Golden sub Joselu takes Spain into the UEFA Nations League final and sets up a juicy Croatia clash
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 15.06.23. | 23:49
Veteran striker scored only his third Spain goal, but he picked a great moment to score
Former Stoke and Newcastle striker Joselu scored in the dying minutes to give Spain a 2-1 UEFA Nations League semi-final win over Italy and set up an intriguing final clash with Croatia.
The 33-year-old striker only made his international debut earlier this year and marked the occasion by scoring twice in two minutes to give his country a 3-0 win over Norway. Tonight, coach Luis De La Fuente put him on with six minutes remaining, and he duly scored just three minutes later to give the 2010 World Cup winners a place in the UNL final.
The UEFA Nations League may not be everyone's first choice when picking out their favourite international football tournament, but you can't deny we've got pretty decent entertainment over the last two nights in the Netherlands.
❤️💛❤️ España vuelve a ganarle 2-1 a Italia, como en las semifinales de la anterior #NationsLeague, y acaricia un título 11 años después
— MARCA (@marca) June 15, 2023
🇪🇸🇭🇷 El domingo, la final, contra la Croacia de Modric pic.twitter.com/luVhXIs9yN
On Wednesday night, Croatia battled their way past the final tournament's hosts with a 4-2 extra-time win and watched calmly as two European heavyweights battled it out in Enshade.
Italy coach Roberto Mancini opted to start with Leonardo Bonucci in defence and lived to regret that decision barely two minutes into the game when the veteran dwelled on the ball and allowed Yeremy Pino to dispossess him, take a stride forward and curl the ball around Gianluigi Donnarumma to give Spain the early lead.
Gli Azzurri hit back shortly, though. Spain's debutant Robin Le Normand, the French-born defender who only got Spanish citizenship last month, handled in the box and gave Ciro Immobile a chance to put Italy level from the spot. Lazio's talisman made no mistake, sending Unai Simon the wrong way from 11 metres.
Only needed 3 minutes of the bench to score, bring Joselu to my beautiful club. pic.twitter.com/rwS8YBvyru
— Noodle Vini (@vini_ball) June 15, 2023
Davide Frattesi picked up a lovely pass from Jorginho and finished nicely, but the goal didn't stand because the VAR review spotted that he was fractionally offside.
The second half was a far choppier affair, but Joselu made his impact.
The final will be played on Sunday night at the legendary De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam.
UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE - SEMI-FINALS
Wednesday
The Netherlands - Croatia 2-4 a.e.t. (2-2, 1-0)
/Malen 34, Lang 90+6 - Kramaric 55 pen, Pasalic 72, Petkovic 98, Modric 116 pen/
Thursday
Spain - Italy 2-1 (1-1)
/Pino 3, Joselu 86 - Immobile 11 pen/
THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF
Sunday
16.00: Netherlands - Italy
FINAL
Sunday
21.45: Croatia - Spain
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