Nations League final: Spain beat Croatia on penalties

1. FT: Croatia 0-0 Spain - Spain win 5-4 on penalties
2. Spain beat Italy in the last four thanks to a late Joselu winner
3. Croatia defeated hosts Netherlands 4-2 after extra time in thrilling semi-final
4. Earlier, Italy beat Netherlands 3-2 in third-place play-off

KICK-OFF

The second half is under way.

Croatia have failed to score a first-half goal in six of their eight games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Nations League this season.

Spain didn't have a shot on target all half. Croatia had three.

It's not been a bad watch to be honest, Croatia should have made at least one of their counter-attacks count.

But looking back at that early Gavi chance, the teenager was inches away. He stole the ball from a defender and had the keeper beaten.

Can you imagine, having seen nine goals in the semi-finals and five in the third place play-off, if this one finished 0-0 after 120 minutes?

HALF-TIME

No added time and that's the first half done.

Erm.

Spain take it short and then two passes later it's miscontrolled and out for a goal kick.

Dangerous. Croatia give away a needless free-kick on the edge of the box.

Now it's Spain's turn to come forward as Alvaro Morata peels off his marker and meets a cross at the near post.

Sadly for Spain his header pings skywards and off target.

I have no allegiances to declare, no Spanish or Croatian relatives that I know of.

But I would love to see Croatia score a goal tonight. This stadium, full of Croatian fans, would go wild. It's a cracking atmosphere already.

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They just keep coming. Another save for Unai Simon as Ivan Perisic heads Luka Modric's cross straight at the stopper.

CLOSE!

Croatia's best chance. Marcelo Brozovic goes clear down the right. The angle is against him so he cuts back inside before spinning away from Gavi, almost leaving the Barcelona man on the floor with his feint.

He lifts his head and drills a cross across the face of goal but nobody is able to stick out a toe and tap home.

Spain play it smart. Keeping the ball for a full two minutes to stem Croatia's momentum.

Croatia have wrestled control. There's this great big hole down the left every time they break and Ivan Perisic has an age to whip in the right cross.

Sadly for the Spurs man his latest is a whisker too high for Mario Pasalic at the back post. Spain are playing some very risky stuff.

Another Croatia chance as Unai Simon dives to keep out an Ivan Perisic header.

It's never troubling the keeper but it's another mini warning sign.

It's not been a classic first 30. It's not been terrible by any stretch either.

Croatia are very comfortable out of possession and that's really frustrating favourites Spain.

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One pass over the top, it seems like that's all it takes to get an opportunity against this Spain side.

This time a through-ball to Mario Pasalic is just over hit and Spain keeper Unai Simon is able to get there first and clear downfield.

A very tense, open game is developing. Spain's Jordi Alba heads a wide free-kick over the bar.

All Croatia now, as this game bursts into life. Kramaric slides to meet a cross from the right but can't make a solid connection inside the six-yard box.

Croatia's best chance as Spain's high line is exposed with a ball over the top for Andrej Kramaric.

Just for a moment he looks to be in, but it just never sits properly for the forward and Spain defender Aymeric Laporte makes a brilliant recovery challenge.