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Croatia has maintained its hopes of reaching the League of Nations finals next year after the victory of its left-back Tin Jedvaj, winner of the last stop of the race, in a 3-2 victory against Spain in an electrifying shock of Group 4, Thursday.
Football – League of Nations of the Nations of UEFA – League A – Group 4 – Croatia / Spain – Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia – November 15, 2018 Croatian Tin Jedvaj celebrates his third goal REUTERS / Marko Djurica
ZAGREB: Croatia have maintained their hopes of qualifying for the final stage of the League of Nations after Tin Jedvaj's 3-2 victory, the winner of the break in the match, on a 3-2 win against Spain in a shocking electrifying group 4, Thursday.
Spain remained top of the group with six points in four matches, but its fate is no longer in its hands since England and Croatia, who have four matches in three matches 39 will face Wembley on Sunday.
The winners would finish ahead and reach the final 2019, while the Spaniards remain at the top of the standings.
The victory took Croatia away (6-0) against Croatia in the first leg and coach Zlatko Dalic is confident that his two World Cup finalists can win the group.
"We have to take advantage and do our best, because I'm sure we have the power to beat England," he told the Croatian press.
"It was a great game, five goals, a roller coaster and in the end we deserved to win, the guys all fought to win, they all advanced in the last few minutes and the bet paid off.
"The best of this new team is yet to come," said Dalic, who oversaw Croatia's victory over the 2-1 World Cup semi-final against England in July.
Jedvaj appeared as the hero of Croatia with his first two goals on the international scene, which delighted the local audience with his second goal after Spain came back twice from behind.
Striker Andrej Kramaric opened the scoring in the 56th minute. Dani Ceballos tied his first goal for Spain just two minutes later.
Jedvaj restored Croatia's advantage with a close header before Sergio Ramos converted a penalty to bring Spain's level back to 12 minutes from the end.
Croatia started fast and missed two good chances while Isco was close to Spain with a powerful shot.
Spain fell behind after a calamitous error by Sergi Roberto, who gave the ball to Ivan Perisic and the winger released Kramaric to beat David de Gea with a clean eight-meter finish.
The joy of Croatia was short-lived when Ceballos swept the ball six meters after the good work done by Isco and Iago Aspas.
Jedvaj, who was playing in an unusual position as he was normally deployed on the opposite flank, raised the score to 2-1 thanks to an advanced Luke Modric header.
Spain equalized after Sime Vrsaljko missed the ball twice and Ramos sent goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic the wrong way.
Croatia forced the final bend while De Gea could only parry the low shot of substitute Josip Brekalo and Jedvaj again emerged to pound the return.
(Zoran Milosavljevic's writing in Belgrade, edition of Ed Osmond)
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