Spain Preview & Form
Spain will face Croatia in the opening match of Group B at the 2024 UEFA European Championship. The match is set to take place on June 15th at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. La Furia Roja enters the Euro 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 adds to their status as one of the favorites to clinch this year's European Championship.
Spain's historic success in the tournament further solidifies their position as a formidable contender. Having won the tournament three times, they bring a legacy of success and high expectations into Euro 2024. In recent friendlies ahead of the tournament, Spain registered two victories, one draw, and one loss. They were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Colombia, played a thrilling 3-3 draw against Brazil, and subsequently secured emphatic wins of 5-0 over Andorra and 5-1 over Northern Ireland. In their last six matches, Spain scored an impressive 19 goals, showcasing their potent attacking prowess that they will look to maintain throughout the European Championship.
Croatia Preview & Form
Croatia enters Euro 2024 riding high on 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, ahead of Wales. Although Croatia has not been as successful in the European Championships as in the World Cup, their best results came when they reached the quarterfinals in 1996 and 2008.
As part of their preparation for the European Championship, Croatia notched a series of impressive victories. They defeated Tunisia on penalties, followed by wins against Egypt (4-2) and North Macedonia (3-0). Their most recent match saw them secure a 2-1 victory against Portugal, one of the favorites for the European tournament, underscoring their competitive edge.
Spain vs Croatia 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).
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 these two sides have been closely contested. One of the notable recent matches saw Spain win against Croatia after penalties, indicative of how evenly matched these teams can be.
Spain vs Croatia 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 with four wins and one draw. 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.
Spain will look to leverage their historic success and maintain their attacking prowess, while Croatia will aim to extend their winning streak and demonstrate their competitive edge. Both teams have formidable lineups and a wealth of talent, making this opening match one to watch closely.