Uefa Nations League permutations: Boost for England as Croatia beat Spain 3-2

Standard Sport15 November 2018

England's hopes of qualifying for next summer's Uefa Nations League Finals are still alive after Croatia beat Spain 3-2 in Zagreb on Thursday night.

However, the threat of relegation remains for England as a score draw or a defeat will see them finish bottom of the group.

Heading into Thursday night's action, Spain would have qualified for the finals of the new tournament - set to take place next June - if they had beaten World Cup finalists Croatia in their own back yard.

England needed Spain to avoid winning in order to stand a chance ahead of the Three Lions' final group game against Croatia, and got their wish as Tin Jedvaj struck his second goal of the game in injury time to seal a dramatic win.

League A, Group 4

Pos Team P W D L GD Pts
1 Spain 4 2 0 2 6 6
2 England 3 1 1 1 0 4
3 Croatia 3 1 1 1 -5 4

The result leaves England second in group 4 of League A, but a victory over Croatia will ensure that they progress to the semi-finals of the Nations League next June due to their superior head-to-head record against Spain, having lost against La Roja 2-1 at home before beating them 3-2 away.

As for Croatia, they will pip England to that prize if they beat the Three Lions at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

Spain's fall from grace in the group is clear - they have gone from needing just a point at home to England in their third game to now needing a draw between the Three Lions and Croatia in order to progress.

Permuations​

England beat Croatia: 1. England, 2. Spain, 3. Croatia

0-0 draw: 1. Spain, 2. England, 3. Croatia

Score draw: 1. Spain, 2. Croatia, 3. England

Croatia beat England: 1. Croatia, 2. Spain, 3. England

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