Spain are off to a flying start at Euro 2024, thrashing Croatia 3-0 at the Olympiastadion to take control of Group B on Saturday.
La Roja claimed a 5-3 extra-time victory when these sides met in the last 16 at Euro 2020, but they enjoyed a far more serene outing on Saturday.
Fabian Ruiz released Alvaro Morata to put them ahead after a quiet start, then some clever footwork led to the midfielder’s deflected strike beating Dominik Livakovic three minutes later.
Luis de la Fuente made Yamal the Euros’ youngest-ever player at the age of 16 years and 338 days, and he rewarded his coach by assisting Dani Carvajal’s third on the stroke of half-time.
Croatia looked a shadow of the team that took bronze at the 2022 World Cup and saw a potential consolation chalked off late on, Ivan Perisic being punished for encroachment as he teed up Bruno Petkovic on the rebound from the forward’s saved penalty.
The opening exchanges were low on excitement as Spain struggled to combine their patient approach play with penetration, but Fabian provided the telling pass after 29 minutes.
The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder split the Croatia centre-backs with an excellent throughball, allowing Morata to race clear and finish left-footed.
Fabian doubled Spain’s advantage shortly afterwards. Receiving the ball from Pedri on the edge of the box, he turned Luka Modric before seeing his low drive take a slight deflection on its way into the bottom-right corner.
Croatia sought a response as Unai Simon denied Marcelo Brozovic and Josko Gvardiol volleyed wide, but their troubles deepened in first-half stoppage time, Carvajal pouncing to prod Yamal’s inviting cross home.
Yamal could have had a goal to go with his assist seven minutes after the break, but Livakovic made a stunning save to keep his left-footed strike out.
Marc Cucurella made a brave last-ditch block to keep out Josip Stanisic’s shot, and Croatia were denied a consolation in bizarre circumstances with 10 minutes remaining.
Simon’s mistake led to Rodri pushing Petkovic over in front of a gaping goal, and though the Croatia substitute saw his spot-kick saved, he tapped home Perisic’s left-sided cross on the rebound.
However, a VAR review showed Perisic was encroaching, so Petkovic’s late finish was disallowed to cap a miserable start for Croatia.
- Much-maligned Morata climbs the charts
Euro 2020 was a tournament to forget for Morata, who scored three goals but missed more big chances (six) than any other player before fluffing his lines from the spot as Spain were beaten on penalties by Italy in the last four.
However, Morata came into this tournament on the back of his joint-most prolific campaign in Europe’s top five leagues, netting 15 times for Atletico Madrid in LaLiga, and he carried that form into Saturday’s Group B opener.
He now has seven goals at the Euros overall (three in 2016, three in 2020, one in 2024), with only Cristiano Ronaldo (14) and Michel Platini (nine) bettering that tally.
Morata is also just the second Spanish player to reach double figures for goals at major tournaments, with 10. David Villa – their leading goalscorer at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup – netted 13.
- Youth trumps experience
As Spain made Yamal the youngest player in Euros history, Croatia skipper Modric – aged 38 years and 280 days – became the oldest outfielder to appear at the tournament since Germany’s Lothar Matthaus against Portugal in 2000 (39 years, 91 days).
Far from replicating Toni Kroos’ metronomic performance in Germany’s 5-1 rout of Scotland on Friday, Modric struggled to get a foothold against Spain’s cultured midfield trio and was found wanting as Fabian turned him to score La Roja’s second.
Veteran Modric and his team-mates struggled to get close to Yamal over on the Spain right, and it was an experienced Spanish campaigner who benefitted from the teenager’s creativity.
While Yamal became the youngest player to assist in the history of the Euros, Carvajal became the oldest player to score for Spain at the competition, aged 32 years and 156 days.
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