Spain 3-0 Croatia: Rampant Spain bully Croatia; Petković misses late penalty

Lamine Yamal becoming the youngest player to ever suit up for a Euros game wasn’t the only history that was made in Spain’s clash with Croatia, with captain Álvaro Morata also making some history of his own, becoming the joint-third highest goal scorer in Euros history when he opened their scoring account.

Goals from Morata, Fabián Ruiz and Dani Carvajal in just the first-half seemingly took the game entirely away from the Vatreni, leaving them bottom of the group with a dampening goal difference, with a clash against Albania up next.

But Spain were also dealt a heavy blow, with their skipper being forced off with injury, bringing his involvement in the rest of the tournament into doubt, before Croatia failed to turn in their penalty miss when VAR highlighted an encroachment in the area.

As it happened

A relatively slow start to the contest in Berlin’s Olympiastadion saw Spain put the pressure on early, with Croatia struggling to get on the ball within the first 15 minutes. However, it wasn’t something that La Roja were able to capitalise on, with young Lamine Yamal the only one to get a shot on target — though it was a soft strike at that.

However, past the 20-minute mark Croatia started to get on the ball more, growing into the game and spearheaded by Manchester City’s Mateo Kovačić, who was now looking bigger and bigger in the middle of the park, and beginning to link the play through the lines.

Budimir attacked a great ball into the box in the 23^rd minute off a right-wing cross, getting in front of Robin le Normand, but a difficult attempt saw the header go high and wide. Could it really be registered as an attempt on goal? Perhaps not, but it was the first sign of danger for the Spaniards, with Croatia beginning to ramp up the pressure.

It’s been a tournament of many goals so far, and it was skipper Álvaro Morata who broke the deadlock at the half-hour mark, after a delicious through-ball straight down the middle of the pitch from Fabián Ruiz, with the Croatian centre-backs too wide apart. His lack of pace, it didn’t matter, and he was just able to smoothly pass it into the net.

(Photo by Maja Hitij – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

With Morata registering his seventh Euros goal, he is now the joint third top scorer in European Championship history, tied with England’s Alan Shearer, and France’s Antoine Griezmann.

Croatia almost responded immediately, and it was that man Kovačić, who drove down the field before attempting a shot from just out the box, though it was a comfortable save for Spanish keeper Unai Simón.

But Spain doubled their lead just five minutes later, with the assister of the first goal, Fabián Ruiz, using his quick feet shake and bake two defenders – one of which was Luka Modrić, before calmly slotting it home past Livaković. A slight deflection – yes, but they all count and it was a stunning finish. Prior to that phase of play, it was a 60-yard pass from Ruiz into Lamine Yamal which sparked the counter attack, despite Croatia initially being on the press.

Again, from the kick off, Croatia almost immediately responded, with an effort from Brozović being palmed away by Simón and into the path of Majer, who side-netted the chance – though it was at a tight angle.

The game had suddenly come alive.

Croatia still looked determined, though, despite the 2-0 scoreline, and City’s Joško Gvardiol came ever so close to halving the deficit just before half-time, with his shot from a fairly tight angle on the left-hand side forcing the save from Simón which came oh so close to falling into the path of Ante Budimir – we are talking just inches away.

On the stroke of half time, 16-year-old Lamal whipped a gorgeous ball into the ball, which Dani Carvajal latched onto, coming out of nowhere and splitting the Croatian defense, looking to be the dagger in Croatia’s side.

Would you believe it – it was his first ever goal for Spain on a night where he earned his 45^th cap, and now La Roja were firmly in control of the game. Carvajal’s a man in fine form, having also scored in the Champions League Final for Real Madrid just a few weeks ago.

Down 3-0 at half time, Croatia looked all but out of the contest, and it seemed that it was more about damage limitation in the second half than anything, but it was crucial for them to score the next goal.

They came out the blocks fast, but appeared to lacked that quality in the final third to make the most of any chances they had created.

After a strong run from Pedri into the box, he was able to somehow feed the box to Yamal, who was so close to notching first European goal in the early stages of the second half, but it was straight into the hands of Livaković.

But at the flick of a switch, Croatia came alive again, with Kovačić driving to the byline with the ball before he cut it back, and it looked almost certain that Croatia were finally going to get on the scoresheet… Except they didn’t. Three attempts and a mini-game of pinball, which included a stunning clearance off the line by Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella all but summed up how the game went for the Croatia, and they had no choice but to make some changes, bringing on former Spurs man Ivan Perišić for his 132^nd cap, in place of Budimir.

But Spain were dealt a blow in the 64^th minute when Morata went down, and immediately signalled to the bench to be substituted, handing the captain’s armband to Rodri, while Croatia made some substitutions of their own, taking of Kovačić and Modrić simultaneously, which seemed an indication that they knew this game was out of sight and were now preserving their stars for their next fixture against Albania.

Croatia had a golden chance to get back into the game, after a mistake from Unai Simón in the 78^th minute saw it enter the possession of the opposition, and just as sub Bruno Petković went to shoot from close range, he was brought down by Rodri leaving referee Michael Oliver no other choice than to point to the spot, while also brandishing a yellow card to Rodri for the foul.

Stepped up Petković – who had come on six minutes prior – but the strike was not a convincing one and was saved by Simón. However, the keeper’s stop was parried back into the path of Perišić, who crossed it back in for Petković to slot home. The roar of the Croatian-heavy crowd was deafening with the scoreline now 3-1… or so at least they thought.

Upon a lengthy VAR review, the goal was ruled out for various encroachments, and Croatia were left pondering over how they were still not on the scoresheet.

Despite the dominant 3-0 scoreline, it was Croatia who occupied the ball possession, recording a 53.4% possession rate, while also matching Spain’s five shots on target. They registered 16 shots in total, five more than Spain’s 11.

But it was a stunning display from the three-time European champions, an though still only an early showing, this victory is a clear indication of what they have to offer during this tournament.

With young attacking flare, combined with devastating pace and hints of the tika-taka ball we have long associated with the nation, Spain look to be fully back in this new era of football, and could well emerge as strong contenders for the trophy should this form continue throughout the rest of the group stages.