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England's Nations League hopes alive after Croatia stuns Spain late

- / AFP / Getty

The Nations League's final four could yet contain the Three Lions.

Thanks to Spain's 3-2 loss to Croatia on Thursday, England still has a shot at topping the three-team group and progressing to the inaugural competition's semifinals in 2019. England, however, will need to defeat Croatia on Sunday at home, though a win for the visitors would see the World Cup finalists top the group instead.

La Furia Roja's encounter with Croatia was a drab affair until the second half when the two teams exchanged a flurry of goals beginning at the 54-minute mark.

After Dani Ceballos promptly canceled out Andrej Kramaric's opener for the hosts, Tin Jedvaj restored Croatia's advantage before Sergio Ramos squared up the scoreline once again with a 78th-minute penalty. Jedvaj, however, played the hero in the third minute of stoppage time, tapping in at David de Gea's back post to give Zlatko Dalic's side a crucial three points.

A draw in the group's final match, meanwhile, would keep Spain atop the trio, though the specifics of the stalemate would determine who would be doomed to relegation between England and Croatia. A scoreless draw would allow Gareth Southgate's men to extend their stay in League A, though The Three Lions would have to win the match to maintain their top-tier status if Croatia nicks a goal at Wembley.

England was away from Nations League action Thursday, defeating the United States 3-0 in an international friendly marking Wayne Rooney's 120th and final appearance with the national side.

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