Euro 2024: Experienced Croatia's Berlin Fall By The Hands Of Spain (Image: twitter.com/EURO2024)

A vastly experienced Croatian squad, packed with six out of their 13 most capped players, could not defend against the early offensive from a young Spanish side in their first Euro 2024 match. Ultimately, the match ended in a resounding 3-0 defeat for the 2018 World Cup finalists. The statistics might have been different if the goal scored by Bruno Petković from his own missed penalty had stood. Unfortunately, the goal was denied by VAR after Ivan Perišić encroached on the goal area during the penalty.

Though the Croats resisted further embarrassment in the second half, the Spanish surge in the first half decided the outcome of the match in Berlin. Atlético Madrid’s Álvaro Morata, Paris Saint-Germain’s Fabián Ruiz, and Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal helped La Roja secure a position that the experienced Croatian team was expected to reach with ease. However, in the second half, Croatia showed better form.

Important moment: Yamine Jamal, the youngest player and the goal scorer for Spain and the youngest goalscorer in a Euro qualifying match, basked in Berlin sunshine in his Euro debut with a spectacular assist for Carvajal’s goal by the end of the first half.

Spain, one of the favorites to lift the trophy in this Euro and three time champions, made a statement at Berlin’s Olympiastadion with a high-caliber performance that the rest of their high-profile opponents are expected to take notice of. Spain had won the European cups in 1964, 2008 and 2012.

Spain and Croatia are placed in the Group B with Italy and Albania.