EM, Football-EM | Veland about the Croatia shock before the meeting with Spain:

Players who have scored at the 2014 World Cup, Euro 2016, 2018 World Cup and #Euro2020:

Cristiano Ronaldo
???????? Ivan Perisic
???????? Romelu Lukaku
HerXherdan Shaqiri

Is it even a major tournament if Shaqiri doesn’t score a worldie? ???? pic.twitter.com/XcwJ37elNN

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) June 20, 2021

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– How strong is Modric’s back?

The Viasat expert points out that Croatia has previously had three or four key players who have taken the team with them. When Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic have done their part for the Croatian national team, in 2021 it is a lot up to Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric.

– Modric is doing his thing, but now he has to do it alone. They no longer have the experienced guys in the majority. The question is how strong is that back to Modric. Can he carry Croatia without Perisic against such a good opponent as Spain? That is the question that everyone in Croatia is asking themselves now, says Veland.

– A shock

At the press conference before Monday’s quarterfinals, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic did not hide that Perisic is far down after the positive test.

– I talked to Perisic. He is sad and disappointed. It’s a shock. Just before the quarterfinals, we are left without our best player from the group stage. We have to adapt to it. He will support us and if God wills, he will be with us again in 7-8 days. We want to play for him too, because it is not easy for him. He has lived for this, is in good shape and scored two goals, then this happens, said Dalic, according to Croatian Morning.

Croatian media are now wondering if the infection came in through the Scottish team, which was the opponent in the last group match. The Scots’ Billy Gilmour was diagnosed with infection before the match and was not in the match as Croatia won 3-1.

Dalic is aware that he and the team do not fear that more in the squad will be infected.

– It was a shock for all of us, but we have lived under stress for over a month. We follow the rules and do not go around fearing that it will happen. I hope this will not disrupt the charge, but that we are ready when the match kicks off, Dalic said.

Veland: – Spain is the favorite

Petter Veland thinks the balance of power between the two teams is relatively even, but he keeps Spain as the favorite.

– I think that Spain has a slightly better team in the first place and that they generally have a little more championship experience. Both teams got off to a bad start, it was a bit of syrupy football, and it did not go quite the way they wanted. Spain had by far their best match against Slovakia, and Croatia had their best match against Scotland, so it has loosened up a bit for both teams, says Veland.

– The fact that Spain is now chemically free from injuries, illness and quarantine now means that the favorite stamp is tilted in Spain’s direction. Busquets are back and played 65 minutes last, while Croatia are missing Perisic and Lovren. Basically very even, but with some factors that push the favorite stamp in the direction of Spain, Veland believes.

Kick-off in the match between Spain and Croatia is 18.00 on Monday.

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