Spain and Croatia clash in their first Group B match at UEFA Euro 2024 on Saturday, June 15. The highly anticipated encounter will take place at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, kicking off at 18:00 CET.
La Roja begin its mission to secure a record-breaking fourth Euro title with a challenging match against Croatia. The two teams have a recent history, with Spain narrowly defeating Croatia on penalties to win the Nations League last year.
Luis de la Fuente’s squad is in high spirits, having warmed up for the tournament with decisive friendly wins against Andorra and Northern Ireland. Real Sociedad forward Mikel Oyarzabal was particularly impressive, netting four goals across these games.
Always a formidable opponent, Croatia is led by the evergreen Luka Modrić, who is set to appear at his fifth EURO. The team boasts a strong squad with Manchester City duo Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić adding further quality and experience. Croatia enter the tournament with confidence following an impressive warm-up victory over Portugal.
The two teams played one of the standout matches of Euro 2020, where Spain emerged victorious in a thrilling 5-3 round of 16 match after extra time. Fans can expect another classic encounter in Berlin.
Croatia’s confidence is high following their friendly win against Portugal. Coach Zlatko Dalić’s side will emphasize the “three Cs”: confidence, composure, and control of the ball. Expect a similar starting line-up to the one that triumphed over Portugal.
Head-to-Head
Croatia and Spain have met competitively six times, with late, result-altering goals occurring in four of those matches. This history suggests a potentially dramatic and closely contested match.
⏩ Spain and Croatia are meeting in a fourth successive Euros…
2012:
🇪🇸 𝟭-𝟬 🇭🇷2016:
🇭🇷 𝟮-𝟭 🇪🇸2020:
🇪🇸 𝟱-𝟯 🇭🇷2024:
❓ pic.twitter.com/ING1Rxx43q— LiveScore (@livescore) June 15, 2024
Team News
Spain will miss the experience and defensive prowess of Aymeric Laporte, but Nacho’s leadership and recent Champions League success with Real Madrid provide a positive outlook. The atmosphere in Spain’s camp has been excellent, indicating strong team morale.
Predicted Line-ups
Spain:
Simón; Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho, Grimaldo; Merino, Rodri, Pedri; Lamine, Morata, Williams
Croatia:
Livaković; Stanišić, Šutalo, Pongračić, Gvardiol; Modrić, Brozović, Kovačić; Majer, Budimir, Kramarić
This match promises to be a thrilling start to Group B, with both teams eager to make a strong opening statement. Spain’s attacking flair and Croatia’s experienced core set the stage for a captivating contest.