– Spain dominates Croatia thanks to its veterans
The Spaniards got off to a perfect start in Group B of the European Championship in Germany, clearly beating Croatia (3-0).
Published today at 8:05 p.m.
Dani Carvajal completed Spain’s big victory against Croatia at Euro 2024 3 by scoring his team’s third and final goal.
AFP
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The Croats almost ended up believing, at one point, that they had put their foot on the match. Their fabulous supporters, who populated around two thirds of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, created a deafening atmosphere. They stifled the tens of thousands of Iberians and, undoubtedly, a little intimidated the young Spanish attackers, including Lamine Yamal, who this Saturday became the youngest player in the history of the Euro with his 16 years and 338 days.
But Luis de la Fuente was able to count on his grunts to secure the three points. Fabian Ruiz, not really in the spotlight in Paris this season, made the difference in the space of three minutes. The former Betis Sevilla and Naples midfielder first found Alvaro Morata (31) deep, just before the half-hour mark. An offering that the captain transformed without trembling.
The Croats paid for their clumsiness
In the process, the 28-year-old left-hander slalomed between the Croatian poles, finally calmly deceiving Dominik Livakovic with a slightly deflected left shot (32nd). In stoppage time in the first period, it was Dani Carvajal (32) who pushed in a perfect cross from Yamal. Zlatko Dalic’s men missed one or two mountains then, including a penalty ten minutes from the end by Bruno Petkovic and, at this level of the competition, it is crippling.
Croatia therefore got off to a bad start to its Euro, in a group B where all the points will be worth a lot. She risks long regretting the failures of Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic, Lovro Madjer and Josko Gvardiol in the first half. Luka Modric (38 years old), who is taking part in his ninth major international tournament – for his first, in 2006, Yamal was not born! – this summer in Germany, was nevertheless sharp and set the pace for his team. Insufficient against a realistic Spain and which places itself comfortably in the pack of serious outsiders.
“Euro 2024”
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