The third-placed team from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Croatia, has managed to knock out the hosts of the UEFA Nations League playoffs, the Netherlands, with a 4-2 victory on Wednesday after extra time in the first semi-final of the UEFA Nations League.

The Croatians played in the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, where they lost to France, and they also made the last four of the competition in Qatar last year. However, despite their gallant efforts in almost all situation and led by Luka Modric, Croatia still await their first senior national team major title.

The Netherlands took the lead through Doyen Malen in the 34th minute, Andre Kramaric equalized from the penalty spot ten minutes into the second half, while Mario Pasalic put the Croatians in front in the 72nd minute.

Club Brugge’s Noa Lang forced extra time after a goal deep into stoppage to make it 2-2. However, the extra time was all Croatia as they dominated the Oranjes, scoring one goal in each half of the extra time with clothes coming from Bruno Petkovic and a 116th-minute penalty from Modric to make it a 4-2 win for the Croats.

There was late drama in extra-time stoppage time as Bruno Petkovic was denied his brace by the VAR in the 122nd minute. Nevertheless, it didn’t stop the Croats from reaching another major final, where they will hope to retire many veterans with a perfect sending-off capped by a major trophy.

Meanwhile, the second semi-final will happen on Thursday as Italy and Spain will go head-to-head with the European Champions hoping to console themselves with a UEFA Nations League trophy after missing out on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and also replicating the feat of Portugal, who won the 2016 euro as well as the First Nations league title two years later.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu