A pyrotechnic first half sends Spain to heaven and throws Croatia into despair, overwhelmed by three goals that are difficult to digest in their first encounter with the European Championships.
Two old acquaintances of Italian football, Alvaro Morata and Fabian Ruiz, created the Iberian triumph which was completed by the usual goal, at the peak of a season worth remembering, from Carvajal.
Baby Yamal, the youngest player in the history of the European Championships, with 17 years to go, makes a good impression, between brilliant ideas and some inevitable naivety. The Croatia seen in Berlin seems to be at the end of its cycle, with a slow and predictable defense, Gvardiol who on the left seems like a distant relative of the champion who puts on a show in Guardiola’s Man City. In midfield Modric still has some creative ideas, but Brozovic and Kovacic are too slow. The tips, as usual, are insufficient.
ANSA Agency Euro 24: Yamal from 1′, at 16 years and 11 months he is the youngest ever – European Championships 2024 – Ansa.it The Spaniard is among the starters against Croatia and is already breaking records (ANSA) Now he will have to seek redemption against Albania and Italy to avoid a humiliating elimination. However, considering the regulations of the European Championships, with the qualification of the four best third-placed teams, everything is still possible. After the clear victories of Germany and Switzerland against modest opponents, Spain outclasses Croatia, in a much clearer manner than in the Nations League final, awarded on penalties. Modric’s team was too bad to be true and soon collapsed, struggling against a fresh, impetuous and talented Spain. The Real Madrid derbies between Carvajal and Modric and Manchester City between Rodri and Gvardiol have a clear outcome. In defense with Nacho and Le Normand there is no progress, the midfield of Rodri, Pedri and Fabian Ruiz intimidates the renowned opponent’s department. Morata, little loved by Spanish fans, remains reliable and inspired. The good morning starts in the morning, and it is Spain who immediately presses against a staid Croatia, who wakes up for a brief stretch of the first half to doze awkwardly. Pedri takes care of igniting the match in the 29th minute with a vertical assist that launches Morata, ahead of Sutalo, who crosses and beats Livakovic. Two minutes and we reply: Yamal invents for Fabian Ruiz, who puts the Croatian defense to rest in a slalom and doubles the score. The Croatians wake up from their torpor but Majer and Budimir fail to take advantage of two great opportunities to halve the gap. And Spain, ruthless, goes up 3-0 in the 47th minute: Yamal crosses with his silky left foot, Carvajal cuts to the center and passes Pongracic. A sumptuous time that throws Croatian certainties into crisis. At the usual pace, but with more strength, in the second half they try to react: Perisic and Pasalic come on while Morata stops due to injury, but Spain controls the operations without too many problems. A shock came in the 78th minute due to an error by Unai Simon which forced Rodri into a foul in the area. But Petkovic, who had already missed the penalty in the Nations League final, had his shot blocked. As the action develops he then scores, but the referee cancels it due to a millimeter offside by Perisic. For Croatia the European Championship is already uphill, Spain confirms itself among the favourites, acquiring some more certainties
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