Joselu’s late winner puts Spain into Nations League final

ENSCHEDE, Netherlands: Substitute Joselu scored a fortunate winner three minutes from the end as Spain booked their place in a second successive Nations League final with a deserved 2-1 victory over Italy on Thursday (Jun 15).

Coach Luis de la Fuente’s side will meet Croatia in Sunday’s decider in Rotterdam having lost to France in the final two years ago. Italy take on hosts Netherlands for the bronze medal.

Spain capitalised on a defensive lapse to take the lead inside three minutes as Yeremy Pino produced a cool finish, but when debutant Robin Le Normand handled the ball in the box, Italy’s Ciro Immobile scored his first international goal in two years from the penalty spot.

Extra-time looked inevitable as both teams ran out of ideas in search of a winner, and perhaps fittingly it came in bizarre circumstances when Rodri’s fierce shot bounced off two defenders and fell kindly for Joselu to poke home from four yards.

The result was a repeat of their 2021 semi-final and became a battle between Spain’s possession game and Italy’s ability to hit them on the counter-attack with swift breaks.

Spain enjoyed 61 per cent of the ball, but as has been the case for them in recent times struggled to make use of it.

They were gifted the opener when Leonardo Bonucci was caught in possession by Yeremy, and the Spaniard slid the ball into the far corner.

But Italy struck back straight away with good fortune of their own. They were awarded a clear penalty when debutant centre back Le Normand handled the ball in the box and Immobile sent Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon the wrong way from the spot.

Italy thought they had hit the front when Jorginho’s excellent pass put Davide Frattesi through on goal, but his calm finish was in vain as he was ruled