Spain Preview & Form
Spain is set to face Croatia in the opening match of Group B at the 2024 UEFA European Championship. The highly anticipated clash will take place on June 15th at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. "La Furia Roja" enters the Euro tournament as the favorite to top Group B, a status well-deserved given their current form and history in the competition.
Spain has been a dominant force in international football, suffering just a single loss in their last 12 matches across all competitions, including friendly matches. This impressive record reaffirms their position as one of the favorites to clinch this year's European Championship. Spain's historic success in the tournament, having won it three times, further solidifies their status as a formidable contender.
In recent friendlies ahead of Euro 2024, Spain registered two victories, one draw, and one loss. Their sole defeat was a narrow 1-0 loss to Colombia, but they showcased their attacking prowess in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Brazil. Spain also delivered convincing wins with a 5-0 triumph over Andorra and a 5-1 victory against Northern Ireland. In their last six matches, Spain has scored an impressive 19 goals, highlighting their potent attacking capabilities, which they aim to maintain throughout the European Championship.
Croatia Preview & Form
Croatia enters Euro 2024 on the back of a six-match winning streak, bolstering their confidence ahead of the tournament. The Croatian national team secured their spot in the competition by finishing second in Group D of the qualification standings with 16 points, finishing ahead of Wales.
While Croatia has not been as successful in the European Championships as they have been in the World Cup, their best results in the Euros came when they reached the quarterfinals in 1996 and 2008. As part of their preparation for the European Championship, Croatia notched a series of impressive victories. These include a win against Tunisia on penalties, followed by successful matches against Egypt (4-2) and North Macedonia (3-0). Their most recent win was a 2-1 victory against Portugal, one of the favorites for the tournament, signaling their readiness to compete at the highest level.
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)
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).
H2H Record (Last Five Games)
The last five encounters between Spain and Croatia have been closely contested, showcasing the competitive nature of these two teams. One of the notable recent matches saw Spain win against Croatia after penalties, highlighting just how evenly matched these sides can be.
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.