The Berlin encounter

Spain tops Croatia as EURO 2024 starts

15.06.2024.

Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS

In the first appearance at the EURO 2024 Group B in Germany, Spain defeated Croatia 3:0.

SPAIN - CROATIA 3:0 (3:0)
EURO 2024, Group B.
Olympic Stadium, Berlin.

Referee: M. Oliver (England).

Goals: 1:0 - Morata (29'), 2:0 - Fabian Ruiz (32'), 3:0 - Carvajal (45+2')

Cautions: Rodri (78')

Spain: Unai Simon, Cucurella, Nacho, Le Normand, Carvajal, Rodri (86' Zubimendi), Fabian Ruiz, Pedri (59' Dani Olmo), Williams (68' Merino), Yamal (86' Ferran Torres), Morata (67' Oyarzabal). Head coach: L. De la Fuente.

Croatia: Livaković, Gvardiol, Pongračić, Šutalo, Stanišić, Brozović, Modrić (65' Mario Pašalić), Kovačić (65' Sučić), Majer, Kramarić (72' Petković), Budimir (56' Perišić). Head coach: Z. Dalić.

In Group B, Spain and Croatia opened the competition with the former European champions scoring three times in the first half to seal the victory.

Morata found the net on 29 minutes, after Fabian Ruiz provided the assist, and just three minutes later Ruiz pierced the Croatian defence to make it 2:0.

In the last move before the break, Carvajal responded at the near post following Yamal's cross. After the interval, Croatia missed the biggest opportunity ten minutes from time, when Unai Simon saved Petković's penalty kick. Petković scored on the follow-up, but is was disallowed by a VAR intervention.

Italy and Albania meet later, while Croatia plays Albania on 19 June in Hamburg, at 15:00 CET.

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