Spain defeated Croatia 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw after extra time to win the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League title. This is la Furia Roja’s first trophy since the 2012 European Championship.

Both Spain and Croatia got the game off to a strong start, taking shots from early on in order to find an opener. Gavi almost scored for Spain in the 12th minute, dragging his shot inches wide of the goalpost, while Andrej Kramaric threatened the Spanish defense on a counterattack which required Aymeric Laporte to make a last-ditch tackle.

While Mario Pasalic and Josip Juranovic came close for Croatia in the second half, it was Spain that dominated proceedings in the latter stages. Ansu Fati looked certain to win the match for Spain with his close-range shot in the 84th minute, only for defender Ivan Perisic to clear the ball off the goal line.

Although Spain continued to dominate in extra time, it took penalties to decide the contest, with defender Dani Carvajal firing home the winning goal for Spain after goalkeeper Unai Simon saved penalties from both Lovro Majer and Bruno Petkovic.

Luis de la Fuente, who took over the role of Spain’s manager after the 2022 World Cup, told fans to express faith in his young squad of players. “These players are used to winning,” de la Fuente stated after the game. “They have won so much coming through the ranks and this can continue, I think this competitive streak is back and we can look forward to winning more.”

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Spain bested Italy in a 2-1 victory at the De Grolsch Veste stadium in the Netherlands on Thursday night to book their spot in the final of the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League.

La Furia Roja got the better of the Italians within three minutes of play when Yeremy Pino took advantage of a defensive error to hand Spain the lead after three minutes of play. Spain’s lead did not last long, however, with Ciro Immobile scoring a penalty just eight minutes later after debutant Robin Le Normand was deemed to have handled the ball in the box.

Dominating the ball with 63% possession and 19 shots compared to eight, it seemed as if Spain had run out of ideas as extra time loomed. Then, in the 88th minute, Rodri fired a long-range shot that was deflected into the path of Joselu, who scored from just four yards out.

“The team played a great game,” Joselu remarked after the game. “We dominated almost the entire second half, just the goal was missing. I was alone after Rodri’s shot, it fell (to me) and I was confident I wasn’t offside. I’m happy for my goal because we’re now into a final with a chance to win a trophy.”

Coach Luis de la Fuente’s squad will take on Croatia in the final of the UEFA Nations League in Rotterdam on Sunday.

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Cody Gakpo is looking to become the Netherlands’s first-choice center-forward at this week’s UEFA Nations League finals. Originally a left-winger, the 24-year-old player has been adapting to this role since joining Liverpool in January from PSV Eindhoven.

“Now that I’m playing at Liverpool I think it’s a nice position,” Gakpo told reporters on Sunday as the Netherlands prepares for the tournament. With Memphis Depay unavailable through injury, Gakpo is now in a prime position to lead the Dutch attack.

Gakpo went on to admit that several coaches had previously tried to convince him to switch from the wing to striker; a change that he resisted. During his interview, Gakpo said he has grown fond of his new position.

According to the player, Guus Hiddink was the first coach to recommend the change, telling Gakpo to become either a striker or a false number 9. During his time at PSV, Gakpo was given the same advice by Roger Schmidt.

While Gakpo completed his shift to the center during his time at Liverpool, it was during the 2022 World Cup that he began his transition.

The Netherlands is set to face Croatia on Wednesday, with Spain and Italy competing in the other semi-final. Both the game for 3rd place and the final are set to be played on Sunday.

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Manchester United wingers Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have both been omitted from the England squad for the upcoming set of UEFA Nations League fixtures. This sees the pair face an increased risk of missing out on securing a spot in England’s World Cup squad.

The pair’s absence comes as an even greater shock as Red Devils teammates Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw both made it into the squad despite being given smaller roles in Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United lineup. Rashford and Sancho both remain staple picks in ten Hag’s starting lineup.

Brentford forward Ivan Toney received his first England call-up following what was an impressive showing last season as well as a strong start to the current season, while Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell has been reinstated in the England squad following a prolonged absence through injury. Tottenham Hotspur defender Erik Dier has returned to the national team as well.

“There were certain players we wanted to keep involved this time, but that said it doesn’t mean that this is the end for some of the others who aren’t involved,” England manager Gareth Southgate assured, pointing out Rashford as a player who has exhibited positive signs as of late.

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France was crowned champions of the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League after defeating Spain 2-1 in the final at San Siro stadium on Sunday night.

While the first half of the game was fairly slow-paced, the match sparked to life in the 64th minute when Mikel Oyarzabal slotted the ball past French keeper Hugo Lloris to hand Spain the advantage.

Spain’s lead was short-lived, however, as two minutes later Karim Benzema unleashed a screamer which curled into the far corner of the net and leveled the scoreline. Just as the game looked as though it was headed for extra time, French striker Kylian Mbappe found himself one-on-one with the keeper. After a few stepovers, Mbappe cooly slotted the ball past Unai Simon to hand France a winning goal.

“We showed our character against a very strong team. We never gave up,” Karim Benzema stated after the full-time whistle. “It shows what great teams do. Never panic, be patient, and wait for the right time. We are going to enjoy this trophy and then go get the World Cup.”

France looks to be in a pole position to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. They currently lead group D with 12 points; four points clear of second-placed Ukraine.

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Spain showed up to Kyiv on a 15-game undefeated streak as they met Ukraine in Group A4 of the UEFA Nations League action, but the Yellow and Blue surprised everyone by dispatching of the 2010 World Cup winners by a 1-0 final.

Spain dominated the first half of the game, controlling possession and having a couple of clear chances at goal as Ukraine looked to be fighting for their lives.

Sergio Ramos hit the crossbar on a free-kick and Ansu Fati nearly found the net on a breakaway, but despite all of the pressure they withstood, Ukraine went into the locker room at halftime with the game knotted at 0.

After the break, Ukraine began to improve in play and their breakthrough came in the 76th minute of the match.

On a surprise breakaway, Andriy Yarmolenko made a stunning threaded pass to Dynamo Kyiv’s Viktor Tsygankov, who caught Spain keeper David de Gea out of position and far from the net. He fired a shot from outside of the box which found its target, sending the reduced capacity crowd into a frenzy.

Ukraine was able to hold on and secure a 1-0 victory, moving them to within a point of Spain and level with Germany in the Group A4 table.

The Blue and Yellow will look to continue their momentum as they match up with Germany on November 14th, while the Spanish will look to get back on track against Switzerland the same day.

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It was a magical night for Cristiano Ronaldo in Stockholm, Sweden last night, as the Portuguese striker scored two magnificent goals to push his career tally over the 100 mark for his country.

In Portugal’s 0-2 Nations League win over Sweden, Ronaldo starred as he tends to do for his native country. His first goal came just before halftime after he scored a free-kick goal from 28 meters out to give his team a 0-1 advantage.

This goal was the one hundredth of Ronaldo’s senior career with Portugal, who extended his career scoring mark over Pauleta’s 47.

Ronaldo then scored a second goal after halftime in the 72 minute mark, blasting an out-of-the-box spot into the top right corner, beating Sweden goalie Robin Olsen.

The ageless wonder’s 101st international goal put him just eight goals behind Iran’s Ali Daei for the top all-time men’s international goal scoring mark. At Ronaldo’s current pace, he’s nearly a sure thing to become the top goal scorer for his country over the next couple of years, at most.

The 35-year-old will now head back to Turin, Italy after two Nations League victories as he prepares for the upcoming 2020-21 season with his club team Juventus.

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In a fitting turn of events, the Portuguese national men’s soccer team won the inaugural UEFA Nations League tournament with a 1-0 win over the Netherlands on Sunday evening.

Why was this a fitting result? Well, in addition to being the reigning champions of the Euro Cup, Portugal also hosted the tournament and won the final at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto.

The win gives the Portuguese team a second trophy in only 4 years after they won the Euros in 2016.

Portugal controlled their matchup against the Dutch on Sunday, creating endless opportunities and shots on goal. The Dutch, despite holding the ball for more time, found it difficult to find open space due to Portugal’s tough defense.

Portugal’s goal finally came in the 60th minute when Valencia winger Gonçalo Guedes found the net and beat Jasper Cillessen after a rocket-like strike. He was assisted on the goal by Bernardo Silva, who turned in a masterful performance for the Portuguese.

Portugal will forever be known as the first-ever winners of this new UEFA tournament. Now, the national team and its star players will enjoy the fruits of their victory and turn their focus towards Euro qualifying for the next tournament, which will take place next summer.

The post Portugal Beats Netherlands 1-0 to Win UEFA Nations League appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Spain defeated Croatia 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw after extra time to win the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League title. This is la Furia Roja’s first trophy since the 2012 European Championship.

Both Spain and Croatia got the game off to a strong start, taking shots from early on in order to find an opener. Gavi almost scored for Spain in the 12th minute, dragging his shot inches wide of the goalpost, while Andrej Kramaric threatened the Spanish defense on a counterattack which required Aymeric Laporte to make a last-ditch tackle.

While Mario Pasalic and Josip Juranovic came close for Croatia in the second half, it was Spain that dominated proceedings in the latter stages. Ansu Fati looked certain to win the match for Spain with his close-range shot in the 84th minute, only for defender Ivan Perisic to clear the ball off the goal line.

Although Spain continued to dominate in extra time, it took penalties to decide the contest, with defender Dani Carvajal firing home the winning goal for Spain after goalkeeper Unai Simon saved penalties from both Lovro Majer and Bruno Petkovic.

Luis de la Fuente, who took over the role of Spain’s manager after the 2022 World Cup, told fans to express faith in his young squad of players. “These players are used to winning,” de la Fuente stated after the game. “They have won so much coming through the ranks and this can continue, I think this competitive streak is back and we can look forward to winning more.”

The post Spain Defeats Croatia on Penalties to Win UEFA Nations League appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Spain bested Italy in a 2-1 victory at the De Grolsch Veste stadium in the Netherlands on Thursday night to book their spot in the final of the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League.

La Furia Roja got the better of the Italians within three minutes of play when Yeremy Pino took advantage of a defensive error to hand Spain the lead after three minutes of play. Spain’s lead did not last long, however, with Ciro Immobile scoring a penalty just eight minutes later after debutant Robin Le Normand was deemed to have handled the ball in the box.

Dominating the ball with 63% possession and 19 shots compared to eight, it seemed as if Spain had run out of ideas as extra time loomed. Then, in the 88th minute, Rodri fired a long-range shot that was deflected into the path of Joselu, who scored from just four yards out.

“The team played a great game,” Joselu remarked after the game. “We dominated almost the entire second half, just the goal was missing. I was alone after Rodri’s shot, it fell (to me) and I was confident I wasn’t offside. I’m happy for my goal because we’re now into a final with a chance to win a trophy.”

Coach Luis de la Fuente’s squad will take on Croatia in the final of the UEFA Nations League in Rotterdam on Sunday.

The post Spain Defeats Italy to Clinch Spot in UEFA Nations League Final appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Cody Gakpo is looking to become the Netherlands’s first-choice center-forward at this week’s UEFA Nations League finals. Originally a left-winger, the 24-year-old player has been adapting to this role since joining Liverpool in January from PSV Eindhoven.

“Now that I’m playing at Liverpool I think it’s a nice position,” Gakpo told reporters on Sunday as the Netherlands prepares for the tournament. With Memphis Depay unavailable through injury, Gakpo is now in a prime position to lead the Dutch attack.

Gakpo went on to admit that several coaches had previously tried to convince him to switch from the wing to striker; a change that he resisted. During his interview, Gakpo said he has grown fond of his new position.

According to the player, Guus Hiddink was the first coach to recommend the change, telling Gakpo to become either a striker or a false number 9. During his time at PSV, Gakpo was given the same advice by Roger Schmidt.

While Gakpo completed his shift to the center during his time at Liverpool, it was during the 2022 World Cup that he began his transition.

The Netherlands is set to face Croatia on Wednesday, with Spain and Italy competing in the other semi-final. Both the game for 3rd place and the final are set to be played on Sunday.

The post Cody Gakpo to Step Up for Netherlands in Nations League Finals appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Manchester United wingers Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have both been omitted from the England squad for the upcoming set of UEFA Nations League fixtures. This sees the pair face an increased risk of missing out on securing a spot in England’s World Cup squad.

The pair’s absence comes as an even greater shock as Red Devils teammates Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw both made it into the squad despite being given smaller roles in Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United lineup. Rashford and Sancho both remain staple picks in ten Hag’s starting lineup.

Brentford forward Ivan Toney received his first England call-up following what was an impressive showing last season as well as a strong start to the current season, while Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell has been reinstated in the England squad following a prolonged absence through injury. Tottenham Hotspur defender Erik Dier has returned to the national team as well.

“There were certain players we wanted to keep involved this time, but that said it doesn’t mean that this is the end for some of the others who aren’t involved,” England manager Gareth Southgate assured, pointing out Rashford as a player who has exhibited positive signs as of late.

The post Rashford, Sancho Omitted From England Nations League Squad appeared first on SportzBonanza.

France was crowned champions of the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League after defeating Spain 2-1 in the final at San Siro stadium on Sunday night.

While the first half of the game was fairly slow-paced, the match sparked to life in the 64th minute when Mikel Oyarzabal slotted the ball past French keeper Hugo Lloris to hand Spain the advantage.

Spain’s lead was short-lived, however, as two minutes later Karim Benzema unleashed a screamer which curled into the far corner of the net and leveled the scoreline. Just as the game looked as though it was headed for extra time, French striker Kylian Mbappe found himself one-on-one with the keeper. After a few stepovers, Mbappe cooly slotted the ball past Unai Simon to hand France a winning goal.

“We showed our character against a very strong team. We never gave up,” Karim Benzema stated after the full-time whistle. “It shows what great teams do. Never panic, be patient, and wait for the right time. We are going to enjoy this trophy and then go get the World Cup.”

France looks to be in a pole position to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. They currently lead group D with 12 points; four points clear of second-placed Ukraine.

The post France Edges Out Spain to Lift Nations League Trophy appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Spain showed up to Kyiv on a 15-game undefeated streak as they met Ukraine in Group A4 of the UEFA Nations League action, but the Yellow and Blue surprised everyone by dispatching of the 2010 World Cup winners by a 1-0 final.

Spain dominated the first half of the game, controlling possession and having a couple of clear chances at goal as Ukraine looked to be fighting for their lives.

Sergio Ramos hit the crossbar on a free-kick and Ansu Fati nearly found the net on a breakaway, but despite all of the pressure they withstood, Ukraine went into the locker room at halftime with the game knotted at 0.

After the break, Ukraine began to improve in play and their breakthrough came in the 76th minute of the match.

On a surprise breakaway, Andriy Yarmolenko made a stunning threaded pass to Dynamo Kyiv’s Viktor Tsygankov, who caught Spain keeper David de Gea out of position and far from the net. He fired a shot from outside of the box which found its target, sending the reduced capacity crowd into a frenzy.

Ukraine was able to hold on and secure a 1-0 victory, moving them to within a point of Spain and level with Germany in the Group A4 table.

The Blue and Yellow will look to continue their momentum as they match up with Germany on November 14th, while the Spanish will look to get back on track against Switzerland the same day.

The post Ukraine Shocks Spain 1-0 in Nations League Matchup appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It was a magical night for Cristiano Ronaldo in Stockholm, Sweden last night, as the Portuguese striker scored two magnificent goals to push his career tally over the 100 mark for his country.

In Portugal’s 0-2 Nations League win over Sweden, Ronaldo starred as he tends to do for his native country. His first goal came just before halftime after he scored a free-kick goal from 28 meters out to give his team a 0-1 advantage.

This goal was the one hundredth of Ronaldo’s senior career with Portugal, who extended his career scoring mark over Pauleta’s 47.

Ronaldo then scored a second goal after halftime in the 72 minute mark, blasting an out-of-the-box spot into the top right corner, beating Sweden goalie Robin Olsen.

The ageless wonder’s 101st international goal put him just eight goals behind Iran’s Ali Daei for the top all-time men’s international goal scoring mark. At Ronaldo’s current pace, he’s nearly a sure thing to become the top goal scorer for his country over the next couple of years, at most.

The 35-year-old will now head back to Turin, Italy after two Nations League victories as he prepares for the upcoming 2020-21 season with his club team Juventus.

The post Ronaldo Scores 100th International Goal in Portugal Win appeared first on SportzBonanza.

In a fitting turn of events, the Portuguese national men’s soccer team won the inaugural UEFA Nations League tournament with a 1-0 win over the Netherlands on Sunday evening.

Why was this a fitting result? Well, in addition to being the reigning champions of the Euro Cup, Portugal also hosted the tournament and won the final at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto.

The win gives the Portuguese team a second trophy in only 4 years after they won the Euros in 2016.

Portugal controlled their matchup against the Dutch on Sunday, creating endless opportunities and shots on goal. The Dutch, despite holding the ball for more time, found it difficult to find open space due to Portugal’s tough defense.

Portugal’s goal finally came in the 60th minute when Valencia winger Gonçalo Guedes found the net and beat Jasper Cillessen after a rocket-like strike. He was assisted on the goal by Bernardo Silva, who turned in a masterful performance for the Portuguese.

Portugal will forever be known as the first-ever winners of this new UEFA tournament. Now, the national team and its star players will enjoy the fruits of their victory and turn their focus towards Euro qualifying for the next tournament, which will take place next summer.

The post Portugal Beats Netherlands 1-0 to Win UEFA Nations League appeared first on SportzBonanza.