Spain made a profitable begin to Euro 2024 as they outclassed Group B rivals Croatia to assert a 3-0 victory at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
Impressed by Barcelona phenomenon Lamine Yamal, making historical past because the youngest participant ever to function at a European Championship – aged 16 years and 338 days, Luis de la Fuente’s aspect scored all three of their targets in a one-sided first half.
The primary two got here within the area of three minutes as captain Alvaro Morata buried a one-on-one likelihood from Fabian Ruiz’s incisive through-ball, earlier than the midfielder twisted and turned within the Croatia field and rifled house the second objective himself.
Yamal was concerned within the build-up to Fabian’s objective and supplied the help for the third when his excellent cross was poked in by Actual Madrid defender Dani Carvajal for his first worldwide objective, solely two weeks after he scored within the Champions League ultimate.
Croatia, led by 38-year-old Luka Modric, taking part in in his ninth main event, surprisingly had the next share of possession than Spain however their defensive sloppiness was ruthlessly punished and, on the different finish, they didn’t capitalise on their openings.
Marc Cucurella cleared a Josip Stanisic effort off the road within the second half and Croatia then noticed a late objective dominated out for encroachment after substitute Bruno Petkovic had received a penalty off Rodri following an error by Unai Simon, then scored from the rebound after the Spain goalkeeper saved his spot-kick.
The outcome represents a near-perfect begin to the event for Spain, the one concern being an obvious knock to Rodri which noticed the Manchester Metropolis midfielder substituted late on.
Star performer: Lamine Yamal excellent
At 16 years and 338 days previous, Yamal smashed the youngest-player document beforehand set by Poland’s Kacper Kozlowski, who featured on the final European Championship aged 17 years and 246 days.
If that was not sufficient of a feat in itself, the precocious Barcelona winger went on to play a vital function within the victory, inflicting issues for Croatia proper up till his 86th-minute substitution.
The spotlight of his efficiency was the scrumptious, diagonal cross to arrange the third objective however there have been loads of different eye-catching moments as he exploited the area behind Croatia left-back Josko Gvardiol to lethal impact, his pace, imaginative and prescient and one-on-one capability shining via in an exciting show.
Evaluation: A brand new Spanish id?
This recreation ended a run of 136 aggressive fixtures during which Spain have had extra possession than their opponent, relationship again 16 years to the ultimate of Euro 2008.
And but, regardless of solely having a 47 per cent share of the ball in opposition to Croatia, the win might hardly have been extra convincing, sealed throughout a scientific first-half displaying.
Alvaro Morata is congratulated by team-mate Robin Le Normand after his objective
It’s only 18 months since Spain exited the World Cup with a limp penalty shoot-out loss to Morocco throughout which they made 1,000 passes and but solely mustered one shot on the right track, a statistic which summed up their struggles in turning possession into possibilities.
Watching this aspect on Saturday, although, a aspect that includes the 16-year-old Lamine Yamal on one flank and the 21-year-old Nico Williams on the opposite, was a really completely different expertise.
Nico Williams takes on Josip Sutalo
As a substitute of directionless passing, there was incision, typified by the Fabian Ruiz through-ball that carved Croatia open for the opening objective, and the numerous moments when Williams and, to a fair better extent Yamal, sprang ahead following transitions.
Their pace and directness seems to have given Spain a special dimension from different current tournaments. It could be at odds with their id however it’s one which makes them a tougher opponent, and a greater wager to go deep this time round.
