“The way forward”: Spain struck a big blow on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin for the first shock of the tournament by outclassing Croatia (3-0) and now placing itself among the big favorites for Euro-2024 . After the lesson given Friday evening by Germany to Scotland (5-1), no one expected the same scenario during this classic of major competitions.
But surprise: in an enclosure full of fans dressed in checkered jerseys (68,800 supporters), Luis De la Fuente’s players definitely regained color and ambition. “It was important to start like that, I saw the team with desire,” said captain Alvaro Morata, “it’s the way to go.” For the other scorer Dani Carvajal, it’s “the beginning of a dream”: “we did our job as best as possible, it’s true that we trust each other, but we conceded more (chances ) than we should if we want to go far”.
“I apologize for this bad show today”
With this success, the “Roja”, three times victorious in the continental tournament (1964, 2008 and 2012), warned the other favorites of the competition (England, France, Germany and Portugal) that they would have to count on it until mid-July. Because the Spaniards outclassed Luka Modric’s teammates from the first minutes and in all areas of play, who had a hard time getting out and holding the ball. Not to mention several defensive errors.
Moreover, we had to wait more than ten minutes to see Zlatko Dalic’s team, vice-world champion in 2018 and 3rd in the last World Cup in 2022, strive to touch the ball a little. “I apologize for this bad show today,” reacted the Croatian coach, at the head of an aging team, not too sharp and rarely dangerous in attack. Like his team, captain and playmaker Modric looks his age – 38 -, very little in sight among the immutable trident in the middle with Brozovic and Kovacic.
And a rare thing: the Croatian star, who wants to win a first title with his selection before retiring internationally, was replaced “to rest him” at the hour mark (64th), without the ovations which had resonated before the encounter. To hope to qualify for the round of 16 (stage reached in 2016 and 2021), it will be necessary to greatly raise the level of play, while the Croatians are part of the toughest group in the tournament. Knowing that Italy should join, barring any major surprises, Spain at the top of Group B after the match against Albania on Saturday evening, Croatia is already in a complicated position.
“In five days we have a big match against Italy”
Unlike Modric, PSG player Fabian Ruiz shined at the heart of the Spanish game: the Parisian was in all the good moves in the first period, the most interesting, and twice decisive. He first launched perfectly into the axis for captain Álvaro Morata, who became the third top scorer in the Euro with seven goals (1-0, 29th). Then, less than five minutes later, Ruiz doubled the lead with a superb goal after eliminating two players at the edge of the area (2-0, 32nd).
And when the Spaniards seemed in danger, they managed to escape: thanks to a collective rescue (55th), and thanks to a Croatian penalty goal refused for an offside by Ivan Perisic, who entered early in the penalty area during Bruno Petkovic’s strike (79th).
This success “gives us a boost and serenity, but in five days we have a big match against Italy”, indicated Luis de la Fuente, at the head of a team which combines youth and experience. The third Spanish goal is the symbol: Lamine Yamal, who became the youngest player in the Euro at 16 years and 11 months, served Dani Carvajal, 32-year-old team executive (3-0, 45+2nd ), or double the age of the Barcelona nugget.