Spain meet Croatia in a blockbuster opening match of Group B in UEFA Euro 2024.
Victory would see either Spain or Croatia go top of Group B before Italy face Albania in the late kick-off.
Team News
Spain have no fresh injury concerns to report coming into this match after a dominant win over Northern Ireland from behind in their warm-up friendly.
Croatia also have no injury worries with Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic amongst those set to start.
When is Kick-Off?
Spain face Croatia at Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany, on Saturday 15 June at 6pm CEST (5pm UK Time), live on ITV1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Spain have won two of their three previous clashes against Croatia at a major European Championship tournament (W2, L1).
- Croatia have failed to keep a clean sheet in three previous meetings against Spain at the Euros.
- Both teams have scored in two of their three previous encounters in this competition, except for 1-0 Spain win at Euro 2012.
- Spain have kept one clean sheet in their last six matches in all competitions (W4, D1, L1), which came in a 5-0 friendly win over Andorra.
- Croatia are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions (W5, D1)
Prediction
Having enjoyed dominant friendly wins over Andorra and Northern Ireland who are arguably easy opposition, Spain definitely face a rapid awakening because Croatia will not roll over but they can take heart from their goalscoring sharpness coming into this game.
Croatia meanwhile are a resilient team who can play compact when necessary but still prove a strong threat, which was evident on their scrappy but gritty run to third at the 2022 FIFA World Cup so I wouldn’t underestimate them at all costs.
Zlatko Dalic’s Blazers also will be buoyant by confident wins over tricky friendly opposition in North Macedonia and Portugal, which should stand them in good stead and I do fancy them on that note to scrape a draw if can contain Spain’s attacking threats.
Prediction: Spain 1-1 Croatia
Result: Spain 3-0 Croatia
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