The Dutch and Croatia, Italy against Spain in the League of Nations final
NYON, Switzerland, Jan 25 (Reuters) – World Cup bronze medalists Croatia have been drawn against hosts Holland in June’s Nations League semi-final, while Italy and Spain will resume their rivalry in the other semi-final.
The four countries were winners of their A League groups last year and compete in a mid-year mini-tournament to decide the 2022-23 title.
Wednesday’s draw, which took place at UEFA headquarters in Switzerland, sees the Dutch host Croatia, fresh from reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, in Rotterdam on June 14, while Italy and Spain clash in Enschede the following day.
The winners advance to the final in Rotterdam on June 18, with a play-off for third place earlier that day in Enschede.
Spain were runners-up to France in the last edition in 2021, first eliminating hosts Italy in their semi-final with a Ferran Torres double in a 2-1 win in Milan.
Italy and the Netherlands are also returning to the finals for the second time, while this is the first time for Croatia.
The Italians were third in 2021, while the Dutch were runners-up at the inaugural competition in Portugal in 2019.
The League of Nations is a biennial competition in which all European countries compete, which are divided into a league structure with four levels. It effectively replaced friendlies previously played on dates in the international fixture calendar.
Draw:
Semi-final
June 14: Netherlands vs. Croatia, Rotterdam
June 15: Spain v Italy, Enschede
Playoff for third place
June 18 in Enschede
Final
June 18 in Rotterdam
Written by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing: Frank Jack Daniel and Christian Radnedge
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