Spain Preview & Form
Spain is set to face Croatia in the opening match of Group B at the 2024 UEFA European Championship. The much-anticipated clash will take place on June 15th at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. La Furia Roja comes into the Euro tournament as the front-runner to win Group B, a status that is well-deserved given their remarkable current form.
Spain has experienced just a single loss in their last 12 matches across all competitions, a record that includes friendly matches. This impressive run only solidifies their position as one of the favorites to clinch this year's European Championship. Historically, Spain's success in the tournament further underscores their reputation as a formidable contender; they have won the European Championship three times.
In recent friendlies ahead of Euro 2024, Spain achieved two victories, one draw, and suffered one loss. They narrowly lost 1-0 to Colombia, but played an exhilarating 3-3 draw against Brazil. Following this, they delivered resounding victories with a 5-0 win over Andorra and a 5-1 triumph against Northern Ireland. Over their last six matches, Spain scored a staggering 19 goals, showcasing their potent attacking prowess—a trend they will look to maintain throughout the European Championship.
Croatia Preview & Form
Croatia enters Euro 2024 in scintillating form, buoyed by 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. Although Croatia has not been as successful in the European Championships as in the World Cup, where they reached the finals in 2018, their best results in the Euros came when they reached the quarterfinals in 1996 and 2008.
In preparation for the European Championship, Croatia notched a series of impressive victories. They defeated Tunisia on penalties, followed up with a 4-2 win against Egypt, and demolished North Macedonia 3-0. In their most recent match, Croatia secured a 2-1 victory against Portugal, one of the favorites for the tournament. These results demonstrate Croatia's capability to compete against the highest level of competition.
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 vs Croatia Team News
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 Head-to-Head Record
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. Both teams have a history of delivering thrilling performances against each other, promising an exciting start to the Group B fixtures.
Spain vs Croatia Prediction & Betting Tips
Given the current form of both teams, a closely fought match with over 2.5 goals is expected. Croatia has been unbeaten in their last five matches with four wins and one draw, while Spain has incurred only one loss in their last 12 matches. These statistics set the stage for an exciting and high-stakes encounter between two teams determined to make a strong start to their Euro 2024 campaign.
With both teams showcasing potent offensive capabilities and a solid record in recent matches, spectators can anticipate a thrilling encounter. Spain, bolstered by their historical success and current form, will aim to dominate, while Croatia, riding on the momentum of their winning streak, will look to upset the favorites and set the tone for what promises to be an exhilarating tournament.