Izuchukwu Okosi
Croatia are on the cusp of a first international triumph after beating hosts the Netherlands in a dramatic Uefa Nations League semi-final Wednesday night.
Extra time substitute Bruno Petkovic struck from distance in extra-time before Luka Modric’s penalty settled a remarkable game in Rotterdam.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelA 96th-minute Dutch equaliser from Noa Lang had denied Croatia in normal time.
But Zlatko Dalic’s side will now play Italy or Spain in Sunday’s final, while the Dutch face a third-place play-off.
Croatia had seemed destined for the final when Andrej Kramaric’s penalty and a Mario Pasalic volley put them ahead after Donyell Malen’s opener.
But Lang’s last-gasp hooked finish levelled the game at 2-2.
Croatia, though, picked themselves up and Petkovic – introduced at the start of extra-time – slammed a fine strike past the Netherlands keeper Justin Bijlow.
Their victory was sealed by 37-year-old talisman Modric from the penalty spot with four minutes left, after he was felled by a clumsy Tyrell Malacia challenge.
It means Croatia have reached just their second international final, following the 2018 World Cup where they were beaten 4-2 by France.
For the Dutch, their international trophy drought now extends to beyond 35 years – they have not won a major title since the 1988 European Championships.
It also continues Ronald Koeman’s inauspicious start to his second spell as the Netherlands manager, having lost 4-0 to France in a Euro 2024 qualifier in March.
Coming at the end of a long season – Nathan Ake, Denzel Dumfries and Marcelo Brozovic all played just four days after featuring in the Champions League final – both sides struggled to reach a competitive tempo in the early stages.
But, by the end, fans inside De Kuip had witnessed a frenzied thriller.
The Dutch, roared on by a colourful and boisterous crowd, found their rhythm first as Malen opened the scoring on 34 minutes.
A nice passing move from the hosts reached the Borussia Dortmund striker 16 yards out, and he slotted into the bottom corner.
Croatia, however, controlled possession better and eight minutes after the interval, Modric – making his 165th international appearance – capitalised on a loose touch from Cody Gakpo and was brought down in the area by the Liverpool forward. Kramaric calmly slotted the penalty down the middle.
Croatia, who came from behind to beat Canada, Japan and Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar last year, looked to have completed yet another turnaround with 18 minutes to play. Luka Ivanusec lifted in a cross which Pasalic swept in first-time from 10 yards.
The Netherlands – with former Manchester United loanee Wout Weghorst brought on as a substitute – bombarded the Croatian box in response with crosses and long balls, finding reward in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Lang cleverly struck home a loose ball.
But this Croatia side have built their reputation on never knowing when to quit. Their approach was exemplified by Modric, who claimed his side’s fourth goal and is now within reach of historic international silverware to go with his trophy-laden club career at Real Madrid.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
