Euro 2024 – Spain vs Croatia | Match Info, Preview & Lineup
The much-anticipated opening match of Group B at this summer’s European Championship will take place in Berlin on Saturday, featuring a clash between Spain and Croatia.
Spain, three-time winners of the European Championship and semi-finalists in Euro 2020, face a Croatian team that has never advanced past the quarter-finals in this competition. Spain’s head coach, De la Fuente, has kept his lineup plans under wraps, creating some uncertainty about the starting XI.
Aymeric Laporte was expected to start, but a muscular issue kept him out of training on Thursday, so Nacho is likely to step in at central defense.
Lamine Yamal, at just 16 years old, is set to become the youngest player to ever appear in a European Championship, expected to start on the right for Spain. Dani Carvajal, fresh off a La Liga and Champions League double with Real Madrid, will be at right-back, while Alex Grimaldo is anticipated to start at left-back.
Croatia’s lineup also has some uncertainties, but their midfield trio of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Marcelo Brozovic is certain to start. Lovro Majer, who has scored eight goals in 31 caps, is likely to join the starting lineup, with Andrej Kramaric and Ante Budimir possibly completing the attack.
Ivan Perisic is still recovering from a serious knee injury and will probably start on the bench, while Marin Pongracic is expected to pair with Josip Sutalo in central defense. Josko Gvardiol will face his Manchester City teammate Rodri, and Josip Stanisic from Bayer Leverkusen will take the spot on the opposite side of the defense.
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