Spain Preview & Form
Spain will face Croatia in the opening match of Group B at the 2024 UEFA European Championship. The much-anticipated clash is set to take place on June 15th at the iconic Olympiastadion in Berlin. La Furia Roja enters the Euro tournament with the expectation to top Group B and, given their current form, this status is well-deserved.
Spain has suffered just a single loss in their last 12 matches across all competitions, including friendly matches. This impressive record bolsters their reputation as one of the favorites to clinch this year's European Championship. Furthermore, Spain's historical success in the tournament, having won it three times previously, solidifies their position as a formidable contender.
In their recent friendlies ahead of Euro 2024, Spain registered two victories, one draw, and one loss. They were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Colombia and played a thrilling 3-3 draw against Brazil. Subsequently, they delivered a 5-0 win over Andorra and secured a 5-1 win over Northern Ireland. In their last six matches, Spain scored an impressive 19 goals, showcasing their potent attacking prowess. Spain will look to maintain this attacking momentum throughout the European Championship.
Croatia Preview & Form
On the other side, Croatia enters Euro 2024 riding high on a six-match winning streak. The Croatian national team secured their spot in the tournament by finishing second in Group D of the qualification standings with 16 points, finishing ahead of Wales. While Croatia has enjoyed significant success in the World Cup, their European Championship record is less illustrious, with their best results being quarterfinal appearances in 1996 and 2008.
As part of their preparation for the European Championship, Croatia notched a series of impressive victories. They defeated Tunisia on penalties, followed up with convincing wins against Egypt (4-2) and North Macedonia (3-0), and in their most recent match, secured a 2-1 victory against Portugal, one of the favorites for the tournament.
Spain vs Croatia 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).
Spain vs Croatia 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).
Spain vs Croatia H2H Record (Last Five Games)
The last five encounters between these two sides have been closely contested, with one notable recent match seeing Spain win against Croatia after penalties. This indicates how evenly matched these teams can be.
Spain vs Croatia 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, securing four wins and one draw. Spain, on the other hand, 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.