Croatia 0-0 Spain (4-5 pens): Nations League glory for La Roja after Unai Simon saves twice in penalty shoot-out

Dani Carvajal converted the winning penalty as Spain completed a 5-4 shoot-out win over Croatia to claim victory in the third Nations League final after extra-time saw an absorbing match finish goalless in Rotterdam.

Bruno Petkovic saw his penalty saved by Unai Simon in the Spain goal at De Kuip before the Real Madrid player kept his cool to audaciously slot the ball down the centre as Croatia goalkeeper keeper Dominik Livakovic was sent spinning the wrong way.

The dramatic finale denied Luka Modric the chance of a first major trophy for Croatia on his record 166th appearance for his country, with Spain joining Portugal and France as winners of the Nations League.

Both sides had chances throughout the contest with Ansu Fati going closest for Spain in seeing an effort knocked off the line by the outstanding Ivan Perisic in the closing moments of the 90 minutes.

Spain celebrate a first international trophy since winning Euro 2012 and join France in becoming only the second nation to lift the World Cup, European Championship and Nations League. France defeated Spain 2-1 in the 2019 final in Milan.

Aymeric Laporte had the chance to win it for Spain in the nerve-shredding spectacle of penatlies, but he struck the bar with his team’s fifth penalty after Simon had denied Lovro Majer seconds earlier.

The first penalty of sudden death enabled Carvajal to clinch it for Spain after Petkovic had failed to convert.

Much to the despair of the large following of Croatia fans, who saw their team lose 3-0 to Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals in December.