This Spain is scary! 3-0 to Croatia in a half with Morata, Ruiz and Carvajal. Modric and his teammates make too many mistakes

Show of the Spain at the debut! There Roja crushes the fearsome Croatia and is aggressively bidding to win Group B. Italy’s next rival (Thursday 20th) gives a round 3-0 to Modric and his teammates, third in the World Cup in Qatar. Three goals in one half, compressed into the last 15′, which have as their common denominator the defensive inattentions of the Balkans but also the cynicism of the Iberians. In Berlin the match is not very pleasant in the first half hour, the uncorks it Morata exploiting a defensive hole. Ruiz doubles after 3′ and Carvajal completes the work by mocking Pongracic from behind. A lethal trio, which is worth the mortgage on the three points. In the second half Livakovic denies the poker Yamal – who consoles himself with an assist and the record for the youngest player – while Croatia wastes its chances and in the end experiences a psychodrama with Petkovic. The center forward could shoot into an empty net, he is satisfied with the penalty but misses it. He has another chance on the rebound but the 3-1 is canceled out. A bad signal for Italy: Spain is scary. A more positive one: Croatia is beatable.

SPAIN-CROATIA 3-0 (First half: 3-0)

SPAIN (4-3-3) – Unai Simón 6.5; Carvajal 7, Le Normand 6, Nacho 6, Cucurella 6.5; Pedri 6 (59′ Olmo 5.5), Rodri 6 (86′ Zubimendi sv), Fabian Ruiz 7.5; Yamal 7 (86′ Ferran Torres sv), Morata 7 (67′ Oyarzabal 6), Williams 7 (68′ Merino 6). CT: de la Fuente 7

CROATIA (4-3-3) – Livakovic 6.5; Stanisic 5.5, Sutalo 4.5, Pongracic 4, Gvardiol 5; Modric 5 (65′ Pasalic 5), Brozovic 4.5, Kovacic 6 (65′ Sucic 5.5); Majer 6, Budimir 5 (56′ Perisic 6), Kramaric 5 (72′ Petkovic 4.5). CT: Dalic 5

REFEREE: Michael Oliver (England)

GOAL: 29′ Morata (S), 32′ Fabian Ruiz (S), 45’+2′ Carvajal (S)

ASSIST: Fabian Ruiz (1-0 L), Pedri (2-0 L), Yamal (3-0 L)

NOTE – Unai Simon saves a penalty from Petkovic in the 80th minute. Recovery: 3’+5′

29′ – SPAIN IN ADVANTAGE! DEAD! Chasm in Croatia’s defence, Pongracic and Sutalo lose their distance and leave plenty of space for Morata. Fabian Ruiz notices this and serves his captain perfectly with a vertical pass. Morata makes no mistakes in front of Livakovic!

32′ – FABIAN RUIZ! DOUBLE SPAIN NOW! Lethal one-two of the Red Furies. The author of the opening assist accepts Pedri’s invitation, then dribbles past Modric and Brozovic, enters the area and shoots under Sutalo’s legs. Livakovic can’t do anything

41′ – CROATIA CLOSE TO GOAL! First truly dangerous action by the Balkans. Kramaric escapes from Rodri and is supported by Majer wide on the right. On the 7th with the cross he reaches Gvardiol in the other lane. The Manchester City defender throws it back into the middle with a cross shot but Budimir doesn’t push it into the net on the goal line

45’+2′ – SPAIN TRIS! CARVAJAL! It all started with a corner kick earned by Nico Williams. Yamal from the flag serves Williams close to him, who goes to Ruiz, who returns the ball to the 16-year-old from Barça who with a cross from the midfield reaches Carvajal, forgotten by Pongracic. 3-0 in one half, it’s super Spain

52′ – MIRACLE FROM LIVAKOVIC! Spain devastating vertically, Pedri launches Morata who is fouled. The ball stays there, and Pedri gets it again. The number 20 penetrates the area then passes the ball to Yamal who shoots! Livakovic denies poker

55′ – CROATIA OPPORTUNITY! Dalic’s men build a great move and envelop the Spanish penalty area. Stanisic hits Cucurella with the big plate, Budimir tries again with a header on the rebound. Series of fights and fights, the Iberians are saved somehow.

78′ – PENALTY KICK FOR CROATIA! Unai Simon’s disaster with his feet, Majer passes the ball for Petkovic. Rodri knocks him down, it’s a penalty

80′ – PETKOVIC FAILS FROM 11 METERS! THEN HE SCORES BUT IT’S CANCELLED. Unai Simon rejects the penalty kicked by Petkovic. The Spanish goalkeeper dives to his right and guesses the corner chosen by the center forward. Then on the rebound the fastest is Perisic who offers a second chance to Petkovic. With an empty net he doesn’t make a mistake but the goal is disallowed

Fabian RUIZ – He stifles Croatian enthusiasm with two enlightening plays on the half-hour. First he inspires Morata with the vertical punch, then he gets Modric drunk and punishes Livakovic. The former Napoli player directs the debut of the two national teams.

Marin PONGRACIC – Bruno Petkovic deserves an honorable mention but his drama is just the tail end of a match to forget for Croatia. The worst is therefore the defender owned by Lecce, the anti-hero par excellence of the match at the Olympiastadion. With Sutalo he opens the doors of glory to Morata. Then he underestimates Carvajal at 3-0.