Spain Preview & Form
Spain is set to face Croatia in the opening match of Group B at the 2024 UEFA European Championship. The eagerly anticipated game will take place on June 15th at the iconic Olympiastadion in Berlin. La Furia Roja enters the tournament as the favorites to win Group B, a status backed by their impressive current form.
Spain has suffered just one loss in their last 12 matches across all competitions, including friendly fixtures. This striking record underscores their status as one of the top contenders to clinch this year's European Championship. Historically, Spain has been a strong performer in the tournament, having won it three times. Recent friendlies saw Spain delivering two victories, one draw, and one loss. The narrow 1-0 defeat by Colombia and the thrilling 3-3 draw against Brazil showcased their capability to compete against formidable teams. They also registered emphatic victories over Andorra (5-0) and Northern Ireland (5-1).
Over their last six matches, Spain has scored a total of 19 goals, highlighting their potent attacking prowess. Maintaining this form will be crucial for Spain as they aim to make a deep run in the European Championship.
Croatia Preview & Form
Croatia enters Euro 2024 buoyed by a stunning six-match winning streak. The Croatian national team secured their spot in the tournament by finishing second in Group D of the qualification standings, amassing 16 points and finishing ahead of Wales. Although they have not been as successful in the European Championships as they have been in the World Cup, Croatia still remains a formidable opponent. Their best results in the Euros came when they reached the quarterfinals in 1996 and 2008.
As part of their preparation for Euro 2024, Croatia achieved a series of impressive victories. They triumphed over Tunisia on penalties, followed by wins against Egypt (4-2) and North Macedonia (3-0). Most recently, they secured a 2-1 victory against Portugal, one of the favorites for the European tournament.
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).
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).
Head-to-Head Record
The last five encounters between Spain and Croatia have been closely contested, showcasing the competitive nature of both. One of the notable recent matches saw Spain triumph over Croatia on penalties, highlighting the level of parity between the two teams.
Prediction & Betting Tips
Given the current form of both teams, a closely fought match with over 2.5 goals is highly expected. Croatia has been unbeaten in their last five matches, securing four wins and one draw. Spain has only suffered one loss in their last 12 matches. These statistics set the stage for an exciting and high-stakes encounter as both teams are determined to make a strong start to their Euro 2024 campaign.