That, then, is us. Thanks all for your company and comments – night night.
Jordi Alba lifts the Nations League trophy for Spain!
And Spain celebrate their first trophy in 13 years!
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“Germany in 1974 were definitely not tedious,” says Onadeko Mf. “No, they didn’t have Netzer but they were a very lovely team. Outplayed the dutch in the final as well.”
I’d agree with that, no team featuring Beckenbauer, Breitner and Muller could ever be tedious.
An apology: earlier, I said that Kuyt’s jacket was Prince of Wales check, but actually it’s dogtooth. I promise to do better next time.
It’s taking them a serious amount of time to ready the presentation, but here comes Giovanni van Bronckhorst with the trophy.
“As a counter to what you said earlier,” says Paulo Biriani, “look at Argentina 78. The German teams of the 80s. Later Argentina teams of the 90s. Brazil of any age since the 70s. They were really not very ‘great’ teams in any sense whatsoever. They had one or two great players but the standard wasn’t high at all. Germany 74 were unbelievably tedious. The Dutch of Gullit and Co were great. The Germans of 96 not so.”
No one said to the contrary – not every team to win stuff was great, I’m just saying it’s quite some time since we’ve had one.
Also going on:
Spain celebrate with their fans while Croatia applaud theirs.
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Spain were the better side in extra-time so you can’t resent their win, but neither side are all that – admirable though Croatia are.
Ah man, poor old Modric is feeling it. He’ll have to console himself with his three La Ligas, five Champions Leagues and the adoration of the masses.
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GOAL! Croatia 4-5 Spain (Carvajal) Spain beat Croatia 5-4 on penalties to win the 2023 Nations League!
Carvajal calmly panenkas his penalty as Livakovic dives low, and Spain take the trophy!
Updated
MISS! Croatia 4-4 Spain (Petkovic)
Simon goes right and saves … but does he go early? He does not, and again Spain have a kick to win it!
MISS! Croatia 4-4 Spain (Laporte)
Livakovic goes right and Laporte goes central … but hits the bar! Croatia and Modric are still in it! Sudden death it is!
GOAL! Croatia 4-4 Spain (Perisic)
Perisic scores easily inside the right-hand post. Laporte to try and win it…
GOAL! Croatia 3-4 Spain (Asensio)
Asensio pauses, Livakovic goes right, and Asensio lofts high into the net directly above him.
MISS! Croatia 3-3 Spain (Majer)
This is a really good save, simon diving right and saving with his feet!
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GOAL! Croatia 3-3 Spain (Merino)
Merino waits for Livakovic to go left, then sweeps right.
GOAL! Croatia 3-2 Spain (Modric)
Simon dives left, Modric caresses high into the roof down the middle.
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GOAL! Croatia 2-2 Spain (Rodri)
Same place as Brozovic, left side-netting.
GOAL! Croatia 2-1 Spain (Brozovic)
Low into the left side-netting. Very good again, and players are so good at this these days.
GOAL! Croatia 1-1 Spain (Joselu)
A brilliant penalty slammed into the roof.
GOAL! Croatia 1-0 Spain (Vlasic)
He opens his body and sweeps into the right side-netting. Nicely done.
Updated
Yup, Vlasic will take the first kick…
Jordi Alba wins the first toss and picks the Spain end; I think Modric wins the second so he’ll presumably opt for Croatia to go first.
We cut to the studio right as some kind of rumble between the teams germinates. We don;’t really get to see what or why, but our FOMO is saved when it’s quickly defused.
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I like to think we’re here to share love, so while we wait for the players to get sorted, here’s my tune of 2023 so far.
Full time: Croatia 0-0 Spain
Penalties it is! We’ve earned that.
119 min On which point:
The lottery of penalties pic.twitter.com/ytQ1DoS5g5
— Bryan’s Gunn (@bryansgunn) June 15, 2023
117 min Asensio to Carvajal, who picks a nice return pass into the box, down its left; Asensiao crosses and Perisic blocks behind for another corner which comes to nowt. Currently, only one team are threatening, but then a foul on Modric by Alba allows Croatia ti stick a ball into the box, and when Modric hoists it in, Petkovic lays back and Kovacic’s drive from the edge is deflected behind. This corner could be the last chance to avert “the lottery” of penalties.
116 min The resultant corner comes to nowt.
115 min Rodri wants this game finished, and with Fati forcing Croatia to spread their midfield blanket wide, he’s got a bit of space, lamping another shot from distance which Sutalo’s head sends behind.
114 min
It’s the anniversary of this sublime set piece at Euro 96.
— A Funny Old Game (@sid_lambert) June 18, 2023
Straight off the training ground, that one.
(👍🎥 @Crap90sFootball)
pic.twitter.com/j8FxEXyZ8s
113 min Modric flicks a ball out to the right but when it comes back to him he can’t pick out a man and Spain clear. However Brozovic quickly wins it back … for all the difference it makes, Alba clearing when Modric tries to pick another pass.
112 min Change for Croatia, Stanisic replacing Juranovic – who’s flagged as Spain have ganged up on him down their left.
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110 min “The standard of international football is as good as it has ever been,” says Paulo Biriani. “The issue you relate to is that in major tournaments there is a more equal field, very few teams now dominate every game because their opponents are so much better than their historical counterparts. In olden times it was different. One could argue for all of the cash spent on teams the champions league is actually rather boring.”
I don’t agree with that. There’s no team as good or even close to Spain 2008-12 or France 98-02 and so on. And look at the recent tournament winners – Argentina 22, Italy 20, France 18, Portugal 16, Germany 14 – also nothing special whatsoever.
108 min My coverage starts glitching, returning in time for me to see Olmos’s shot deflected wide, the corner yielding another. It’s Spain looking to seize this, but Rodri’s shot is blocked and they build again.
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107 min Good work from Fati, who finds Alba, and his ball in is decent, but Asensio, hitting the box, can’t control it, a poor first touch seeing it run away.
106 min Burnley, meanwhile, are in pre-season training for 2023-24. But back on the pitch, Fati shows lovely feet to move the ball behind his standing leg and escape Majer, but the cross he stands up is easily claiemd by Simon.
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106 min Here we go again…
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105+2 min Spain give it away deep inside their own half and Vlasic seizes on the loose ball only to have a shot blocked, then down the left of the box, Brozovic makes an angle to shoot on his right foot but can’t get the power or elevation to trouble Livakovic.
105+1 min It really is odd that Spain have no better attackers than these.
105 min We’ll have two additional minutes.
104 min Yup, Spain look the likelier and when Asensio cuts in fro the right, he drills a shot that’s blocked and bounces back to Olmo, but the ball bounces just before it reaches him so he gets underneath it and, from the edge, slams a shot over and plenty.
102 min Apologies, a few minutes ago Carvajal replaced Navas at right-back.
101 min A side with better attackers than Croatia could have a lot of fun with Spain’s high line. I know it’s an odd thing to say, but I’m Zlatko Dalić – for avoidance of doubt, I’m not – I’m thinking about sticking Perisic through the middle just to see if his pace and power can give them a problem.
99 min Back to what I said about tournaments, the highest-level match in Qatar and by far was England v France. Anyhow excuse me while I interrupt myself because here’s Kovacic breaking forward and ball-carrying as we said, sliding a pass through to Majer … and for a second it looks like he’s in! But his first touch, though it’s good, leaves the ball a little under his feet and from nowhere Nacho, who’s got to be careful because he’s on a yellow, slides in to pull off a terrific saving challenge. It’s cost him a bit of pain too, and Spain have used all their subs, but I think he’ll be fine to carry on.
98 min I’m not in favour of binning extra-time, but I’d be interested to know how often the score changes during it.
98 min Nacho fouls Petkovic and is booked; Rodri fouls Majer and is booked.
96 min I hate to say it but real talk: the standard of international football is pretty low at the moment, and it’s a long time since we had a properly great team. Rather the tournaments, which used to be won by the best, are now being won whoever plays best in the last two or three matches.
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95 min But what a waste: Fati goes short and soon Spain are back near the centre-circle.
94 min It’s Spain looking more interested in finding a winner, perhaps because they’re a younger side who didn’t play 120 midweek – though Croatia had an extra day to recover. And here’s Navas swinging over a cross from the right, which flicks a head and goes behind for a corner.
93 min “Being a Man City fan,” says Phil Grey, “I’m curious to know how Kovacic is doing, as he seems to be heading for the Etihad. He was robbed by Gavi in the12th minute and since then Peter Shilton has been mentioned more than Kovacic. Quiet game?”
I’d say so. He’d be a similar signing to Phillips, there in case Rodri gets injured or suspended and whose ball-carrying can be useful, but isn’t good enough to start regularly.
91 min Juranovic crosses from the right and Vlasic might shoot from the edge, but instead he lays off for Petkovic who’s quickly crowded out.
91 min Croatia set us away again.
Full time: Croatia 0-0 Spain
For the first time, the Nations League final requires extra-time.
90+4 min Croatia win a corner, Modric swings it out … and Spain clear.
90+2 min This has been an alright game, but the sides have largely cancelled each other out.
90 min Another Croatia change, Majer – who was effective against Holland – replacing Kramaric. We’ll have four additional minutes.
90 min And here they come, Navas teasing a lofted pass in behind for Asensio. But he’s no one up with him so has to go for goal on his weaker right foot, sending an effort across goal and a foot or two wide of the far post.
89 min Croatia look like they’re playing for extra-time, while Spain are seeking a winner.
87 min Another change for Spain, Olmo replacing Gavi.
85 min Looking at that shot again, Perisic wasn’t close to the corner but actually a yard along from the keeper. Fati killed the ball well with his left, but rushed the shot with his right.
84 min OFF THE LINE PERISIC! This is great defending but he oughtn’t to have smelled it, Alba playing a clever pass into Merino who cuts back cleverly for Fati. He takes a touch and, from seven yards out, has space to shoot, but he concentrates on getting the effort away and on target, picking out Perisic who hacks clear. Released from the shackles of Spurs, he’s had a fine match.
Updated
83 min Persic escapes down the left again, released by a lush turn and outside-of-the-foot pass from Modric. He nips infield then tries to slide a reverse-pass in behind for Vlasic, but there’s too much on it and it runs behind.
82 min “As with every sporting contest, context is key,” says Kári Tulinius. “There have been major finals I didn’t care who won, but I’m finding myself desperate for Croatia to take this one, just so that this great generation gets the gold medal they deserve.”
Yup, I can see that. It’ll mean much more to them, so we’ll get more joy if they take it.
81 min Modric eases clear of Gavi, who schleps him back and is booked.
80 min Spain had a little period the last five but now it’s Croatia back passing it about. I suppose if they’re to win their first trophy, penalties would be a fitting way of making it happen.
78 min More changes, Croatia trying Vlasic for Ivanusec and Spain Nacho and Merino for Le Normand and Ruiz.
77 min Fati has made a difference, his pace and feet giving Spain a different threat. He burrows into the box, beating one challenge before being crowded out by another, and when the ball breaks to Asensio, he flicks it up for himself then swivels on the half-turn to shoot wide.
76 min Alba slides Fati in behind down the left, forcing Livakovic to slide into a challenge, and while he’s picking himself up, the ball arrives at Ruiz who, from 25 yards, swipes an outswinger that drifts just over the far angle. It’s not much, but it’s something.
75 min “I concur with the idea that the Nations League is worth persisting with,” emails Andy Flintoff, “for the single fact that it gives teams in Leagues C and D genuinely competitive football against teams of similar ability, with the possibility of qualifying for the Euros. It’s not much fun for San Marino (for instance) to get beaten in every match in a qualifying campaign, but they get a good chance to stick one over on Andorra or the Faroe Islands or similar, who they are very unlikely to play in World Cup or Euro Championship qualifying because they are equally low seeds.”
Yup, agreed.
74 min And actually, both teams are now looking long, which tells us they’ve run out of ideas.
73 min It’s been a while since we had any telling action. Spain just aren’t that good, while Croatia lack firepower.
71 min There seems to be a significant striking imbalance in the men’s footballing world currently. England have two forward lines better than those we’re seeing here, Brazil, France and Argentina too.
69 min “With regard to fashion rules,” writes Mary Waltz, “and white trainers with a black suit, there should be few rules. Unless you are in the military or a profession that requires uniforms there should be just a couple. Do your clothes fit your body shape? They must be clean. And men of a certain age and body shape should not wear speedos in public. You know who you are.”
If I wasn’t allowed to laugh at what sportsfolk wear, I’d be struggling for copy, and I’d be confiscating Gundogan’s medals for this rig.
Our Champions League winner is here! 🏆
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 14, 2023
Welcome, @IlkayGuendogan 😁 pic.twitter.com/RcKYhGbQ3P
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67 min And here come the Spain changes, Fati and Joselu for Pino and Morata.
66 min Meantime Rodri, who’s been quiet tonight, suddenly unleashes a donkey-kick from 25 yards that screeches just wide.
65 min Spain are making changes, but not bringing on the players I suggested – it’ll be Fati and Joselu.
63 min “On all-white kit for keepers,” says Robert Knap, “I think Villa in 83-84 (or thereabouts) had the goalie’s second strip in all white. It’s a bit of a collector’s item I’d imagine - Le Coq Sportif may have done the best 80s kit (Hummels in with a shout too?)“
I love the Villa kits from that period, and I think LCS also made Everton’s 84-85 classic.
62 min Croatia make the first change, Petkovic – who did well off the bench against the Dutch – for Pasalic.
61 min Perisic is running all over Navas and again he sticks a decent ball to the back post, this one curled flat rather than stood up, and Pasalic is up above Alba but can only direct his header into the side-netting.
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59 min “Isn’t this match about more than just supporting the international game?” wonders David Wall, “perhaps because it’s a new tournament, but the Nations League seems to me to be unfairly undervalued. After all, this is the one international competition where you can genuinely say that there are no easy games. The winners will have played against only top level opposition, first in the division A group, and then in the semi-final and final. Even in the World Cup and European Championships the level of teams competing is not so consistently high. If it lasts through its first few iterations and becomes established I can see this becoming as highly valued to win as those other tournaments. that said, you’re right about the increasing encroachment into players’ time off. perhaps the answer if for FIFPro to get stronger than on this. a serious threat of industrial action from the players might motivate organisers to sort out the playing calendar.”
As I say in the piece I link below, I think it’s a really good innovation. It’s hard to get too excited about it relative to the bigger competitions, but it’s exponentially better than the friendlies we had previously.
57 min Pino releases Alba down the left and he stands up a cross, but Asensio is a fair way out and yanking beck behind ball to impart power, while behind him Gavi had a much better angle to run onto it and attack it properly.
56 min Again, Perisic blazes past Navas, but this time the man with the eyes comes back at him, Gavi also getting involved in the tussle to avert the potential danger.
55 min It’s been a slow start to the second half, and I’d expect Luis de la Fuente to do something about that because Croatia look the likelier.
54 min I do, though, remember Watford’s Steve Sherwood looking resplendent in red through the mid-80s.
52 min “Shilton in white looks even more all wrong – a nightclub bouncer in a negligée,” asserts Charles Antaki. “Acceptable colours for a goalkeeper are, in increasing aesthetic order: lime green, orange, pink, yellow, green, black (but only if your name is Lev Yashin).”
As I recall, in England they almost all wore green until the start of the Premier League, when refs changed to that from black.
51 min Here comes Perisic down the left, chuckling a lollipop that seems him down the outside of Navas and allowing him to stand up a cross that Unai Simon comes for and misses! But picking up the ball on the right of the box, Juranovic can only drag a shot wide of the far post. That was a chance.
50 min “Two things are ridiculous here,” reckons Paulo Biriani.
“1) Spain’s high line
2) the Spanish manager’s decision to wear white trainers with a black suit.
Good game thus far.”
Yes, I’d agree with that. I’m of the opinion that trainers and flip-flops are the only footwear a person needs, but with a syoot, care needs taking.
48 min Something worth noting: Spain’s bench options are by far the better. I’d expect to see Olmo and Rodrigo if this stays goalless for much longer, especially if Croatia stay in the ascendancy.
47 min At half-time, Emma Hayes noted that Spain “can’t access the central corridor” because Croatia have a narrow three in front of their back four; I guess that’s why they’ve moved Ruiz up.
46 min “You mentioned Shilton wearing all-white in the 1970s,” emails Matthew Vallance, retired Scottish sportswriter and former goalkeeper. “I cannot say for sure he wore all-white, but, the legendary amateur goalkeeper Harry Sharratt wore a white jersey in one of Bishop Auckland’s televised Amateur Cup wins in the 1950s.”
46 min …and we go again!
Back come our teams…
Half-time reading: on Father’s Day, here’s a piece about going the game with your dad.
Half-time: Croatia 0-0 Spain
That wasn’t bad, and there’s fair prospect of an improvement after the break.
45 min …and they make a total pig’s posterior of it, Asensio and Gavi trying to work an angle but the latter playing for the former into trouble, and when Alba’s ball eventually comes in, there’s too much on it for Le Normand.
44 min Spain are improving, and Pino sways by Brozovic before Modric upends him 25 yards out, probably too far left of centre for a shot…
41 min Spain have put Ruiz alongside Gavi behind Morata, looking to play into two men rather than one and give Croatia a call to make in terms of who picks him up. And they’re knocking it about nicely now, trying to move their opponents around before springing into attack … and here we go, Alba collecting a pass, stamping on the gas and getting into a crossing position, Morata glancing a quarter-chance wide at the near post.
Updated
39 min Perisic is getting into some decent positions from left-back – Croatia must think there’s a back-stick mismatch between him and Navas, which is true, there is. And again, he attacks a Modric ball in, this time a diag, but again, he’s too far out to seriously trouble Simon with his header.
38 min Now it’s Perisic over the top and Brozovic is in space down the right side of the box! He teases Gavi inside and out before snapping a low cross across the face, but there’s no one on-hand to meet it. Spain can’t play this high without pressure on the ball, this is Villas-Boas stuff from them so far.
36 min There’s more intensity and conviction about Croatia’s work; they expect something to happen whereas Spain are hoping it will.
35 min And a bit more on Saudi and Chelsea. Todd Boehly is a lucky, lucky man.
Talks are going on in order to agree a move for @ChelseaFC outgoings #Mendy, #Koulibaly and #Ziyech to join Saudi teams (respectively) @ALAHLI_FC, @Alhilal_EN and @AlNassrFC_EN. #Lukaku isn't convinced about Saudi's possibility as he'd prefer to stay at @Inter. 🔵 #Chelsea #CFC
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) June 18, 2023
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33 min “Magnificent to see a European final being held at De Kuip again,” reckons Jack Doxey, “for the first time in two decades. If I’m not mistaken De Kuip has hosted more European finals than any stadium expect Wembley, and hopefully – if long-overdue renovations are carried out – soon it’ll start hosting finals more frequently again. Also great to see that Croatia’s fans are living up to the standard for atmosphere which Feyenoord set in that stadium.”
Can’t argue with that, it’s a proper football ground in a proper football city – although the moat around the perimeter means fans are further from the pitch than is ideal.
31 min But Croatia look the likelier, and when Modric teases in a free-kick from 35 yards out, sending it from right to left, Perisic charges into the box from very wide to send a header from distance towards the bottom corner … but Simon scrambles it away.
30 min A lull. Mainly, these teams are cancelling each other out, with neither midfield able to dictate.
28 min Spain look a bit shaky at the back. Croatia lack the class up front to properly punish them for that, but that’s not their way, rather they find a moment or two which is generally all they need.
26 min “White goalkeeper kits have been available for around 50 years,” advises Andy Flintoff. Peter Shilton used to wear them for Leicester City in the 73-74 season.”
25 min More from the Saudi league, and I’d expect Chelsea to toss a few more players in that direction too.
Negotiations between Hakim Ziyech and Al Nassr are advancing well. Chelsea are pushing to get it done next week, player open to the move as he’d join Cristiano Ronaldo. 🚨🔵🇸🇦 #CFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 18, 2023
🔴 No agreement on personal terms yet between Pierre Aubameyang and Saudi clubs. Talks continue. pic.twitter.com/Wv9LvIjAQd
24 min The corner comes to nowt but Croatia sustain the attack and Kramaric, now out on the right, crosses low, but Pasalci, sliding in, can’t get enough on his shot and Simon fields easily enough. This is warming up a bit now.
23 min There’s that ball over the top again! It’s a long one from Erlic – I think – and Kramaric is in behind! But he doesn’t have the pace to escape and Laporte recovers really well to extend a leg and push behind for a corner. Another warning for spain.
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21 min Oh, Spain want a penalty when Gavi heads into Ivanusec’s chest – it’s no such thing – and when Croatia counter, Pino scythes into a hack which stops the attack. Somehow, he escapes a booking.
20 min Behind the Croatian goal, their supporters are bouncing away, flares glowing, but Morata wins a corner … which comes to nothing.
18 min “The Spain keeper is in an all-white kit, returns Charles Antaki. “Unacceptable. All white is OK for the outfield players where you can make a case for silvery, mercurial slipperiness. Keeper has to be solid, steadfast & highly visible. Uefa take action please.”
I can’t argue with that, and in similar vein, I’d also ban Raphael Varane for being more handsome than any centre-back, never mind one that good in the air, has any business being.
16 min I think Spain have more edge than Croatia, but Croatia look more settled into what they’re doing.
14 min Modric lifts a ball over the top for Pasalic and the flag goes up, but nevertheless that’s a warning for Spain because it was tight and Croatia have midfielders who can pick those kinds of passes.
12 min Here we go! Spain spring, Gavi robbing Kovacic just outside the box, advancing, and trying a Solskjaer-style finish dragged through the defenders leg seeking the near post. But he gets just too much angle on it, the ball scooshing wide. But what happened is worth remembering; I wonder if the plan is to get on the Chelsea man when he receives the ball off his back four.
11 min Townsend is good in co-comms, and he notes that in possession, Croatia have both full-backs high and wide, so if Spain can turn the ball over they’ll have loads of space into which they can spring.
10 min Ruiz, who looks not unlike a lanky James Maddison, swings a cross out from the left, Livakovic makes a proper hash of catching it, and is relieved to see the flag go up, though Morata couldn’t do much with the rebound.
8 min So where do we rank Modric? The greatest of his generation? As great as Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta? I guess, if you’re pushing me, I’m having him above the former and just below the latter two because they inspired a way of playing, but I’d not question your parentage on the internet if your order was different.
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7 min Croatia knock it around looking to draw Spain onto them; Spain aren’t pressing them as they did Italy, preferring to engage if and when things develop.
5 min Of course, Modric is also a tough little expletive, more than capable of handling himself against whoever is unfortunate enough to be opposing him.
4 min In co-comms, Andros Townsend, who played with Modric at Spurs, says people were concerned as to whether he’d cope with the physical side of the game in England, but he didn’t get involved in it, cutting across defenders and such. Which reminds me of what Paul Scholes once said when asked about playing against Patrick Vieira: “I just try and stay away from him.”
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2 min Croatia are in their Spain kit, which is not unlike Arsenal’s away rendition from 1995-06.
1 min Immediately, Asensio weaves forward, winning a throw deep inside the Spain half and Morata, puling wide, drills a decent low cross. But that means he’s not in the middle to knock it wide, so Croatia get the ball away easily enough.
1 min And away we go!
Jesus Navas a thousand years from now.
And the Croatian contingent are absolutely having theirs.
Anthem time. The Spanish one is a banger.
Our teams are tunnelled, and here they come! But not without an announcement telling the crowd who they’re watching and in what context, in case it had escaped any of them.
“No Busquets, then,” notes Charles Antaki, “for the first time since time itself began, or at least since the glory days of 2008-10-12. Only Alba left from 2012; and he’s apparently without a team now, so presumably – although probably captain tonight – his days are numbered. But anyway, by now it’s hard to see much of a remnant of what defined the national team in those days and made it the best in the world. It was good – great – while it lasted.”
It was better than great, I’d say. Not as much fun as I’d have liked, but probably the hardest to beat, and three major tournaments on the spin is just ridiculous behaviour.
Tonight’s game, then. Obviously it’s a battle of midfields, and I wonder if Spain’s youthful physicality will tell. They’ll be hoping the pace and directness of Pino, Gavi and Asensio makes a difference too, targeting the spaces between centre-back and full-back; Croatia will look to be patient and take whatever opportunity arises.
Modric played 120 minutes the other night, and I wonder if he’s able to go and go again because he didn’t join Madrid, so didn’t get onto the carousel of constant top-level football, until he was almost 27. He’s done well to avoid injury too, and plays in a team that keeps rather than chases the ball, but I’m sure his longevity is related to how long it took him to get his big move. I can’t believe it didn’t happen sooner though, because it’s not as if his brilliance wasn’t obvious well before.
We’re watching VT of Kramaric talking, and what he says is lovely: “One day I’ll tell my children I played with Luka Modric – shared a dressing room, made memories together. He’s one of the greatest of all time.”
I remember when Croatia knocked England out of Euro 2008, Slaven Bilic recalled Michael Owen saying none of his players would get in the England team. “But I have Modric,” he giggled.
Joselu update:
Details of Joselu deal — he’s set to be unveiled as new Real Madrid player next week. All documents are signed. ⚪️⤵️ https://t.co/1iW14VuJLy
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 18, 2023
“Two French-born centre backs for Spain,” points out Kevin Wilson. “Le Normand just got his Spanish citizenship after a fantastic season for Real Sociedad.”
Yup, and I was hoping to have another look at Zubimendi tonight, who also did.
I’ve always wondered whether anyone who uses this phrase knows what a superlative is.
You run out of superlatives pic.twitter.com/mmw7huOdwb
— Bryan’s Gunn (@bryansgunn) June 18, 2023
On which point, the Croatian fans were brilliant against the Netherlands. I’m absolutely certain they’ll the De Kuip on absolute flames tonight.
“How does tiny Croatia keep reaching semis and finals, wonders Mary Waltz. “I was informed by those who claim to know that they were too old years ago. Modric is amazing, he controls the tempo and always seems to know when to push and when to back off. They may not take home many trophies but they are definitely over-achievers.”
I don’t totally agree that they’re over-achieving because I don’t believe in the term: generally speaking, teams get what they’re worth and what they deserve. As for how they’ve done it, Modric is probably the main on-pitch reason – though he’d be a lot less without Kovacic and Brozovic alongside him – but I’m certain that the pride in playing for a relatively new nation, and how completely the players and fans buy into that, is also crucial.
It’s not for me to decide which players need money and which don’t, but I wrote on Twitter when PIF announced its ownership of all Saudi league clubs, that the direction of travel was clear: they were at the star hasbeen stage, and would soon be buying players at their peaks, and I’d not be surprised were that to culminate in Champions League participation. That second step has come sooner than I expected, and my issue with it is the use of football by repressive regimes.
Email! “A little off-topic,” begins David Wall, “but what do you make of Ruben Neves’s transfer to play in Saudi Arabia? I find it really disheartening. He’s in the prime of his career and has the ability to play for Champions League-level clubs (he’s regularly reported as a transfer target for them, across Europe). It shows such a lack of ambition and, unlike when Oscar went to play in the Chinese league, he doesn’t have the excuse of having extended family and communities that he has to support back home (as many players from South America do). Do you think many others will follow his example?”
I actually wrote about that the other day, previewing the Nations League festivities.
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On which point, it’s June 18 and players are still playing, at the end of a stuffed season also featuring a World Cup. It’s tricky as the international game needs to be supported, but that’s not right. I’m not surprised we’re seeing on-pitch listlessness.
Earlier today Italy “secured” third place by beating the Netherlands 3-2. Kuyt is saying the consensus in Holland is that the players didn’t put enough sufficient effort.
Channel 4 have gone for Emma Hayes and Dirk Kuyt as pundits. Each is wearing a jacket.
Spain’s winner against Italy was scored by Joselu, whose career has changed a little in his 30s. He appears to be leaving Epsnayol.
Florentino Pérez answering to Madrid fans confirms that Joselu will sign next week — deal is done, signed and sealed on loan with buy option clause. ⚪️🤝🏻
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 18, 2023
Real Madrid president also says that this is gonna be their last signing for this summer. pic.twitter.com/baqkAdn3pW
Spain, meanwhile, make two alterations: at the base of midfield, Fabián Ruíz replaces merino and on the right wing, Asensio comes in for Rodrigo.
One change for Croatia following their 4-2 a.e.t. win over Netherlands, and it comes in the centre of defence: Erlic replacing Vida. I’m slightly surprised by that as midweek, Vida played until the end whereas Sutalo was subbed.
Our teams!
Croatia (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Sutalo, Erlićc, Perisic; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Ivanusec. Subs: Labrovic, Ivusic, Stanisic, Barisic, Majer, Vlasic, Petkovic, Musa, Sosa, Beljo, Vida.
Spain (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Jesús Navas, Le Normand, laporte, Alba; Rodrigo, Fabián Ruiz; Asensio, Gavi, Piño; Morata. Subs: Arrizabalaga, Raya, Carvajal, Nacho, Zubimendi, Merino, Canales, Fati, Fran Garcia, Rodrigo, Joselu, Olmo.
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Preamble
There are certain words and phrases that you rarely hear in and around football these days – “dubbin”, “hospital pass” and “integrity” say. And “schemer”, which the Cambridge dictionary defines as “someone who makes clever, secret plans, often to deceive others”, which in our context also encompasses imagination, dexterity and control – usually by someone physically diminutive.
Which subtle segue brings us to Luka Modric, the schemer’s schemer and perhaps the last of his type, a gorgeously inventive sprite with chammy feet, double-jointed hips and Mozart’s mind. This might be the last time we see him in the international game, but what a run it’s been, taking in a World Cup final, a World Cup third place … and tonight. Can Croatia finally take a debut title?
Modric’s performance in their semi-final win over the Netherlands was both staggering and humdrum, everything to which we’ve become accustomed from that bears no resemblance to anything we’ve seen from anyone else – and at the age of 37 too. The basic facts are obvious: he won a penalty and scored a penalty. But what really stood out was how easily he bossed the game with subtle touches and angles, cunning nips and duck – along with, of course, the booming outside-of-the-foot passes that make a mockery of both physics and every other player currently playing the game.
Spain, though, will not simply hand him the send-off he deserves. Though they’re nowhere near where they once were, their ability to retain possession – even in the absence of Pedri – means they’re a brutal team to play, never mind beat. Like Croatia, they lack goalpower so assume their dominance will, at some point, lead to them scoring however many they need to get the job done … or, put another way, I’d not be at all surprised to see extra time and penalties. Nor would I be if, at the end of things, the arch schemer revealed a clever, secret scheme to keep on scheming.
Kick-off: 8.45pm local, 7.45pm BST
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