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Attendance: 33,018
Croatia national football team
Nations League | League Phase
Nov 15, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Spain national football team

3-2

Kramaric (54'), Jedvaj (69', 90')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Ceballos (56'), Ramos (78' pen.)

Jedvaj nets last-gasp winner as Croatia beat Spain to set up England showdown

The winner takes all at Wembley on Sunday.

Tin Jedvaj's stoppage-time strike earned Croatia a thrilling 3-2 victory over Spain in Zagreb to set up a winner takes all Nations League clash with England.

Victory at Wembley on Sunday will earn Croatia a place in the inaugural finals of the tournament after the World Cup runners-up responded from two Spain equalisers.

Andrej Kramaric put Croatia in front after 54 minutes, but Spain levelled through Dani Ceballos within two minutes.

Jedvaj restored the lead, only for Sergio Ramos to convert from the penalty spot after 77 minutes when Sime Vrsaljko was ruled to have handled in the area.

Both sides sought a winner, but it was Jedvaj who netted three minutes into added time for Croatia to move on to four points, alongside England and two behind Spain.

Spain won the reverse fixture 6-0 in Elche in September and a goalless draw with England last month meant Croatia were still seeking their first goal of the competition.

That almost changed after just six minutes when Ivan Rakitic released Ivan Perisic down the left.

Perisic cut in on to his right foot and hit a low shot which David de Gea turned on to the post.

Next Perisic fizzed a cross towards Kramaric, but the striker could not get a decisive touch to send it goalwards.

Spain were second best. Isco shot from the edge of the area, but Lovre Kalinic made a comfortable save to turn the ball over.

Croatia capitalised on poor Spanish defending nine minutes into the second half.

Ramos put Sergi Roberto under unnecessary pressure on Spain's right flank and the Barcelona right-back's lofted pass was intercepted by Perisic.

His header forwards fell kindly for Kramaric and the striker kept his composure to finish well.

The lead did not last long. Iago Aspas fed Isco in the left side of the box and the Real Madrid playmaker centred for Caballos, who showed desire to turn the ball in.

Rakitic tore through the Spain defence only to blast wide before the visitors spurned a chance to take the lead.

Kalinic lost Roberto's cross and Aspas lifted the ball on to the top of the crossbar from close range.

Frantic defending saw Isco thwarted after fine interplay with Caballos. Marco Asensio next had an effort blocked.

Having absorbed the pressure, it was Croatia who scored next when Luka Modric's pin-point cross was converted at the back post by Jedvaj.

Ante Rebic had an effort stopped by De Gea, who saved with his legs.

Alvaro Morata was next to be denied. Kalinic saved Isco's shot up into the air and Morata tried to send the rebound goalwards only for Vrsaljko to clear on the line.

Within moments, Spain had a penalty when Vrsaljko was adjudged to handled and Ramos scored.

The attacks continued, with Kramaric running at Spain. But he opted to shoot, rather than free Perisic.

There was still time for Croatia and substitute Josip Brekalo made space for a shot which De Gea saved, but only as far as Jedvaj, who netted to spark celebrations.

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League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal642014
Q Croatia Croatia62228
3 Scotland flag Scotland62137
4 Poland Poland61144

League A2

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Q France France641113
Q Italy Italy641113
3 Belgium Belgium61144
4 Israel Israel61144

League A3

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Q Germany Germany642014
Q Netherlands Netherlands62319
3 Hungary Hungary61326
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina60242

League A4

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Q Spain Spain651016
Q Denmark Denmark62228
3 Serbia Serbia61326
4 Switzerland Switzerland60242

League B1

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Q Czech Republic Czech Republic632111
2 Ukraine Ukraine62228
3 Georgia Georgia62137
4 Albania national flag Albania62137

League B2

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Q England flag England650115
2 Greece Greece650115
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland62046
4 Finland Finland60060

League B3

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Q Norway Norway641113
2 Austria Austria632111
3 Slovenia Slovenia62228
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan60151

League B4

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Q Wales flag Wales633012
2 Turkey Turkey632111
3 Iceland Iceland62137
4 Montenegro Montenegro61053

League C1

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Q Sweden Sweden651016
2 Slovakia Slovakia641113
3 Estonia Estonia61144
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan60151

League C2

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Q Romania Romania550015
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo540112
3 Cyprus Cyprus62046
4 Lithuania Lithuania60060

League C3

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Q Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland632111
2 Bulgaria Bulgaria62319
3 Belarus Belarus61417
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg60333

League C4

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Q Macedonia N. Macedonia651016
2 Armenia Armenia62137
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands61326
4 Latvia Latvia61144

League D1

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Q San Marino flag San Marino42117
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar41306
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein40222

League D2

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Q Republic of Moldova Moldova43019
2 Malta flag Malta42117
3 Andorra flag Andorra40131


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