The European Championship is set to kick off with Spain facing Croatia in the opening match in Berlin’s Olympiastadion. The match will see a rematch of the Euro 2020 round of 16 game where Spain knocked out Croatia in extra time. Led by the experienced Luka Modrić, Croatia will be looking to put on a strong performance against a young Spanish team.
Spain has been in good form, with wins over Andorra and Northern Ireland in their warm-up matches. Real Sociedad forward Mikel Oyarzabal has been in fine form, scoring four goals in the two games. On the other hand, Croatia is coming off an encouraging win over Portugal in their preparations for the tournament. The match will also see Spain midfielder Dani Olmo facing off against his former teammates from Dinamo Zagreb.
The match will be the first of Euro 2024 in Berlin, where excitement for the tournament has been slow to build. Spain is putting their faith in young players like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. However, coach Luis de la Fuente will be without defender Aymeric Laporte for the match. On the other hand, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić has no injury worries going into the game.
In their previous meetings, Spain has had the upper hand, winning five out of the last 10 matches against Croatia. Spain has a strong history in the European Championship, having won the tournament in 1964, 2008, and 2012. On the other hand, Croatia is making their seventh appearance at the tournament, and their sixth straight, showcasing their consistency in European competitions.
Both teams are aware of the importance of starting the tournament on the right foot. Spain forward Pedri emphasized the importance of a strong start, while Croatia left back Borna Sosa expects a close game against Spain. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić acknowledged that they are in the toughest group, but they are not afraid of any opponent and are looking to showcase their best. With both teams eager to make a strong start to the tournament, the opening match between Spain and Croatia promises to be an exciting clash.
