Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal scored the goals for Spanac – all in the first half. Croatia scored a late goal but could not overcome their opponents in Group B at Euro 2024.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – LAMINE JAMAL (SPAIN)
After a nervous start, Barcelona’s pace and guile were too much for the Croatian defence. The 16-year-old was involved in Ruiz’s goal and also assisted Carvajal’s effort with a superb in-swinging cross.
PLAYER RATINGS
CROATIA: Livaković 6, Stanišić 6, Šutalo 5, Pongracić 5, Guardiol 6; Modric 6, Brozovic 5, Kovačić 6; Majer 6, Budamir 6, Kramarić 5. Substitutions: Perišić 5, Pašalić 5, Sučić 5, Petković n/a.
SPAIN: Simon 8, Carvajal 7, Le Normand 7, Nacho 7, Cucurella 7, Pedri 6, Rodri 6, Fabian 7, Jamal 8, Morata 7, Williams 6. Subs: Olmo 4, Ojarazabal 5, Merino 5, Zubimendi n/ a, Torres n/a.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE MATCH:
28′ – GOAL FOR SPAIN! Rodri crosses to Morsata, who coolly runs towards the penalty area and sends it low past the keeper.
32′ – GOAL FOR SPAIN! Pedri crosses it to Ruiz who scrambles inside and outside before firing low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Lovely strike.
45’+2 – GOAL FOR SPAIN! Carvajal converts Jamal’s cross from a close range volley to make it 3-0!
55′ – SO CLOSE FOR CROATIA! Stanišić’s shot came off the line of Kukurela, and the rebound was saved by Simon. I have no idea how Croatia didn’t score there.
79′ – GOAL CANCELED FOR CROATIA! Petkovic saved the penalty well, but he converted the rebound after the ball was sent to him in the square. But after a VAR review, it was disallowed to enter the box.