Spain Preview & Form
The excitement is building as Spain gets ready to face Croatia in the opening match of Group B at the 2024 UEFA European Championship. Set to take place on June 15th at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, this clash promises to be a thrilling start to the tournament.
La Furia Roja enters the Euro tournament as the favorite to win Group B. This status is well-deserved, given their current form. Spain has suffered just a single loss in their last 12 matches across all competitions, including friendly matches. This impressive record adds to their status as one of the favorites to clinch this year's European Championship.
Spain's historic success in the tournament further solidifies their position as a formidable contender. Having won the tournament three times, the Spanish team carries a legacy of excellence into Euro 2024. In recent friendlies ahead of the tournament, Spain registered two victories, one draw, and one loss. They were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Colombia, played a thrilling 3-3 draw against Brazil, delivered a 5-0 win over Andorra, and secured a 5-1 win over Northern Ireland.
In their last six matches, Spain scored an impressive 19 goals, showcasing their potent attacking prowess. They will look to maintain this form throughout the European Championship as they aim for glory once again.
Croatia Preview & Form
While Spain is undoubtedly a formidable opponent, Croatia enters Euro 2024 riding high on a six-match winning streak. The Croatian national team secured their spot in the tournament by finishing second in Group D of the qualification standings with 16 points, finishing ahead of Wales.
However, Croatia has not been as successful in the European Championships as they have in the World Cup. Their best results in the Euros came when they reached the quarterfinals in 1996 and 2008. Despite this, Croatia's preparation for the European Championship has been strong. They notched a series of impressive victories, defeating Tunisia on penalties, followed by wins against Egypt (4-2) and North Macedonia (3-0). In their most recent match, they secured a 2-1 victory against Portugal, one of the favorites for the European tournament.
Spain vs Croatia Starting Lineups
Here are the probable lineups for both teams:
Spain Probable Lineup: Unai Simon (GK), Jose Gaya (DF), Aymeric Laporte (DF), Robin Le Normand (DF), Dani Carvajal (DF), Pedri (MF), Rodri (MF), Fabian Ruiz (MF), Nico Williams (FW), Alvaro Morata (FW), Ferran Torres (FW).
Croatia Probable Lineup: Dominik Livakovic (GK), Borna Sosa (DF), Josko Gvardiol (DF), Josip Sutalo (DF), Josip Stanisic (DF), Luka Modric (MF), Marcelo Brozovic (MF), Mateo Kovacic (MF), Luka Ivanusec (FW), Ante Budimir (FW), Andrej Kramaric (FW).
Spain Euro 2024 Squad:
Goalkeepers: David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao).
Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr), Nacho (Real Madrid), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao).
Midfielders: Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fermin Lopez (Barcelona), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Pedri (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad).
Forwards: Joselu (Real Madrid), Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ayoze Perez (Real Betis), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).
Croatia Euro 2024 Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ivica Ivusic (Paphos), Nediljko Labrovic (Rijeka), Dominik Livakovic (Fenerbahce).
Defenders: Martin Erlic (Sassuolo), Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Josip Juranovic (Union Berlin), Marin Pongracic (Lecce), Borna Sosa (Ajax), Josip Stanisic (Bayer Leverkusen), Josip Sutalo (Ajax), Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens).
Midfielders: Martin Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb), Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr), Luka Ivanusec (Feyenoord), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Lovro Majer (Wolfsburg), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Luka Sucic (RB Salzburg), Nikola Vlasic (Torino).
Forwards: Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Marco Pasalic (Rijeka), Ivan Perisic (Hajduk Split), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Marko Pjaca (Rijeka).
Spain vs Croatia H2H Record (Last Five Games)
The last five encounters between these two sides have been closely contested. One of the notable recent matches saw Spain win against Croatia after penalties, indicative of how evenly matched these teams can be.
Spain vs Croatia Prediction & Betting Tips
Given the current form of both teams, we expect a closely fought match with over 2.5 goals. Croatia has been unbeaten in their last five matches with four wins and one draw, while Spain has lost only once in their last 12 matches. These statistics promise an exciting and high-stakes encounter between two teams determined to make a strong start to their Euro 2024 campaign.
Spain, with their attacking prowess and historic success, have the edge, but Croatia's recent form and their ability to perform in big matches can't be underestimated. Football fans around the world eagerly await what promises to be a memorable clash.