NATIONS LEAGUE FINAL LIVE: SPAIN AND CROATIA CHASE TITLE GLORY IN EXTRA-TIME!

A clever piece of work from Alvaro Morata to earn his side the first corner of this final. Pino then gives away a free-kick for a foul on Kramarić after Asensio swings over the corner.

Modric is such a joy to behold. Not afraid to do the hard yards in getting back to help out his team-mates. A bit of shift so far for him with Spain enjoying the most meaningful possession.

Aymeric Laporte shows his quality to wallop clear a cross after their opponents crossed the halfway line. Croatia arguably looking slightly fatigued at the moment.

Suddenly the former world champions look in control of matters as teenager Gavi nudges a shot just wide from the edge of the box. So close to the opener. Livakovic was rooted to the spot. Gavi should probably have found the net.

Fabian Ruiz with an innocuous cross ball, but Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic drops the ball and it hits his right hand post. Alvaro Morata quick to react, but Livakovic swipes the ball away from his feet. The offside flag goes up. So wouldn't have counted. Panic over! For now.

Spain opting to operate with a high defence in keeping the press on with Unai Simón apparently operating as a sweeper. Part of the modern game. No shots at goal so far, but plenty of neat and tidy possession play.

Both sides still feeling their way into the match as Gavi is penalised for a foul on Brozović. Nothing too much in that and we play on.

When you are dealing with such technical brilliance, there are going to be times when you don't have the ball. Unai Simón having to look lively to clear in the Spain goal before collecting a cross with ease seconds later.

Some nice passing play from Croatia, who are roared on by a large crowd inside the De Kuip. Josip Juranovic on the charge before he retains possession by opting to go backwards.

Spain in traditional red, Croatia in the darkish blue number with the trademark look.

Who will join Portugal and France as winners of the Nations League? Almost ready to go with the national anthems in progress and Dutch football icon Giovanni van Bronckhorst bringing the silverware onto the pitch. Which looks like a bowling green. Ideal to get that ball on the deck for passing football. Can't wait for this one.

Spain are contesting their ninth major final this evening having won the World Cup in 2010 and the Euros in 1964, 2008 and 2012. It would be Croatia's first major title and the neutral might be keen to see Luka Modric complete his golden international career with such a key trophy before he calls it a day. The bookmakers rightly see this is as a tight contest. Spain are 1/2 with Croatia 13/8 against.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić is wary of Spanish pace. He said: "We know Spain very well, they like possession, they have great individuals and great technical style, they are very fast, it's a top team. We have experience playing against them in Copenhagen at Euro 2020, where we lost in extra time. But we have quality to play against them."

Spain coach Luis De La Fuente predicts an even contest. "Two great teams will play tomorrow and the final is very evenly balanced,” he said. "We and Croatia are two of the best in Europe. We'll try and use our strengths and enjoy our virtues. That's our principal aim – be superior to a very good rival. We have talked through every possible scenario. We want to win it in 90 minutes if we can. They have more experience in playing 120 minutes, but that's football. If you get to the final experience counts."

European champions Italy beat hosts the Netherlands 3-2 to take third place in the Nations League finals. Defeats to Spain and Croatia respectively left the two heavyweights vying for the consolation prize and the Azzurri came out on top, taking a 2-0 lead into the break before a Federico Chiesa strike kept a resurgent Oranje at bay in the second half.

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Not hugely surprising to hear Manchester City midfielder Modri heap praise on Croatia icon Luka Modric, who will earn a remarkable 166th cap for his country tonight. At the age of 37, the Real Madrid creative force is Croatia’s most-capped player after winning his first cap 17 years ago. This is his 66th game of the season. Truly astonishing stats. Croatia aren't an ordinary team. They are a bit anarchic,” said Modri. “Modrić will pop up everywhere, Brozović will drop deep, Kovacić does his thing. They are an unpredictable, interesting side. Croatia because of the teams they've beaten in World Cups, Euros and Nations League have shown they're among the best. I want us to win this tournament.”

Spain lead Croatia 5-3 since they first clashed in a friendly match in March 1994. Which Croatia won 2-0 in Valencia courtesy of goals from Robert Prosinecki and Davor Suker, two icons of their generation and part of the team’s surge to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals in France. The recent Nations League meetings in 2018 saw Spain wallop their opponents 6-0 in Elche before Zlatko Dalic’s side avenged the drubbing with a 3-2 win in Zagreb. Fair to say, neither side are shy about scoring goals in these dramatic matches.

Two frantic semi-finals were played out earlier in the week with Croatia enjoying a 4-2 extra-time victory against the Netherlands on Wednesday before Spain completed a 2-1 success over Italy courtesy of Joselu’s late winning goal 24 hours later.

Spain are of course hoping for a better outcome after losing 2-1 to France in this final two years in Milan, the second edition of the Nations League finals. Portugal won the inaugural UEFA tournament with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in 2019.

Marco Asensio replaces Rodrigo Moreno for Spain with coach Luis de la Fuente also bringing in Fabian Ruiz to take over from Mikel Merino in midfield. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic makes one change with Erlić coming in for Vida in central defence from their semi-final win over the Netherlands. Two strong sides for the season-ending final with real potential.

Starting line-ups for Nations League final in Rotterdam:

Croatia: Livakovic, Juranovic, Erlic, Sutalo, Perisic, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Pasalic, Kramaric, Ivanusec

Spain: Simon, Navas, Le Normand, Laporte, Alba, Rodri, Ruiz, Asensio, Gavi, Pino, Morata

Welcome to the final of the Nations League with Spain and Croatia bidding to end their respective campaigns in rousing style in Rotterdam. A 7.45pm kick-off (BST) and it has all the makings of a classic. Croatia are chasing a first major title this evening at the famous De Kuip – home of Dutch giants Feyenoord – after reaching the final of the 2018 World Cup and the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in December while the Spanish are bidding to invoke memories of their golden generation that lifted the 2010 World Cup in between their Barcelona-inspired European Championship triumphs in 2008 and 2012.

If it is half as good as their recent meeting in Copenhagen in the last 16 of the delayed Euro 2020 in 2021, it could be quite the contest with the nations producing the second-highest-scoring match in the tournament’s history. Second only to France’s 5-4 win over Yugoslavia in the 1960 semi-finals. Mario Pašalić forced extra-time with a stoppage-time equaliser that only for Álvaro Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal to seal victory for Spain. Could be a fun few hours ahead.