Croatia and Spain Fight to a Draw in UEFA Nations League Final

Spain Wins Penalty Shootout for Third Title

Match Report: Croatia 0-0 Spain (Spain wins 5-4 on penalties)

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) - Spain captured its first UEFA Nations League title Sunday after a thrilling 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Croatia in front of a packed crowd at Rotterdam's De Kuip stadium.

The match ended 0-0 after regulation time, as neither team could find a breakthrough in a tight and tense affair. In the penalty shootout, Dani Carvajal scored the winning penalty, sending Spain to victory and its first title since winning Euro 2012.

The victory is a significant achievement for Spain, which has struggled to replicate its past success on the international stage in recent years. The triumph will serve as a major confidence boost for the team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

For Croatia, the defeat is a disappointment after reaching the final of the previous Nations League edition in 2021. However, the team can take pride in its performance, which showed that it remains a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.