Spain vs Croatia – Euro 2024: Live score, team news and updates as 16-year-old Lamine Yamal starts for Spain alongside Nacho and Nico Williams
A guide to Croatia
Croatia are a team that are always there abouts, but they are yet to turn their impressive performances into silverware.
Despite never being among the favourites when it comes to a major competition, they have often shown they have talent to go far and cause some major upsets against some of the larger nations.
This tournament is no different as they are third favourites to escape out of the so-called group of death which includes Italy and Albania as well as Spain, so this game is important.
They are a team who have finished in the top three of the last two World Cups, however, and narrowly missed out on Nations League glory last year, falling to defeat to their opponents today in the final.
They are a team who should not be taken lightly in Germany this summer.
Manager: Zlatko Dalic
Star man: Luka Modric
Best finish at Euros: Quarter-finals 1996 and 2008
EURO 2024 TEAM GUIDE: Croatia seek glory after third-place in Qatar
A guide to Spain
Now that’s all calmed down…
Spain head into Euro 2024 with a lot of expectation but also a lot of promise. Thanks to their emphasis on integrating their young talent and rising stars alongside experienced figures like Dani Carvajal and Rodri, they look like a side who can go far in the competition.
De la Fuenta’s men have had a very mixed bag of results heading into Germany, drawing with Brazil 3-3 in March and losing to Colombia during the same international break.
Las Rojas have seemed to turn their form around however, slotting home five goals in their latest two friendlies. But it is worth stating that those games were played against Andorra and Northern Ireland…
Manager: Luis De la Fuente
Star man: Lamine Yamal
Best finish at Euros: Winners 1964, 2008 and 2012
The players arrive
The players are starting to arrive in Berlin, looking aroun the Olympiastadion with just under an hour to go until kick off.
The ground holds early 75,000 spectators and it will be absolutely crammed by the 5pm comes around. There has been pure passion on show all day and I expect the fans to take that into the ground too. Tournaments likes this mean a lot to supporters, as we’ve seen already.
Yes, that is Bastian Schweinsteiger. For some reason.
Man City representation in the Croatia side
It seems Josko Gvardiol will continute the role he has been playing for Manchester City for Croatia, lining up at left back.
Club team-mate Mateo Kovacic starts too, as well as Modric, Brozovic and Kramaric.
Perisic has to settle for a spot on the bench.
Cucurella starts for Spain
I think it’s pretty much as expected for Spain, bar the potential surprise of Cucurella starting at left back.
Nacho is also preferred to Laporte at centre back, with Simon getting the nod in goal instead of Raya.
The expected front three of Yamal, Morata and Williams all start.
BREAKING: Croatia team to face Spain
Livakovic, Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Majer, Kramaric, Budimir.
BREAKING: Spain team to face Croatia
Simon, Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho, Cucurella, Rodri, Pedri, Ruiz, Yamal, Morara, Williams.
Spain’s ‘responsibility’ to excite fans
Matt Barlow, Mail Sport, in Berlin:
Luis de la Fuente was asked on the eve of the game about his team being outnumbered in the stands and the feeling that Spain with its strong regional identities sometimes finds it difficult to unite behind its national team.‘We do find it hard to get that national feeling going,’ he said. ‘That’s our responsibility and we need to transmit that to fans. Winning games is best way. We must try to give all fans that opportunity. We want as many behind us as possible. ‘We experienced similar in Rotterdam in the Nations League [when Spain beat Croatia on penalties last year] and dealt with it successfully.’
The youngsters leading Spain’s charge
A little bit more on the youngsters who will lead Spain’s charge during the tournament.
Yamal is the posterboy, but the likes of Nico Williams and Pedri will also be key to the 2012 winners’ success.
Luis De la Fuente’s are bubbling and ready to go.
The youth prospects leading the charge with Luis de la Fuente’s Spain
Modric proving popular
Matt Barlow, Mail Sport, in Berlin:
It feels as if the Euros have come to life in Berlin today. The German capital woke up bleary after celebrating the romp against Scotland and before the clean-up operation could be completed an estimated 50,000 Croatia fans have descended.Waves of red-and-white checks everywhere you look. Shirts, flags, foam hats, water-polo helmets, all the usual paraphernalia. There must be about 10,000 Modric shirts on parade.
Youth takes on experience
So we have, according to our friends at SkyBet, the fifth favourites versus the ninth favourites today.
There will be a lot of star talent on display. Barcelona’s 16-year-old starlet Lamine Yamal will be one player of interest – he’s expected to start on the right for Spain this afternoon. His mate, Pedri, will play in midfield, alongside City star Rodri.
For Croatia, the old guard will be out in force with Luka Modric, 22 years Yamal’s senior, set to feature. As will the likes of Ivan Perisic, who left Tottenham this summer, and of course City defender Josko Gvardiol.
It may be one of those games where a moment of brilliance can win it. Jamal Musiala was the star last night in Germany’s win over Scotland – let’s see who can step up here.
Spain vs Croatia is next up!
Good afternoon and welcome to Mail Sport’s live blog for arguably the most hotly-anticipated match for today and potentiallt the whole group stage.
Spain and Croatia meet in the first game of Group B at Euro 2024, reigniting a modern rivalry which has been full of drama, goals and heartache for both sides.
This tie will see experience versus youth as Luis De la Fuente’s starlets lead the charge for a Spanish side who are far from the European and global dominance they displayed throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Croatia on the other hand head into Euro 2024 as dark horses once again despite making it to last year’s Nations League final and walking away with bronze medals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ahead of kick-off, we will have updates, team news and quotes from the bosses as well as plenty of snaps from Berlin to showcase the atmosphere. Once the game gets underway at 5pm, make sure to stick with us as we will be providing minute-by-minute action of the Group B fixture.
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