Points to prove for all of Nations League final four
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(From left) Marten de Roon, Frenkie de Jong and Virgil van Dijk of the Netherlands during a training session on June 10.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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ENSCHEDE – Aiming to follow in the footsteps of Portugal and France, four of Europe’s strongest sides will battle to win the third edition of the Uefa Nations League this week.
Hosts the Netherlands face Croatia in Rotterdam on Wednesday in the first semi-final, while Spain and Italy clash in Enschede on Thursday, ahead of Sunday’s final.
None of the “final four” have won a trophy in over a decade, except for Italy – although the Euro 2020 champions have plenty to prove after failing to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The biennial tournament began in 2018, giving European nations more competitive fixtures instead of international friendlies, with the four group winners of the strongest “A” tier reaching the final four.
Quarter-finalists in Qatar, the Netherlands’ last success came in the 1988 European Championship.
“We can write history,” said coach Ronald Koeman, who replaced Louis van Gaal following the World Cup.
“It was always about a European Championship or World Cup, but now the Nations League has been added. They are still talking about 1988, when there were eight teams (in the tournament). That says it all.”
Koeman was at the helm when the Netherlands finished runners-up to Portugal in the first Nations League Finals, in 2019.
The coach, who later departed to take over at Barcelona but returned in January, hopes home advantage can spur his team on, adding: “The players will push themselves and perform better as a team.”
Netherlands got the better of Belgium, Poland and Wales in Group A4 to reach the Finals.
In their way lie Croatia, who proved their mettle in Qatar by knocking out favourites Brazil and ultimately finishing third.
Quarter-finalists in Qatar, the Netherlands’ last success came in the 1988 European Championship.
PHOTO: AFP
For some players, including 37-year-old Real Madrid midfield maestro Luka Modric, the tournament represents one of the last chances to win silverware at international level – something Croatia have never managed.
“It would be phenomenal to win the Nations League and snatch a trophy for Croatia,” said striker Andrej Kramaric, 31.
“For a number of us older players, this seems like a great chance to mark our international career with a trophy.”
Croatia beat France in Paris on their way to topping Group A1, also finishing ahead of Denmark and Austria.
Both the Netherlands and Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia will be missing key defenders through injury, with Matthijs de Ligt and Josko Gvardiol sidelined respectively.
Spain finished runners-up to France in the 2021 final, beating Italy in the first game.
The sides have clashed multiple times on big stages, including in the Euro 2020 semi-finals, with Italy progressing on penalties before beating England to lift the trophy.
The last time Spain won a trophy, at Euro 2012, they thrashed Italy 4-0 in the final.
Luis de la Fuente’s team arrive in the tournament under pressure after a 2-0 loss to Scotland in March in Euro 2024 qualifying.
The last time Spain won a trophy, at Euro 2012, they thrashed Italy 4-0 in the final.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
The coach was a surprise replacement for Luis Enrique after Spain were knocked out of the World Cup by Morocco in the last 16.
Goalkeeper Unai Simon said Spain’s style of play had not changed too much under de la Fuente.
“We go direct a bit more, but generally it hasn’t changed a lot,” he said.
“There are areas that change and we have to adapt to that but we have the key elements and with them we’ll go all out against Italy.”
Spain reached the final four under Enrique by seeing off Portugal, Switzerland and the Czech Republic in Group A2.
Italy coach Roberto Mancini has called up five Inter Milan players for the Finals, who will arrive after finishing runners-up in the Champions League final.
Italy players during a training session in Florence on June 12.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
After the Azzurri missed the World Cup, the final four provides another chance for them to flex their muscles.
Mancini said the Nations League campaign allowed him a look at some of the country’s emerging stars, including Giacomo Raspadori of Napoli and Leeds’ Wilfried Gnonto.
“It’s a pleasure for me to let these young lads play in such high-profile matches,” he said.
“Having them compete in such high-level games surely helped them grow.”
Italy won Group A3, ahead of Germany, England and Hungary. AFP
