Spain-Croatia 3-0 (3-0)
European Championship, 1st spherical, Group B, Berlin, 68 thousand 844 spectators, led by: Oliver (English).
Spain: Simón – Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho, Cucurella – Fabián Ruiz, Rodri (Zubimendi, 86.), Pedri (Olmó, 60.) – Yamal (Torres, 86.), Morata (Oyarzabal, 67.), Williams (Merino, 68.). Union captain: Luis de la Fuente.
Croatia: Livaković – Stanišić, Šutalo, Pongracić, Gvardiol – Brozović, Kovačić (Sučić, 65), Modrić (Pašalić, 65) – Kramarić (Petković, 72), Majer, Budimir (Perišić, 56). Union captain: Zlatko Dalić.
Aim: Morata (29.), Fabián Ruiz (32.), Carvajal (45+2.).
Yellow card: Rodri (78.).
Lamine Yamal, the attacker of Barcelona, entered the sector for the Spaniards, who at 16 years and 338 days grew to become the youngest participant within the historical past of the European Championship. With this, he overtook the Polish Kacper Kozlowski on the checklist, who on the age of 17 years and 246 days performed in opposition to the Spaniards in Seville in June 2021.
At the start of the match, the Spaniards seized the initiative and principally tried to steer assaults on the appropriate aspect. Yamal performed a significant function on this, as he virtually scored a purpose with Morata first.
Later, the Croatians additionally had probabilities, however they have been missed. The match lasted virtually half an hour, when Fabián Ruiz made an important begin to Morata, who took the lead (1-0).
The hole grew after some time, this time Fabián Ruiz was the primary character himself, tricking three defenders and taking pictures into the left aspect of the purpose (2-0).
The Spaniards additionally scored simply earlier than the break, Carvajal hitting the underside left nook of the purpose from Yamal’s nook (3–0). Thus, the pink shirts may go to relaxation with a really reassuring benefit.
After the flip, the Croatians gained energy, first the group captain Modrić tried, then Stanišić. The Croatian conditions got here one after the opposite, however even the beautification missed a penalty. Petković may drive the ball into the purpose, however Rodri coming from behind knocked him down. Though Petković missed the penalty kick – Simón defended with a throw – however he nonetheless scored after a cross from the rebound. After the VAR, it turned out that a number of Croatian gamers bumped into the 16-yard field earlier than finishing the 11-yard field, so the referee invalidated the purpose.
The Spaniards, who’re off to an important begin, will meet the Italians on Thursday, and the Croatians can enhance in opposition to the Albanians on Wednesday.
(MTI)
Opening picture: uefa.com
