Spain Vs Croatia: La Fuente Yakin La Roja Stays Favorite Team

Spain remains the favorite team (photo: x @SEFutbol)

JAKARTA - The opening match of Group B in the 2024 European Cup this summer will take place in Berlin on Saturday, June 15 with Spain facing Croatia.

Spain have won the European Cup three times, and reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020. On the other hand, Croatia has never surpassed the quarter-finals of this competition.

Spain, coached by Luis de la Fuente, is now not considered the main favorite to win Euro 2024. However, this talented squad has the ability needed to win this summer. La Roja lifted the Euro trophy in 1964, 2008, and 2012, and they reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020, before losing to the Italian champions on penalties.

Spain entered this match in a strong form, having won two friendly matches in June. They beat Andorra 5-0 and Northern Ireland 5-1, as well as drew with Brazil at the end of March. They will face Italy in their second Group B match on June 20, before finishing their part against Albania four days later.

Spain have won six of their last ten games against Croatia, including a penalty shootout win when both teams last met in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League final.

On the other hand, Croatia, coached by Zlatko Dalic, has had an impressive record in the World Cup recently, finishing runner-up in 2018 and winning third place in the 2022 competition in Qatar. However, this national team has been knocked out in the last 16 in their last two appearances at the European Championships.

Croatia entered this match confidently, having won their last six games in all competitions, including an impressive 2-1 win over Portugal in their final friendly. Vatreni have scored nine goals in their last three games.

In the Spanish camp, there is some uncertainty in the current squad, where coach De la Fuente has not provided many clues about the line-up that will start this game. Aymeric Laporte, who was supposed to start, had muscle problems and might be replaced by Nacho. Lamine Yamal, a 16-year-old player, is expected to be the youngest player to have played in the European Cup, with the possibility of starting on the right.

In Croatian camp, the line is filled with star players such as Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Marcelo Brozovic. Ivan Perisic is still not 100% recovering from a knee injury, so it is likely to start from the bench.

Luis de La Fuente, the La Rioja coach expressed his confidence in his team's capabilities. "I am a national product defender and I believe our players are extraordinary. I believe in the potential we have. This team will fight to the end and we will compete with the best. We feel as strong as the strongest teams and we will be ready to fight for something big," said De La Fuente, who also gave full support to Morata'splvaro.

"He is our center forward. I defended him desperately. He is a player who does not get recognition for what he has done. It seems that we often underestimate the value of local players. His entire career journey shows that he is a big figure in the world. For me, he is irreplaceable," said Fuente.

"This team is very focused, very ready," continued the coach. "We really want this moment to arrive and with behavior that makes me proud. They are examples of values, teams and togetherness. And as football players, for me, they are the best in the world."

When asked if Spain was in the "Group of Hell", De La Fuente answered firmly. "Euro is always followed by the best teams. There is a lot of equality. Each team has quality players. Maybe this is the strongest group at the Euros. This is what we get, but I think we are ready. They also have to worry about us," he said.

"This may be the strongest Euro in history. All teams with the power of football are more present. No one is absent. England, Germany, France, Portugal... and Spain, should be considered one of the strongest teams at the Euros," he said, when asked about the level of the tournament that took place in Germany starting today.

Spain: Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho, Grimaldo; Ruiz, Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Morata, Williams

Croatia: Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol; Brozovic, Kovacic, Modric; Majer, Budimir, Kramaric