Spain Preview & Form
Spain is set to face Croatia in the opening match of Group B at the 2024 UEFA European Championship. The match will take place on June 15th at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, bringing a significant clash to the tournament's early stages.
La Furia Roja enters the Euro tournament as the favorite to win Group B, a status that is 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 cements their status as one of the favorites to claim this year's European Championship title.
Spain's historic success in the tournament further solidifies their position as a formidable contender. Having won the tournament three times, their legacy in the European Championship is substantial. In recent friendlies ahead of Euro 2024, Spain has shown strong performance with two victories, one draw, and one loss. They narrowly lost 1-0 to Colombia and played an entertaining 3-3 draw against Brazil. They then claimed a 5-0 victory over Andorra and a 5-1 win over Northern Ireland.
With 19 goals scored in their last six matches, Spain's attacking prowess is evident. They will look to maintain this impressive offensive form throughout the European Championship, aiming to secure another title in their illustrious history.
Croatia Preview & Form
Croatia enters Euro 2024 riding high on a six-match winning streak, illustrating their strong momentum heading into the tournament. 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.
While Croatia's success in the European Championships has not matched their impressive World Cup performances, they have reached the quarterfinals twice, in 1996 and 2008. As part of their preparation for the European Championship, Croatia achieved a series of impressive victories. They defeated Tunisia on penalties and followed up with 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.
The recent results underscore Croatia's potential to be a dark horse in the competition. With an experienced squad and high morale, they are poised to challenge any team they face.
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 most notable recent matches saw Spain win against Croatia after penalties, highlighting 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, while 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.