| Modric as star Mangalam

Vienna: Croatia secured the UEFA Nations League football finals by defeating Austria 3-1. Croatia has 13 points from six games in Group One.

Veteran Luka Modric, Marko Livaja and Dejan Lovren scored for Croatia in the match at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. Christoph Baumgartner scored a goal for Austria. Denmark is second with 12 points from six games. World champions France are third with five points. Austria were relegated to Group B with just four points. France escaped relegation after Austria lost.

A 2-0 loss to Denmark brought the French to the brink of relegation. Colin Dolberg and Skov Auslan scored in the match at the Parken Stadium. Croatia’s victory also eliminated Denmark’s chances of first place. Real Madrid players led Croatia and Austria. Luka Modric led Croatia and David Alaba Austria. Modric’s close-range finish put Croatia ahead in the sixth minute of the game. Austria hit back in the ninth minute in the same vein. Croatia retaliated in the 69th minute. Livaja headed the ball past Ivan Perisic into the Austrian net. The winning goal came in the 72nd minute. Dejan Lovren made no mistake as he headed in Lovro Major’s cross.

Holland defeated Belgium by a one-sided goal and entered the finals. Their progress is achieved by winning 16 points in six games in group four. Belgium have 10 points from six games. Center back Van Dijk’s header in the 73rd minute gave Holland the win. Van Dijk netted the corner that the youngster took. Holland did not lose a single match. Poland finished third with seven points after beating Wales 1-0. Wales were relegated with just one point.