Last Updated on 06/15/2023 by てんしょく飯
The UEFA Nations League (UNL) semifinals were held on June 14 between the Netherlands and Croatia.
Modric calmly scored the decisive fourth goal with a penalty kick!
The Netherlands went through Group 4, which was shared with Belgium, Poland, and Wales, undefeated with five wins and one draw. While the Dutch looked well-positioned for the semifinals, they were forced to pull out of the tournament with a calf injury suffered by mainstay defender Matthijs de Lift during a training session on June 10. Although it was announced that defender Daley Brint would be added to the squad in his place, the match was to be played with some uncertainty.
Against Croatia, they had played Denmark, France, and Austria in the group league, and had gone through with a record of 4 wins, 1 minute, and 1 loss. There were no major changes to the team that finished third at last year’s World Cup, with Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Ivan Perisic all starting, despite Josko Gvardiol’s withdrawal due to injury.
The game was evenly matched early on, with both teams lacking precision in the final stages and unable to create a decisive goal.
In the 34th minute, however, the Dutch broke the deadlock. Cody Gakupo started on the left flank, and the ball went through Mats Wiefer to Donyell Malen on the right. He finally swung his right foot out with room to spare and put a precise shot into the net.
This was the only goal of the first half, and the game went into the second half with the Netherlands in the lead.
Croatia’s best chance of the second half came in the 49th minute. Modric sent a brilliant pass out from the center of the field, and Andrej Kramaric received it and went one-on-one with the defender. The Croatian striker cut inside but was unable to turn away a right-footed shot to the far side for the equalizer.
In the 55th minute, Croatia had another big chance. Modric was brought down in the penalty area, and the referee blew his whistle without hesitation to award a penalty kick. Kramaric calmly slotted it into the center of the goal for an early equalizer.
Croatia continued to push forward and succeeded in turning the tables in the 72nd minute. Perisic broke into the PA on the left flank, and Luka Ivanoušez picked up the ball and sent in a sharp right-footed cross that was met by Mario Pashali in the center of the box. Mario Pasalic in the center of the field met it and scored the game-winning goal.
The Dutch chased the goal, and in the final minutes of the game, they came close to scoring on the power play, and in the final six minutes of added time, they got back into the game. After a throw-in deep on the right, Toon Koopmeijnels’ long throw was collected by Frenkie de Jong, who sent in another cross. From the resulting mix-up in front of goal, Noah Lang, who was on the way, carefully tapped in the spill with the inside of his right foot to record a dramatic last-minute equalizer.
The game went into extra time, and in the 98th minute, Croatia again broke the deadlock. Bruno Petkovic, who was introduced in the extra period, turned Modric’s pass well and swung in a right-foot shot from just wide of the goal. His curling shot evaded the goalkeeper and struck the bottom left corner of the goal.
The Dutch went behind again in the second half of the extra period, and the visitors went on a power play, with Filsil van Dijk playing on the wing, but they were unable to get enough men up front. However, despite having more men up front, Croatia was able to create more chances.
In the 116th minute, Tyrell Marascia, who came on in the middle of the field, knocked over Petkovic in the PA and gave Croatia their second penalty kick of the day. This time, Modric coolly slotted it home for the decisive fourth goal.
Time expired. After the win over the Netherlands, Croatia will play the winner of tomorrow’s match between Spain and Italy in the final on June 18 (local time).
Score
Netherlands 2-4 Croatia
Goal scorers
1-0 34 min: Doniel Malen (Netherlands)
1-1 55 min. Andrej Kramaric (PK / Croatia)
1-2 72 min Mario Pasalic (Croatia)
2-2 90+6 min Noah Lang (Netherlands)
2-3 98 min Bruno Petkovic (Croatia)
2-4 116 min Luka Modric (PK/Croatia)
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