The third winner of the Nations League, a competition that was played for the first time in 2019, will emerge from a final four between Italy, the Netherlands, Croatia and Spain between June 14 and 18, 2023. For the Azzurra, the Oranje and the red one is not the first time. De Kuip, in Rotterdam, is aiming for the final, as in the 2000 European Championship.
Three tournaments and at least three semi-finals. Luis Enrique does not fail. Waiting for what happens in Qatar, the Spaniard has reached a Nations League final, a European Championship semifinal and has obtained the ticket for this final four. With his booklet, with his own style, with his calls and his ideas. In that, the selector will not change.
But it is that the bets go well for him. Nico Williams's in Braga (Portugal) was the last one. But before that came Yeremi Pino, Gavi, Pedri, Laporte, Unai Simón and Ferran Torres. If they give up on him, he will keep calling and trusting them. At the moment, with all of them, Spain has subscribed to the places of honor.
Finalist of the first edition, the Netherlands has completed a great qualifying phase, with five wins and one draw. In addition to the 16 points, they contemplate him 14 goals. The block is very consolidated, with Van Dijk, De Ligt, Aké, Frenkie de Jong and Memphis, as references. The speedy Gakpo and Bergwijn open the field. It is a very academic team that lacks belief in the big moments.
The Nations League will be the first major challenge for Ronald Koeman, who after the World Cup will replace Van Gaal, who will have closed his third spell as head of the Oranje team.
Italy removes the penalties of the World Cups. The Transalpine team was cured of the disappointment of not being in Qatar with its great role in the Nations League, without forgetting that in 2021 it was already the host but lost against Spain in the semifinal. La Nazionale keeps Roberto Mancini on the bench, the coach who gave them their first international title since 1982 in the last European Championship.
One of its mainstays is the goalkeeper Donnarumma, well escorted by the system of three central defenders and two lanes. In midfield, Barella and Cristante are already veterans alongside the generational change that they promote in attack, where Raspadori (Naples) -who opened the scoring in the decisive match against Hungary-, Gnonto (Leeds) or Scamacca (West Ham) they begin to stand out above the classic Immobile, Belotti, Insigne and Bernardeschi.
Talking about Croatia is talking about their midfield. Modric, Kovacic, Brozovic and Perisic continue to be his backbone. The madridista will be about to turn 38 when the final four is played. But Dalic, in office since 2017, has unwavering faith in them. In defense, the appearance of Gvardiol (Leipzig), for whom the greats of the Premier are fighting, is excellent news, waiting for Lovro Majer (Rennes midfielder) to make the leap. As has happened to them since Mandzukic's goodbye, the goal has no owner.
But the Croats are very competitive. They have won all three of their away matches in Denmark, France and Austria. In the European Championship they defeated Scotland in Glasgow and in 2018 they reached the World Cup final after getting rid of Russia in Sochi in the quarterfinals.
