Spain Preview & Form
Spain is set to clash with 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. La Furia Roja enters the Euro tournament as the favorite to secure the top spot in Group B, a status that is well-deserved given their current form.
Spain has experienced only one loss in their last 12 matches across all competitions, including friendly matches. This impressive record positions them as one of the top contenders for this year's European Championship. Spain's historic success in the tournament, having won it three times, further solidifies their standing as a formidable team.
In recent friendlies leading up to Euro 2024, Spain registered two victories, one draw, and one loss. They were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Colombia, played an exhilarating 3-3 draw against Brazil, and secured commanding victories with a 5-0 win over Andorra and a 5-1 win over Northern Ireland. Spain scored 19 goals in their last six matches, showcasing their potent attacking prowess, which they will look to maintain throughout the European Championship.
Croatia Preview & Form
Croatia enters Euro 2024 on the back of a six-match winning streak. The Croatian national team earned their spot in the tournament by finishing second in Group D of the qualification standings with 16 points, finishing ahead of Wales. While Croatia has not been as successful in the European Championships as they have in the World Cup, their best results came in 1996 and 2008 when they reached the quarterfinals.
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, another favorite for the tournament. This string of victories underlines Croatia's strong form heading into Euro 2024.
Spain vs Croatia Starting Lineups
Here are the probable starting 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 Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
The last five encounters between Spain and Croatia have been closely contested. One of the noteworthy recent matches saw Spain triumph over Croatia after a penalty shootout, highlighting just how evenly matched these two teams can be.
Spain vs Croatia Prediction & Betting Tips
Given the current form of both teams, we anticipate 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 as both teams are determined to make a strong start to their Euro 2024 campaign.