Croatia stunned the Netherlands 4-2 in extra time on Wednesday to reach the final of the UEFA Nations League.
The Croats, who finished third at the World Cup in Qatar last year, were the better team for long periods but had to come from behind twice to secure their place in the final.
Donyell Malen gave the Netherlands the lead in the 34th minute, but Andrej Kramaric equalized from the penalty spot in the 55th.
The Dutch took the lead again through Steven Bergwijn in the 89th minute, but Croatia responded with two goals in extra time.
Bruno Petkovic scored the equaliser in the 95th minute, before Luka Modric converted a penalty in the 118th minute to seal Croatia's victory.
Croatia will now face either Italy or Spain in the final on Sunday.
Modric Stars Again
Luka Modric was the star of the show for Croatia, scoring a goal and setting up another.
The Real Madrid midfielder was at his imperious best, dictating the pace of the game and pulling the strings in midfield.
Modric is now 37 years old, but he showed no signs of slowing down on Wednesday. He was a constant thorn in the side of the Dutch defense and was instrumental in Croatia's victory.
Golden Generation Continues to Shine
Croatia's golden generation continues to shine. The team that reached the World Cup final in 2018 is still going strong and is now one step away from winning another major trophy.
Modric, Ivan Perisic, Ivan Rakitic, and Mateo Kovacic are all still playing at a high level and are the backbone of this Croatia team.
The Croats have a chance to make history on Sunday and become the first team to win the Nations League. They will be confident of doing so, having already beaten the Netherlands twice in this competition.
Netherlands' Young Squad Learns Valuable Lessons
The Netherlands' young squad learned some valuable lessons on Wednesday. The team that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2014 is still young and inexperienced.
The likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, and Donyell Malen are all still developing and have a lot to learn.
The Netherlands will be disappointed to have lost to Croatia, but they can take heart from the fact that they were competitive for most of the game.
The Dutch will have a chance to make amends in the future, but for now they will need to focus on continuing to develop their young players.
Croatia's Next Challenge
Croatia will now face either Italy or Spain in the final on Sunday. The Croats have already beaten both teams in this competition, but they will know that they will need to be at their best to win the title.
If Croatia can win the Nations League, it will be a fitting end to a memorable year for the team. They have already reached the final of the World Cup and the European Championship, and they will be hoping to add the Nations League trophy to their collection.
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