Spain and Croatia face each other this Saturday, June 15 from 6 p.m. in Berlin in the first real shock of this Euro 2024. Follow this Group B meeting live with commentary with us.
17:45 – Spain-Rodri: “Feeling dizzy”
Spanish midfielder Rodri spoke on Friday of “the feeling of dizziness when you start a competition like the Euro”, before facing Croatia this Saturday in Group B, tough with the presence of Italy and Italy. Albania. “We are always nervous at the start and we want to see how the team will react,” explained the Manchester City player, presented as one of the stars of this competition.
17:40 – Spain-De la Fuente: “The most important challenge”
Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente said on Friday that “representing Spain is a very difficult responsibility”, on the eve of La Roja’s entry into Euro 2024 against Croatia. “It’s a maximum responsibility, the most important challenge I’ve had to take on so far,” admitted the coach. “But the players are calm and know that tomorrow begins a great competition that we want to take advantage of. We We want to live up to the responsibility that falls to us.” In order to take pressure off his team, Luis de la Fuente insisted that he had set “no goals” in this tournament.
17:35 – One more record awaits Lamine Yamal
He has not yet celebrated his 17th birthday (it will be July 13), but Lamine Yamal is preparing to play his first match in a Euro as a starter in a few minutes. He will become the youngest player in history to play in a Euro match. “When I hear all this, I feel really old…” Croatian playmaker Luka Modric, 38, joked on Friday about this. When Modric scored his first goal at a major international tournament, during Euro 2008, Lamine Yamal was only 11 months old.
17:30 – Croatia: Modric starts, Majer too
On the Croatian side, coach Zlatko Dalic trusts Luka Modric, despite his 38 years, to start in midfield with Brozovic and Kovacic. Manchester City player Josko Gvardiol starts on the left of the defense while former Rennes player Lovro Majer starts on the right of the attack. Croatia’s starting lineup: Livakovic – Juranovic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol – Brozovic, Kovacic, Modric – Kramaric, Budimir, Majer.
17:25 – Spain: Yamal and Ruiz start
For this first shock of Euro 2024, Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente decided to trust prodigy Lamine Yamal, only 16 years old, and Nico Williams on the wings. PSG player Fabian Ruiz accompanies Pedri and Rodri in the middle, while in the absence of Aymeric Laporte, it is Nacho who will form the central hinge with Robin Le Normand. Spain’s starting XI: U. Simon – Carvajal, Nacho, Le Normand, Cucurella – Pedri, Rodri, F. Ruiz – Yamal, Morata, N. Williams.
17:20 – Spain-Olmo: “The Croats always respond”
Despite the recent successes against Croatia, the Spaniards know well that this meeting will not be a cakewalk, between two outsiders for the final victory. “I’m not going to teach you anything, the Croatians always respond in major tournaments, recognized RB Leipzig winger Dani Olmo. At the last Euro, we suffered to eliminate them, at the World Cup they finished third and in the League nations we faced each other in the final.”
17:15 – Spain have won the last two matches
These recent confrontations have most often turned in favor of La Roja. The Spanish selection won against Croatia notably in the round of 16 of Euro 2020 (played in 2021 due to Covid-19) at the end of a crazy match (5-3, ap) but also in the final of the last Nations League (0-0, 5 tab to 4). It remains difficult to identify a real favorite from this duel at the top, between a rejuvenated Spain which must confirm its rebound from the 2022 World Cup and a Croatia which relies on experienced players, like Luka Modric .
17:10 – A shock far from unprecedented
Spain and Croatia have a history of clashing in recent years. The two nations have crossed paths in four of the last six international competitions (2012, 2016, 2021 and therefore 2024). This is even the fourth consecutive time that the two teams will meet at the Euro and the seventh over the last twelve years in official competition.
17:05 – The Englishman Mr. Oliver on the whistle
It is the Englishman Michael Oliver who will be responsible for refereeing this meeting between Spain and Croatia. Kick-off will be at 6 p.m. on the pitch at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. No unencrypted broadcast is planned on French television for this match between Spain and Croatia, which will be exclusively broadcast by beIN Sports in France.
5:00 p.m. – Hello everyone!
Hello and welcome everyone to follow the first clash of Euro 2024 between Spain and Croatia! The two nations are in Group B, with Italy and Albania facing each other in the evening (9 p.m.) this Saturday.
