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Spain wins Nations League Canadian GP victory
MAX VERSTAPPEN drove his Red Bull to a relatively easy victory in the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on Sunday, June 18.
The reigning world champion led from start to finish at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to increase his lead in the driver’s championship to a stunning 69 points.
In the process, the Dutchman racked up his 100th win for Red Bull Racing in his very short career in Formula One, with his sixth win from eight races this season.
He also equalled the total of 41 wins achieved by the late Ayrton Senna. At 25, Verstappen is nine years younger than the Brazilian legend who died tragically in 1994 after a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix.
Fernando Alonso was in incredible form in the Aston Martin to finish in second place. One can only imagine how unbeatable the Spaniard would be if he was to sit behind the wheel of the Red Bull.
By the time he crossed the finishing line, he was 9.5 seconds adrift of the winner. He managed to fight off a late challenge from Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes, with whom he had endured a game of cat and mouse throughout the race.
Going into Turn 1, Hamilton got the jump on Alonso who had started on the front row of the grid alongside Verstappen. It took him until the final chicane on Lap 23 to regain second.
The final podium featured three of the biggest names in F1 at this moment. Charles LeClerc managed to bring the Ferrari home in fourth followed by his teammate, Carlos Sainz.
Sergio Perez simply lacked the pace to get any higher than a disappointing sixth in the other Red Bull. Alex Albon continued his spectacular form to allow the Britishborn Thai driver to cross the line in seventh in the Williams.
Alpine’s Esteban Ocon finished a respectable eighth, ahead of Lance Stroll in the second Aston Martin. Valtteri Bottas proved that there is still a fight in him by rounding out the Top 10 in the Alfa Romeo.
SPAIN are the new holders of the UEFA Nations League trophy after overcoming Croatia on penalties in Rotterdam on Sunday, June 18.
A 00 scoreline after open play saw the two teams head into a penalty shootout which the Spaniards eventually won 54. This was Spain’s first trophy since 2012 when they won the Euros.
Croatia came into the match in the famous De Kuip Stadium looking to pick up their first piece of silverware in an international tournament but Unai Simon’s save from Bruno Petkovic’s spot kick ended that hope, after previously saving Lovro Majer’s kick with an outstretched leg.
On that occasion, Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte delayed the win when his shot hit the crossbar. Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal eventually cheekily chipped the decisive 12th penalty into the Croatian net to seal victory for Spain.
In the process, Spain emulated France in winning the treble of the World Cup, the European Championship and the Nations League. The French achieved this historic feat after beating Spain in the previous final.
Luis de la Fuente has the honour of being the first Spanish coach to pick up international silverware in 11 years although he will probably admit that it did
not all go according to plan this evening.
Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric did all that he could to inspire his team in the middle of the park. The 37yearold was playing in his 166th match for the Balkan side.
In a remarkable season, two of the Spanish side, Aymeric Laporte and Rodri, have now picked up a total of four major medals each.
Both are part of the incredible allconquering Manchester City side that won the historic treble of the Champions League, FA Cup, and Premier League.
Rodri also became the first player to be named Man of the Match in the UEFA Champions League Final and to also win the UEFA Nations League Finals Best Player award.
Another record fell to Jesús Navas who entered the match as the oldest player in Spain’s history. He is now the first player to ever win the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championship and the UEFA Nations League.
In the thirdplace playoff that took place earlier in the day, Italy beat the Netherlands 32.
