ZCZC
BSP-07
FBL-EUR-NATIONS-CRO-ESP
Croatia stun Spain as Jedvaj strikes twice to keep hopes alive
ZAGREB, Nov 16, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Spain passed up the chance to seal
progress to the Nations League finals as they were beaten 3-2 by Croatia on
Thursday, undone by a 93rd-minute winner from Tin Jedvaj.
Jedvaj’s late strike leaves Group 4 wide open ahead of its final fixture
between England and Croatia on Sunday. The victors will qualify, while Spain
can still go through if the match at Wembley finishes in a draw.
Croatia were deserving winners in Zagreb, where Jedvaj scored twice — his
first international goals — to snatch a memorable victory at the end of a
pulsating contest.
Andrej Kramaric had put Croatia ahead but twice Spain came back, as Dani
Ceballos’ equaliser and Sergio Ramos’ penalty looked to have earned them a
point, before Jedvaj prodded in deep into injury-time.
Croatia will now head to London with a spring in their step while Spain are
left to ponder back-to-back defeats under their new coach Luis Enrique,
following their surprise loss by the same scoreline at home to England last
month.
“I am obviously worried about the things we have to improve. But I think
football today has not been fair to us,” Enrique said.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said: “We were rewarded for a magnificent
match.”
Spain are at least safe from relegation, which cannot be said of either
England or Croatia, who could still both finish first or last come Sunday
night. England will be relegated if they lose or are held to a score draw.
Croatia will go down if they are beaten or draw 0-0.
“It shows it was a very difficult group,” Luis Enrique added. “We still
have a chance.”
– ‘Win or wait in hope’ –
Diario AS summed up Spain’s position with the headline “Win or wait in
hope” on Thursday. For Croatia, there was pride to be restored, after their
6-0 humiliation in Elche in September. “Six reasons to respond”, read the
front page of Croatian daily Sportske Novosti.
Eight of their 11 World Cup finalists started as Jedvaj, Nikola Kalinic and
Kramaric replaced Ivan Strinic, Danijel Subasic and Mario Mandzukic, the
latter two having since retired from international football.
Jordi Alba went straight into Spain’s line-up while Athletic Bilbao’s Inigo
Martinez played alongside Ramos in central defence, with Nacho out injured.
Croatia dominated the opening exchanges but Spain began dictating
possession as the half wore on, even if Isco’s long-range shot shortly before
half-time was their only real effort of note.
The game was more balanced and open after the restart and two goals arrived
in as many minutes. First, Ramos and Sergi Roberto were pressed into a
mistake, the latter’s poor pass allowing Kramaric to sneak in and slot past
De Gea with 53 minutes gone.
Spain performed better at the other end. Ceballos bundled in a quick
equaliser and Aspas should have added another soon after but poked onto the
crossbar.
Spain paid the price for that miss when Jedvaj headed in his first
international goal after meeting Luka Modric’s sumptuous cross at the back
post.
Marcelo Brozovic should have put Croatia out of sight but spurned a one-on-
one, his shot grazing De Gea on its way wide. This time Spain made them pay.
Sime Vrsaljko hacked substitute Alvaro Morata’s header off the line before
giving away a penalty, lowering his arm to meet a cross that was probably on
its way behind. Ramos made no mistake from the spot.
Kramaric could have scored a late winner on the counter-attack but instead
it was Jedvaj who struck the decisive blow three minutes into injury time.
Croatia kept the ball alive at the back post before Josip Brekalo fired at
goal. De Gea might have done better than push the shot to his left where
Jedvaj was perfectly placed.
Elsewhere in League A on Thursday, Michy Batshuayi scored a double in
Brussels as Belgium saw off Iceland 2-0 to ensure they will only need a point
from Sunday’s game in Switzerland to reach the finals.
Bosnia and Herzegovina were promoted to League A following their goalless
draw in Austria.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0904 hrs