spain's performance is difficult to satisfy fans.

Croatia's recent matches have been more draws, and in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League, Croatia also drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in regular time and advanced 4-2 through extra time.

After the opening, as in most finals, the scene was rather dull. Both teams showed skill, but more possession was in their own half, and fans booed to express their displeasure.

In the 10th minute, Croatia came close to conceding the goal when Livakovic made a low-level mistake in the face of Pino's unthreatening cross, and Morata's follow-up shot was blown offside.

Three minutes later, the Croatian back line had another problem, and was tackled by Spain, under the defense of three men, Garvey suddenly got up, the ball came out of the slit, Livakovic did not react, the ball unfortunately deflected.

Successive defensive errors sounded the alarm for Croatia, with more conservative passes between players and a return to flattening. After stabilizing its position, Croatia also has a great opportunity.

In the 23rd minute, with a simple long pass, Kramaric formed a solo chance, Laporte stabbed diagonally and made a precise tackle to defuse the danger.

In the 26th minute, Spain's wide cross threatened, and Rodri's header caught Morata's head off guard and produced a parabola, and the ball almost hoisted into the goal.

Croatia's attack also pursues a delicate one, in the 29th minute, Modric was fouled and quickly sent a free kick, Perisic's header went straight to the dead corner, and Simon made a wonderful save.

In the last 15 minutes of the first half, the two teams played slower and slower, making people drowsy.

After the start of the second half, Croatia took the initiative to speed up the pace, and in the 49th minute, Perisic crossed, Simon jumped high and could not touch the ball, and Yuranovic followed up with a shot at the back point, which was a bit outrageous.

In the following matches, both teams played relatively lacklusterly, with the exception of Fathi's shot that was cleared by Perisic's goal line, neither team had much chance.

In the 89th minute, receiving a wonderful pass from Keylor Navas, Asensio shot directly from a small angle, and the ball was deflected.

There were no surprises, and in the 90th minute, the two teams exchanged white rolls 0-0, and the game went into extra time. In extra time, Spain had an absolute advantage, and Croatia only had the ability to parry, not to fight back.

In the 107th minute, substitute Olmo opened his bow and his shot hit the defender.

For the rest of extra time, neither team had much chance and a penalty shootout was inevitable.

In the first three rounds, both teams hit accurately, and in the fourth round of the penalty shootout, Mayer's shot was blocked by Simon's foot.

In the fifth round, the match would be over as soon as Laporte hit, but Laporte's shot hit the crossbar.

In the sixth round, it entered a 1v1 matchup, and Petkovic's shot was also denied by Simon.

Carvajal scored a spoonful penalty. In the end, Spain won the UEFA Nations League by beating Croatia 5-4 on penalties, the fifth international title in Spain's history, and they became the second team after France to win the European Cup, UEFA Nations League and World Cup.

On the other hand, the 37-year-old Modric is quite regretful, he and Croatia have won the World Cup runners-up, and now they are only one step away from the European title!