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

We have some drama as Yeremy Pino stops a Croatia counter with a cynical foul.

He escapes a yellow, but only just. Reckon that's his final warning.

Alvaro Morata wins a corner for Spain but it's headed away.

Spain pass the ball all the way to edge of the Croatia box, and then pass it right back to the halfway line.

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Croatia have a rare attack, but defender Aymeric Laporte easily clears a cross.

Croatia should be behind. They haven't got going at all yet.

CLOSE!

All Spain now as teenager Gavi collects the ball on the edge of the area and tries to pass it into the corner.

He drags his shot wide, but only just. Keeper didn't have a chance.

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CLOSE!

Oooh! Chance for Spain.

PSG's Fabian Ruiz whips in a very routine cross but Croatian keeper Dominik Livakovic make a right meal of it, spilling the ball on to the post.

It's about to trickle into the path of Alvaro Morata for a tap-in, but Livakovic manages to get their first, diving to palm the ball away.

Morata would have been offside on reflection.

Spain are being loudly jeered every time they make a pass. The Croatia fans are entertaining themselves. It's been a slow start since Jordi Alba's early shot.

Back to the action and an aggressive Croatia press has Spain keeper Unai Simon panicking. His clearance is poor but Croatia can't do much with it.

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In the build-up I called Ivan Perisic a midfielder. He's actually playing left back tonight.

Might be a record for live-text errors. Seventeen minutes before kick-off.

Spain start brightly as Alvaro Morata digs out a cross which is hacked away.

Jordi Alba then volleys from range but his shot deflects straight to Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic.

KICK-OFF

Away we go.

Captain Luka Modric will win his 166th cap for Croatia tonight. He shakes hands with Spain skipper Jordi Alba.

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Spain have scored in 18 of their last 19 Nations League games.

The teams are out. Way more Croatian fans in tonight.

'Football gives you what you deserve'

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Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri could win a fourth trophy of a stellar campaign tonight.

"It’s been a demanding, long, season and sometimes I wasn't sure how I'd get to this point at the end, with a World Cup in the middle, but this final is important and I want to crown an exceptional season by winning it," he said.

Rodri is already a Treble winner with Man City, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

"Winning with the national team is vital. It would be great and that's all I work for.

"If people consider I'm worth individual trophies then great but there are a lot of top players around the world and I really don’t concentrate on that issue.

"I don’t know if we are the best two sides but football gives you want you deserve"

How Spain made it to final

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Alvaro Morata's 88th minute winner saw Spain top their Nations League group at the expense of opponents Portugal all the way back in Spetmber.

And in their semi-final with Italy Spain left it late again.

Yeremy Pino's opener was cancelled out by Ciro Immobile in the first half.

But with two minutes remaining of normal time substitute Joselu pounced from close range after Rodri's deflected shot to send Spain to tonight's Rotterdam final.

And we're up to date. I told you it would be quick!

Listen, it's still quite a new competition but victory would be huge for both nations.

Spain haven't won a title since 2012. Croatia are still chasing their first major trophy.

France beat Spain in 2021 final

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Two years ago Kylian Mbappe fired a contentious winner as France came from behind to beat Spain and become the second team to win the Nations League.

Mbappe was adjudged to be onside when he slid the ball under Unai Simon after Karim Benzema's stunning equaliser at Milan's San Siro.

Spain had taken the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal, who shrugged off defender Dayot Upamecano to beat Hugo Lloris.

Lloris produced two late saves to ensure victory for the world champions.

Portugal winners of inaugural tournament

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Back in 2019 hosts Portugal claimed their second trophy in three years by beating the Netherlands to win the inaugural Nations League.

Fernando Santos' side had also triumphed at the 2016 European Championship and Goncalo Guedes' second half strike gave them a narrow victory in Porto which Santos said was evidence of their unity as a team.

England finished third in the tournament after a victory on penalties over Switzerland in Guimaraes.