Spain Starts Euro 2024 Campaign with Dominant Win Over Croatia

Spain kicked off their quest for a fourth European Championship triumph in impressive fashion with a resounding victory over Croatia at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal found the net in the first half, effectively sealing the outcome before halftime in what was a statement win for La Roja. Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s young sensation made history as the youngest player to feature in the men’s Euros at just 16 years and 338 days, contributing to Spain dominant performance against a lackluster Croatia side.

Morata opened the scoring after being set up by Ruiz, who later added his own goal with a deflected shot. Croatia struggled to create chances, with their best opportunity coming from Josko Gvardiol’s effort that narrowly missed the target. Carvajal capitalized on Yamal’s cross to extend Spain’s lead before halftime. Despite a strong start to the second half, Yamal was denied a goal of his own by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. Croatia’s woes continued when Bruno Petkovic missed a late penalty with the VAR disallowing his follow-up for encroachment.

The disappointment for Croatia contrasted sharply with the optimism in the Spanish camp with captain Rodri expressing confidence in their title credentials. Manager Luis de la Fuente emphasized the need to stay grounded ahead of their clash with Italy, acknowledging the excitement but urging caution. Meanwhile, Croatia’s coach Zlatko Dalic issued apologies to their fans for a lackluster performance, citing defensive lapses that allowed Spain’s attacking trio of Yamal, Morata, and Ruiz to exploit their weaknesses.