A spectacular evening in the Nations League, with 27 goals scored in eight matches, 7 of which were scored by England alone. The Three Lions were unstoppable by Croatia, completely destroyed. Spain responded, defeating the Czech Republic 3-1, led by Yamal, author of a goal that made coach De La Fuente put his hands on his head.
SPAIN-CZECH REP. 3-1
Spain, changed especially in defense and attack, also managed to win in Oviedo against the Czech Republic. De La Fuente chose Raya in goal instead of Unai Simon and also rested Cubarsi, Cucurella, Pubill and Oyarzabal. The one who can never be missing is certainly Lamine Yamal, who needs only 6 minutes to find the fourth goal in the last three matches with the national team. The Barcelona phenomenon receives the ball from Dani Olmo and from the edge of the area launches a perfect left-footed shot, with an arc, that ends immediately under the crossbar. In the 35th minute, Rodri thinks of giving his team a double advantage: the 2024 Ballon d'Or passes to Olmo, who sends it to the center, and the ball returns to his feet after an unfortunate deflection by a Czech defender. At that point, it was child's play for him to send the ball into the net and make it 2-0.
In the second half, the La Roja coach also gives space to Yeremy Pino and Munoz, but Spain relaxes and in the 69th minute the Czech Republic narrows the gap with Slaman, who beats goalkeeper Raya with a beautiful low left-footed shot at the far post, after an assist from Hlozek. De La Fuente's team returns to control the game and, after remaining numerically superior after Krejci's dismissal, closes the match in the 89th minute with Mikel Merino, who proves capable of pushing the ball into the net after Kinsky saves Munoz's shot. Thus ends 3-1 in Oviedo, with the reigning world and European champions taking their third consecutive victory in the Nations League and responding to England's great victory, which at 18:00 had defeated Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka.
CROATIA-ENGLAND 0-7
England destroyed Modric and his team in a match dominated from start to finish and climbed to 6 points in Group 3 of League A of the UEFA Nations League. To give the advantage to Tuchel's team, which had been at risk from the beginning with Gordon, it could have been none other than Harry Kane: the Bayern Munich striker took the ball from Bellingham and scored 1-0 in the 8th minute. The English continued to create chances and in the 21st minute the advantage was doubled, this time with the Real Madrid midfielder, who beat Livakovic with a touch in the extension after a pass from Gordon, which came after a brilliant control in the air. The winger, a former Newcastle player, after the assist also found his goal, in the 39th minute, with a header after a cross from Quansah. Croatia tries to react, but Tuchel's team is deadly on the counterattack: Bellingham takes the ball from Gordon again, sends it to the center and finds Saka, who, all alone, has only to push the ball into the net. In the 45th minute, the score is already 4-0.
Bilic tries to wake up his team with three substitutions in the 45th minute, but the music doesn't change. In the 53rd minute comes Harry Kane's double, who slides past Livakovic after an assist from Anderson. No one in history had ever managed to score five goals against Croatia on away goals. But it doesn't end there, because in the 68th minute Bukayo Saka also scores the second goal of the evening, this time taking advantage of a mistake by Stanisic, like all his teammates, completely out of the game. Tuchel also activates Rogers, who in the 87th minute seals the final score 7-0: the Chelsea attacking midfielder, launched into space, passes Livakovic and scores into the empty net. A crushing victory for Tuchel's team, which climbs to 6 points in the group; Meanwhile, a heavy blow for Croatia, which, in a stadium with closed doors (entry was only allowed for 5,000 children), suffers a historic defeat.
UEFA Nations League
League A: Group 3
Croatia 0-7 England
Spain 3-1 Czech Republic
League B: Group 1
North Macedonia 0-2 Scotland
Switzerland 2-1 Slovenia
League C: Group 1
Finland 2-1 Albania
Belarus 4-0 San Marino
League C: Group 4
Estonia 1-0 Luxembourg
Iceland 3-0 Bulgaria
