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

Righto, let's have a quick refresher of Uefa Nations League finals history...

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Tottenham and Croatia midfielder Ivan Perisic: "We are ready for the final.

"I hope we can play like in the semi-final, where we showed we can play really good football, that we can score the goals."

"In Russia we got a silver medal, in Qatar we won a bronze medal, now it's time for gold."

'We have chance to prove ourselves'

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Croatia forward Bruno Petkovic put his side 3-2 up against the Netherlands in their semi-final. He told Uefa: "It was an emotional atmosphere after the semi-final.

"We celebrated with our fans and that atmosphere becomes even more intense when you win.

"During all 120 minutes of the match, the singing didn't stop and we felt like home. And that's our biggest victory."

Petkovic plays for Dinamo Zagreb and has scored eight goals in 30 appearances for his national side.

"We lost against Spain at EURO 2020, but even then we came from behind and took the match to extra time.

"We played really well but, unfortunately for us, Spain were better in that moment, although we had some chances that we didn't take in the extra period.

"Now we have a new chance to prove ourselves and see who is better now."

It's a red and white takeover in Rotterdam.

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How Croatia got here

Croatia finished ahead of Denmark, France and Austria to reach the finals stage.

In their semi-finals with hosts Netherlands they squeezed their way into their first major final with an extra-time win.

Substitute Bruno Petkovic struck from distance in extra time before Luka Modric's penalty settled a remarkable game in Rotterdam.

A 96th-minute Dutch equaliser from Noa Lang had denied Croatia in normal time.

The Netherlands very nearly forced extra-time in that match, just as they did in their semi-final with Croatia (more on that later).

The one thing I don't want tonight is an additional 30 minutes and penalties. I'm dreading it.

Italy seal third place

Emma Smith

BBC Sport reporter

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Earlier today Italy beat Netherlands in the Uefa Nations League third place play-off to pile pressure on Dutch boss Ronald Koeman.

Federico Dimarco and Davide Frattesi scored in the opening 20 minutes and, though Steven Bergwijn pulled a goal back, Federico Chiesa sealed the win.

Georginio Wijnaldum made it 2-3 late on, but the defeat means Koeman has lost three of the first four games of his second spell in charge.

Koeman returned as Netherlands manager after the 2022 World Cup but has endured a stuttering start to his second spell. This result follows a 4-0 Euro 2024 qualifying defeat by France and the 4-2 extra-time loss to Croatia in the Nations League semi-final on Wednesday.

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As for Spain, they could wrap up their fifth major title with a win tonight.

They won the European Championships in 1964, 2008 and 2012.

And they lifted the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. Only France have won a World Cup, Euros and Nations League.

Spain could become the latest to complete the set.

Croatia chasing history

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Croatia have never won a major trophy but they've come very close at recent tournaments.

In 2018 they were runners-up at the World Cup, and they reached the semi-finals four years later in Qatar.

This is their first appearance at the finals stage of the Nations League.

What is the Nations League?

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In case you need a quick explainer... this is the Nations League final.

The Nations League is a biennial European international where every country is involved and the winners of the top groups reach this finals tournament.

The Netherlands are hosting this shindig. They lost to Italy in a third place play-off earlier today.

If you want to know more about the tournament, just click here.

Team news - Morata starts

Zlatko Dalic makes just one change to his Croatia team which started the 4-2 extra time win over Netherlands on Wednesday.

It comes in central defence, where Martin Erlic comes in while Domagoj Vida drops to the bench.

Bruno Petkovic, who scored the winner in extra time against the Dutch, starts as a sub, while Luka Modric earns his 166th international cap.

Croatia XI: Livakovic; Juranovic, Sutalo, Erlic, Perisic; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Ivaneusic

Subs: Labrovic, Ivusic, Stanisic, Barisic, Majer, Vlasic, Petkovic, Musa, Sosa, Beljo, Vida

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente makes two changes to the starting XI from the semi-final win over Italy.

Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz starts alongside Rodri in central midfield, replacing Mikel Merino, while Marco Asensio comes in for Rodrigo out wide.

Joselu, the late goal hero against the Italians, starts on the bench again today.

Spain XI: Unai Simon; Navas, Le Normand, Laporte, Alba; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Asensio, Gavi, Yeremy; Morata

Subs: Merino, Rodrigo, Canales, Fati, Joselu, Kepa, Carvajal, Nacho, Zubimendi, Raya, Olmo, Fran Garcia.

Alvaro Morata keeps his place for Spain. Full team news coming up...

Welcome

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It may not be the biggest international competition, but they all count!

We're set for the third ever Nations League final with Spain hoping to add to their trophy cabinet against a Croatia side who could win their first major tournament.

If the semi-finals are anything to go by we could be on for a thriller.

Feyenoord's De Kuip stadium awaits...