Spain Dominate Croatia in European Championship Opener.
Spain made an emphatic start to their quest for a fourth European Championship title with an impressive victory over Croatia at Olympiastadion Berlin.
First-half goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Carvajal effectively settled the match before the break. Although Croatia offered little resistance, this performance must be considered a statement win for La Roja.
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal became the youngest player in Euros history when he started the game at the age of 16 years and 338 days. However, it was Spain’s most experienced player, Alvaro Morata, who gave them the lead, silencing the Croatian fans who had poured into Germany’s capital.
Ruiz collected the ball on the halfway line, looked up, and threaded a perfect pass for Morata, who galloped through and slotted past Dominik Livakovic for his 36th goal for his country.
After waiting almost half an hour for the breakthrough, Luis de la Fuente’s side took just over three minutes to extend their lead. This time, it was Ruiz who found the net, beating two defenders when he was fed the ball on the edge of the area and firing in a shot that nicked off Josip Sutalo on its way past Livakovic.
Croatia came close to pulling a goal back when Josko Gvardiol’s drilled shot beat Unai Simon but also eluded Ante Budimir, who tried to divert it in as it flew wide of the far post.
Spain continued to attack and wrapped up the points in first-half stoppage time when Yamal’s cross was turned home by Carvajal, who had stayed up following a corner.
A goal for the teenager to go with that assist was all that was missing, with Livakovic superbly denying him from close range early in the second half.
Croatia’s disappointing day worsened when Bruno Petkovic saw his late penalty saved by Simon and then had his follow-up disallowed by the video assistant referee for encroachment.
The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists must now try to kickstart their Group B campaign when they face Albania in Hamburg on Thursday, the same day Spain face holders Italy in a mouth-watering clash in Gelsenkirchen.
Around 100,000 Croatia fans descended on Berlin, taking over huge swathes of the city in their distinctive chequered shirts. They were in a party mood before the game, especially when their team’s icon Luka Modric emerged to warm up, but saw little to smile about once the match started.
It took Croatia 22 minutes to manage either a shot or a touch in the Spain area and, aside from the penalty, they forced Simon into only two meaningful saves. Modric, along with Mateo Kovacic, was substituted after 66 minutes, perhaps to save their legs, with the 38-year-old failing to provide his customary spark.
By then, it was the small pocket of Spain fans inside the Olympiastadion making all the noise. Their captain, Manchester City midfielder Rodri, had said before the tournament that he sees his side as “serious candidates” at these Euros – and this performance proved they mean business in Germany.
As well as their attacking flair, Spain were alert and resilient at the back, with their determination underlined by Marc Cucarella’s brilliant block to stop Lovro Majer’s goal-bound shot in the second half.
There are sterner tests to come, starting against Italy, but this was a convincing way to begin their campaign.
