Spain Preview & Form
Spain is set to face Croatia in the opening match of Group B at the 2024 UEFA European Championship. This highly anticipated clash will take place on June 15th at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. La Furia Roja enters the tournament as the favorite to win Group B, a status well-deserved given their current form.
Spain has suffered just a single loss in their last 12 matches across all competitions, including friendly matches. This impressive record further cements their position as one of the favorites to clinch this year's European Championship. Spain's historic success in the tournament, having won it three times, solidifies their status as a formidable contender.
Recent Performances
In the lead-up to Euro 2024, Spain played four friendlies, recording two victories, one draw, and one loss. They narrowly lost 1-0 to Colombia and played a thrilling 3-3 draw against Brazil. Following these matches, Spain delivered a commanding 5-0 win over Andorra and secured a 5-1 victory against Northern Ireland. In their last six matches, Spain scored an impressive 19 goals, showcasing their potent attacking prowess. They will undoubtedly look to maintain this momentum throughout the European Championship.
Croatia Preview & Form
Croatia enters Euro 2024 on the back of 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. Historically, Croatia has not been as successful in the European Championships as in the World Cup, with their best results coming in 1996 and 2008 when they reached the quarterfinals.
Recent Performances
As part of their preparation for the European Championship, Croatia recorded a series of impressive victories. They defeated Tunisia on penalties, then followed up with wins against Egypt (4-2) and North Macedonia (3-0). In their most recent match, they secured a 2-1 victory against Portugal, one of the favorites for the European tournament. This string of successes has bolstered Croatia's confidence heading into Euro 2024.
Probable 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).
Squads Overview
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. One of the notable recent matches saw Spain win against Croatia after penalties, indicating how evenly matched these teams can be. This history sets the stage for another thrilling encounter in this year's European Championship.
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, registering four wins and one draw. Meanwhile, 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.