Spain Preview & Form
Spain will kick off their campaign in Group B of the 2024 UEFA European Championship against Croatia. The opening match is slated to take place on June 15th at the iconic Olympiastadion in Berlin. La Furia Roja enters the tournament with high expectations, touted as the favorite to top Group B.
This status is well-deserved given their recent performance. Spain has experienced just a single loss in their last 12 matches across all competitions, including friendly matches. This remarkable record not only strengthens their position as favorites to win Group B but also makes them formidable contenders for the entire European Championship.
Spain's historic success in the UEFA European Championship further solidifies their status as a football powerhouse. They have won the tournament three times, a testament to their enduring excellence. In the lead-up to Euro 2024, Spain's form has been commendable. They registered two victories, one draw, and one loss in recent friendlies. A narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia was followed by a thrilling 3-3 draw against Brazil. Subsequently, Spain delivered a dominant 5-0 victory over Andorra and a comprehensive 5-1 win over Northern Ireland.
Throughout their last six matches, Spain scored 19 goals, showcasing their attacking prowess. Maintaining this form will be crucial for their success in the European Championship.
Croatia Preview & Form
On the other hand, Croatia enters Euro 2024 on a high note, riding 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 found more success in the World Cup than in the European Championships. Their best performances in the Euros came in 1996 and 2008, where they reached the quarterfinals. Nevertheless, Croatia's recent performances underscore their potential to make a deep run in this year's tournament.
As part of their preparation for the European Championship, Croatia notched a series of impressive victories. They triumphed over Tunisia on penalties, followed by 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.
Spain vs Croatia Starting Lineups
The probable lineups for both teams are as follows:
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 Spain and Croatia have been closely contested. In one of the notable recent matches, Spain emerged victorious against Croatia after a penalty shootout. This outcome highlights how evenly matched these teams can be, setting the stage for an exciting showdown.
Spain vs Croatia Prediction & Betting Tips
Given the current form of both teams, fans can 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. Spain, meanwhile, has lost only once in their last 12 matches. These statistics point to an exciting and high-stakes encounter between two teams determined to make a strong start to their Euro 2024 campaign.