Croatia had soaked up Spain’s early pressure and tried to hit Spain on the break with Andrei Kramaric only denied by an important Laporte interception in the first half.
For Spain, Jordi Alba’s crosses were the greatest threat. The captain, and a scorer in that Euros 2012 win, sent over a centre from the left but Asensio got under it with his header as Spain begane to create more chances.
They should have won it six minutes from time when an inspired Alba pass found Mikel Merino who crossed for Ansu Fati.
His effort was goalbound but Perisic managed to clear it off the line and send the game into added time.
A saving tackle from substitute Nacho prevented Lovro Majer from scoring in the first half of extra time.
In the dramatic shoot-out both sets of players held their nerve. Nikola Vlasic scored the first kick for Croatia but Joselu buried his spot-kick for Spain.
Marcelo Brozovic made it 2-1 for Croatia and Rodri, who won man-of-the-match on the night levelled emphatically for Spain. Modric then stroked his effortlessly into the roof of Unai Simon’s net but with even more cool Mikel Merino made it 3-3.
Simon then saved from Lovro Majer and when Marco Asensio scored Spain had the lead. But Ivan Perisic scored and, with the chance to win it, Aymeric Laporte, who can also boast to have lifted two trophies in eight days, hit the crossbar.
The 25,000 Croatia fans in Rotterdam thought it was going to be their night but there was a further twist as Simon saved again this time from Bruno Petkovic and Carvajal, with a Panenka-style kick, won it to give Spain their first trophy since winning the Euros in 2012.
