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2023 UEFA Nations League final
Report
After extra time
Spain won 5–4 on penalties
Event2023 UEFA Nations League Finals
Date18 June 2023 (2023-06-18)
VenueDe Kuip, Rotterdam
Player of the MatchMarcelo Brozović (Croatia)
RefereeFelix Zwayer (Germany)
Attendance41,110
WeatherPartly cloudy night
25 °C (77 °F)
69% humidity
2021
2025

The 2023 UEFA Nations League final was a football match that determined the winners of the final tournament of the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League. It was the third final of the international football competition involving the men's national teams of the member associations of UEFA. The match was held on 18 June 2023 at De Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and was contested by Croatia and Spain.

Spain won the match 5–4 on penalties following a 0–0 draw after extra time for their first UEFA Nations League title.

Venue[]

De Kuip was chosen by the Royal Dutch Football Association as one of the two venues for the Nations League Finals, along with De Grolsch Veste. Amsterdam's Johan Cruyff Arena, which is the largest stadium in the Netherlands, was unavailable because of a concert. Consequently, De Kuip, the second-largest stadium in the country, was selected to host the first semi-final, featuring the Dutch team, as well as the final.

De Kuip (Dutch for "the Tub"), officially known as the Stadion Feijenoord, is situated in the Feijenoord district of Rotterdam. The stadium, characterised by its distinctive bowl-shaped design, has a seating capacity of 51,117 and is the home of Eredivisie club Feyenoord. Construction began on the stadium in 1935, and it opened in March 1937. The stadium underwent extensive renovations in 1994, becoming an all-seater, with an extended roof to cover all seats. The venue hosts select matches of the Netherlands national team, and has also been the site of the KNVB Cup final since 1989. De Kuip has hosted numerous UEFA club finals, including two in the European Cup (1972 and 1982), six in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1963, 1968, 1974, 1985, 1991 and 1997) and two in the UEFA Cup (the 1974 second leg and 2002). In addition, it was one of the venues for UEFA Euro 2000, hosting five matches, including the final between France and Italy. The stadium is also has been used as a concert venue since 1978.

Route to the final[]

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

Croatia Round Spain
Opponents Result League phase Opponents Result
 Austria 0–3 (H) Match 1  Portugal 1–1 (H)
 France 1–1 (H) Match 2  Czech Republic 2–2 (A)
 Denmark 1–0 (A) Match 3  Switzerland 1–0 (A)
 France 1–0 (A) Match 4  Czech Republic 2–0 (H)
 Denmark 2–1 (H) Match 5  Switzerland 1–2 (H)
 Austria 3–1 (A) Match 6  Portugal 1–0 (A)
Group A1 winner
Team Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Notes
 Croatia 6 4 1 1 8 6 +2 13 Qualification to Nations League Finals
 Denmark 6 4 0 2 9 5 +4 12
 France 6 1 2 3 5 7 −2 5
 Austria (R) 6 1 1 4 6 10 −4 4 Relegation to League B
Final standings Group A2 winner
Team Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Notes
 Spain 6 3 2 1 8 5 +3 11 Qualification to Nations League Finals
 Portugal 6 3 1 2 11 3 +8 10
 Switzerland 6 3 0 3 6 9 −3 9
 Czech Republic (R) 6 1 1 4 5 13 −8 4 Relegation to League B
Opponents Result Nations League Finals Opponents Result
 Netherlands 4–2 (a.e.t.) Semi-finals  Italy 2–1

Match[]

Summary[]

In the 84th minute Spain's Ansu Fati had a shot cleared off the line by Ivan Perišić. After a goalless match the game went to extra-time and finally to penalties. The first six penalties were all scored before Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón saved with his foot from Lovro Majer.

Both teams scored another penalty before Aymeric Laporte had the chance to win the game but hit his shot off the bar. Simón then saved down to his right from Bruno Petković with Dani Carvajal going on to win it for Spain by chipping into the net for a 5–4 win.

Details[]

18 June 2023 (2023-06-18)
20:45
Croatia  0–0
(a.e.t.)
 Spain De Kuip, Rotterdam
Attendance: 41,110
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Report
  Penalties  
Vlašić
Brozović
Modrić
Majer Missed
Perišić
Petković Missed
4–5 Joselu
Rodri
Merino
Asensio
Missed Laporte
Carvajal
Croatia
Spain
GK 1 Dominik Livaković
RB 22 Josip Juranović Substituted off in the 112th minute 112'
CB 6 Josip Šutalo
CB 5 Martin Erlić
LB 14 Ivan Perišić
DM 11 Marcelo Brozović
CM 10 Luka Modrić (c)
CM 8 Mateo Kovačić
RW 15 Mario Pašalić Substituted off in the 61st minute 61'
LW 16 Luka Ivanušec Substituted off in the 78th minute 78'
CF 9 Andrej Kramarić Substituted off in the 90+1th minute 90+1'
Substitutions:
FW 17 Bruno Petković Booked in the 90+2th minute 90+2' Substituted on in the 61st minute 61'
MF 13 Nikola Vlašić Substituted on in the 78th minute 78'
MF 7 Lovro Majer Substituted on in the 90+1th minute 90+1'
DF 2 Josip Stanišić Substituted on in the 112th minute 112'
Manager:
Zlatko Dalić
GK 23 Unai Simón
RB 22 Jesús Navas Substituted off in the 97th minute 97'
CB 3 Robin Le Normand Substituted off in the 78th minute 78'
CB 14 Aymeric Laporte
LB 18 Jordi Alba (c)
CM 16 Rodri Booked in the 97th minute 97'
CM 8 Fabián Ruiz Substituted off in the 78th minute 78'
RW 10 Marco Asensio
AM 9 Gavi Booked in the 81st minute 81' Substituted off in the 87th minute 87'
LW 15 Yeremy Pino Substituted off in the 66th minute 66'
CF 7 Álvaro Morata Substituted off in the 66th minute 66'
Substitutions:
FW 12 Ansu Fati Substituted on in the 66th minute 66'
FW 20 Joselu Substituted on in the 66th minute 66'
MF 6 Mikel Merino Substituted on in the 78th minute 78'
DF 4 Nacho Booked in the 96th minute 96' Substituted on in the 78th minute 78'
FW 21 Dani Olmo Substituted on in the 87th minute 87'
DF 2 Dani Carvajal Substituted on in the 97th minute 97'
Manager:
Luis de la Fuente

Man of the Match:
Marcelo Brozović (Croatia)

Assistant referees:
Stefan Lupp (Germany)
Marco Achmüller (Germany)
Fourth official:
Ivan Kružliak (Slovakia)
Video assistant referee:
Marco Fritz (Germany)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Sven Jablonski (Germany)
Stuart Attwell (England)

Statistics[]

First half
Statistic Croatia Spain
Goals scored 0 0
Total shots 4 6
Shots on target 3 0
Saves 1 3
Ball possession 47% 53%
Corner kicks 1 2
Fouls committed 5 8
Offsides 1 2
Yellow cards 0 0
Red cards 0 0

Second half
Statistic Croatia Spain
Goals scored 0 0
Total shots 3 9
Shots on target 0 1
Saves 1 0
Ball possession 51% 49%
Corner kicks 1 1
Fouls committed 4 7
Offsides 1 0
Yellow cards 1 1
Red cards 0 0

Extra time
Statistic Croatia Spain
Goals scored 0 0
Total shots 5 6
Shots on target 2 0
Saves 0 2
Ball possession 46% 54%
Corner kicks 2 5
Fouls committed 2 3
Offsides 0 0
Yellow cards 0 2
Red cards 0 0

Overall
Statistic Croatia Spain
Goals scored 0 0
Total shots 12 21
Shots on target 5 1
Saves 2 5
Ball possession 48% 52%
Corner kicks 4 8
Fouls committed 11 18
Offsides 2 2
Yellow cards 1 3
Red cards 0 0

External links[]


UEFA Nations League
Seasons 2018–19 (ABCD)2020–21 (ABCD)2022–23 (ABCD)2024–25 (ABCD)2026–27 (ABCD)
League A Finals Tournaments: Portugal 2019Italy 2021Netherlands 2023TBD 2025
Final matches: 2019202120232025
Squads: 2019202120232025
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