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. Entering the tournament, La Furia Roja holds the position as the favorite to top Group B, a status well-deserved given their current form. Impressively, Spain has suffered just one loss in their last 12 matches across all competitions, including friendly matches. This formidable record bolsters their status as one of the leading contenders to clinch this year's European Championship.
Historically, Spain has enjoyed significant success in the tournament, having won it three times. In the recent friendlies leading up to Euro 2024, Spain displayed a mixed set of results with two victories, one draw, and one loss. They were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Colombia, played a thrilling 3-3 draw against Brazil, and delivered massive wins with a 5-0 victory over Andorra and a 5-1 win over Northern Ireland. Scoring 19 goals in their last six matches showcases Spain’s potent attacking prowess, which they will look to maintain throughout the European Championship.
Croatia Preview & Form
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 not enjoyed the same level of success in the European Championships as in the World Cup, their best Euros performances 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. They defeated Tunisia on penalties, followed by wins against Egypt (4-2) and North Macedonia (3-0). Most notably, in their most recent match, they secured a 2-1 victory against Portugal, a favorite for the tournament, further underscoring their strong form heading into Euro 2024.
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. One notable recent match saw Spain emerge victorious against Croatia after a penalty shootout, highlighting how evenly matched these teams can be.
Spain vs Croatia Prediction & Betting Tips
Given the current form of both teams, a closely fought match with over 2.5 goals can be expected. 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.