Bruno Petkovic and Luka Modric struck in extra time to fire Croatia into the Nations League final with a 4-2 victory over hosts the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Zlatko Dalic’s side, who reached the World Cup semi-finals last year, moved a step closer to earning their first ever trophy and demonstrated once again they are extra-time specialists.
Andrej Kramaric and Mario Pasalic struck in the second half after Donyell Malen sent the Dutch ahead, but Noa Lang snatched a 96th-minute equaliser to force an additional half hour.
However Petkovic got away from Frenkie de Jong and drilled home from outside the box to decisively put Croatia ahead eight minutes into extra time, and Modric wrapped up the win with a penalty.
The Nations League represents one of the last chances for Croatia’s elder statesmen, including Real Madrid midfielder Modric, to taste international triumph.
Croatia have only suffered one defeat in their last 16 matches, to World Cup winners Argentina, and quashed the Netherlands’ bid to win their first competition since the 1988 European Championship.
Ronald Koeman’s side finished as runners-up in the inaugural Nations League against hosts Portugal in 2019, while France triumphed in 2021.
The coach selected Malen on the right of the attack, with exciting youngster Xavi Simons making his fourth appearance for the Netherlands on the left.
Both were involved in the opening goal, along with Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, as the Oranje burst into life after half-an-hour.
The match started sluggishly in the evening heat, both sets of players tired after a long season with the World Cup wedged in the middle, despite Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk saying his team needed to play with high energy.
Teun Koopmeiners lashed narrowly over as Koeman’s side threatened in the 31st minute, before Malen broke the deadlock three minutes later.
After a tidy team move Feyenoord’s Mats Wieffer, playing in his club’s stadium De Kuip, fed Malen, who slotted past Dominik Livakovic – Croatia’s World Cup hero on their run to third in Qatar.
The Borussia Dortmund striker, who finished the Bundesliga season in a rich vein of form, now has five goals for the Netherlands.
Croatia came out stronger in the second half, with Kramaric cutting inside from the left and firing wide of the far post.
Soon they were level, when 37-year-old Modric, earning his 165th Croatia cap, cleverly robbed Gakpo on the edge of the area, with the forward pulling him back to concede a penalty.
Kramaric stroked his spot kick down the middle as Justin Bijlow dived to his right to delight Croatia’s travelling contingent.
Further celebrations were in order when Luka Ivanusec crossed for Atalanta midfielder Pasalic to stab home from close range after 73 minutes.
Gakpo fired wide when well-placed in the 90th minute to compound a frustrating night for him.
Dutch defender Nathan Ake, who featured in Manchester City’s Champions League final win just five days ago, came close with an acrobatic effort before Lang pounced on a loose ball to level.
The Netherlands could not maintain parity for long, with Petkovic beating Bijlow at his near post.
Croatia have beaten Brazil, Japan, England, Russia and Denmark in matches which have gone to extra-time at the last two World Cups.
Lang fired into the side netting when he might have equalised and Netherlands paid the price when Tyrell Malacia fouled Petkovic in the area and Modric converted the penalty to seal Croatia’s progress to Sunday’s final.
Spain and Italy face off in Enschede on Thursday in the other semi-final.
