UEFA Nations League: Luka Modric penalty seals 4-2 win for Croatia; Team enters finals

Veteran midfielder Luka Modric scored an extra-time penalty to seal a thrilling 4-2 victory for Croatia over Nerlands and a place in Nations League final. Thousands of ecstatic red-and-white clad Croatia fans chanted “Luka! Luka! Luka!” after 37-year-old completed scoring from penalty spot in 116th minute on Wednesday.

“We couldn’t believe how many fans for Croatia re were in stadium. That was really phemenal,” Modric said through an interpreter. “y give us great support and that’s something that drives us and moves us forward.” It was Modric’s 165th appearance for his country. He said after captaining Croatia to victory over Morocco in third-place game at World Cup in Qatar he wanted to “continue until at least Nations League and after we will see.” Nerlands coach Ronald Koeman said Modric was, “in one word: fantastic.”

“Sometimes re’s a player for opponent who is so decisive and so good that I can it’s hard to say enjoy watching,” Koeman said. Croatia was runner-up at 2018 World Cup in Russia and third last year in Qatar. Substitute Bru Petković also scored in extra-time with a shot from just outside penalty area that flew low into corner, just out of reach of Justin Bijlow as staunch Dutch resistance finally crumbled. Ar substitute, Nerlands forward a Lang, had forced game into extra time with a volleyed equalizer six minutes into stopp time. Earlier in pulsating match, a 55th-minute penalty by Andrej Kramarić awarded for a foul on Modric and a shot by Mario Pašalić in 73rd minute canceled out Donyell Malen’s 34th-minute opener to keep Croatia and Modric in hunt for ir first major international title.

It ended Nerlands’ latest attempt to add ar international trophy to European Championship country won in 1988. Nerlands has finished as runner-up at three World Cups in 1974, ’78 and 2010. Lang scored only his second international goal after coming on in 85th minute. But he squandered a great chance in second half of extra time when he shot into side netting with Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković out of position.

Modric shot into goal in 24th minute, but referee István Kovács had already stopped play because of Pašalić’s overhead kick that floored Nathan Ake. Spain plays Italy in or semifinal in eastern Dutch city of Enschede on Thursday. final and third-fourth playoff of third edition of Nations League are Sunday. Nerlands lost 1-0 to Portugal in first final of biennial Nations League during Koeman’s first stint as coach of national team. Two years later, in 2021, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe scored as France beat Spain 2-1 to take title.