CROATIA are taking on Spain in Copenhagen for a place in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.
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- Croatia XI: Livakovic, Caleta-Car, Vida, Gvardiol, Juranovic, Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic, Rebic, Vlasic, Petkovic.
- Spain XI: Unai Simon, Gaya, Laporte, Eric Garcia, Azpilicueta, Pedri, Busquets, Koke, Sarabia, Torres, Morata.
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CROATIA 0-0 SPAIN
6. This is far from Spain-like, however.
A ball pumped high into the Croatian penalty area is met by a wonderful leap from Ferran Torres.
He nods down for Koke in the middle, but the Atletico midfielder is unable to adjust his body in time to get a shot away.
CROATIA 0-0 SPAIN
4. Spain are taking an early grip of possession in this battle between two teams that feel equally comfortably on the ball.
CROATIA 0-0 SPAIN
2. Less than two minutes on the clock, and Gaya almost makes an immediate impression on his recall to the side.
Laporte picks the left-back out on a run into the area, and it’s only alert goalkeeping from Livakovic that cuts off the supply line..
CROATIA 0-0 SPAIN
1. With half the Parken Stadium bathed in sunshine and the other in the shadows of the stands, Spain get the latest Last 16 encounter underway.
In a tournament that has offered home advantage to so many, both of these sides find themselves away from their own arenas and their kit choice reflects that; Spain are in all white, Croatia are wearing black.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
WE’RE OFF IN COPENHAGEN!HERE COME THE TEAMS!
A huge roar welcomes the two sides as they make their way out on tto the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
The setting and sound is glorious, and so too is the weather. Blistering sunshine beats down on the pitch, and it’s clear that changes and fresh legs could be crucial here – especially should the match extend into extra-time.
First though, it’s the formalities. Sergio Busquets and Luka Modric line their teams up, and now it’s time for the national anthems.
FAN-TASTIC FOLLOWING
Having been unable to travel to the United Kingdom for their country’s three group games, Croatia fans are back with their team today in Copenhagen and are already making the most of the occasion.
Officially, there are expected to be around 8,000 Croatian fans are the Parken stadium. Unofficially, it could be much more.
FERRAN ON FIRE
Ferran Torres made an immediate impact off the bench against Slovakia, netting a sublime backheel within seconds of his introduction, and has now been rewarded with a start against Croatia in Copenhagen.
The Manchester City forward brings pace and energy to the Spanish front three, as well as a superb scoring record at international level, averaging a goal every 90 minutes.
OLMO UP AGAINST OLD FRIENDS
Spain have a potential secret weapon on the bench, and one that knows the Croatian game very well.
Winger Dani Olmo moved to Croatia as a 16-year-old, having come through the Espanyol and Barcelona youth academies.
Able to speak the language fluently, he spent five-and-a-half years at Dinamo Zagreb before moving to RB Leipzig at the start of 2020.
The 23-year-old has as many as five former teammates in the Croatia squad, and could find himself up against any of them should he be called upon by Luis Enrique.
PEDRI SETS ROO RECORD
At 18 years and 215 days, Pedri is set to become the youngest ever player to start a knockout game at the European Championships.
Barcelona’s teenage sensation will overtake the record set by Wayne Rooney, when he represented England at 18 years and 244 days against Portugal in 2004.
Rooney, of course, was a tormentor of Croatia in the group stages of Euro 2004, a performance that launched him on to the international scene. Could Pedri also follow in that fashion this evening?
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THE MOD-EL MIDFIELDER
He may be in the twilight of his career, but Croatia captain Luka Modric is once again proving himself to be one of the best midfielders in the game.
Modric became the oldest player to score for his country at the European Championships at 35 years and 286 days with his stunner against the Scots, and he also holds the record as Croatia’s youngest goalscorer in the competition.
At Euro 2008, a then 22-year-old Modric netted a fourth-minute penalty against Austria as his side made it all the way to the quarter-finals before being dramatically defeated on penalties by Turkey.
Should Modric score find the target again today, he would become the second-oldest player in European Championship history to score in consecutive appearances, behind only his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. Decent company.
SPAIN SUBSTITUTES
1 De Gea, 13 Sanchez, 3 D Llorente, 4 P Torres, 6 M Llorente, 9 Moreno, 10 Thiago, 16 Rodri, 17 Ruiz, 18 Alba, 19 Olmo, 21 Oyarzabal
SPAIN XI
Luis Enrique makes two changes to the Spain side that thumped Slovakia last time out. Misfiring forward Alvaro Morata keeps his place up front, but Gerard Moreno is replaced by Ferran Torres; the Manchester City’s man inclusion is likely to see Pablo Sarrabia switch to the left side of attack. Elsewhere, Jose Gaya is preferred at left-back to 32-year-old Jordi Alba in what is likely a case of fresh legs. The midfield three of Koke, Pedri and captain Sergio Busquets remain the same as Enrique continues with his 4-3-3 formation.
23 Simon; 2 Azpilicueta, 12 Eric Garcia, 24 Laporte, 14 Gaya; 8 Koke, 5 Busquets, 26 Pedri; 11 F Torres, 7 Morata, 22 Sarabia
CROATIA SUBSTITUTES
12 Kalinic, 23 Sluga, 2 Vrsaljko, 7 Brekalo, 9 Kramaric, 14 Budimir, 15 Pasalic, 16 Skoric, 18 Orsic, 19 Badelj, 24 Bradaric, 26 Ivanusec
CROATIA XI
Zlatko Dalic makes two enforced changes to the team that swept aside Scotland at Hampden Park. Dejan Lovren is suspended so Duje Caleta-Car comes into the centre of defence alongside Domagoj Vida while up front, Ante Rebic replaces Ivan Perisic, who has tested positive for Covid-19. The Croatians match up with Spain’s 4-3-3 with a midfield featuring captain Luka Modric, Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic and Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic. Up front, Bruno Petkovic plays through the middle with support on either side from Rebic and Nikola Vlasic.
1 Livakovic; 22 Juranovic, 21 Vida, 5 Caleta-Car, 25 Gvardiol; 10 Modric, 11 Brozovic, 8 Kovacic; 13 Vlasic, 20 Petkovic, 17 Rebic
THE TEAMSHEETS ARE IN!
LAST TIME OUT
It was a five-star performance from Spain as they saw off Slovakia – with a little help from Martin Dubravka.
The Newcastle keeper had a mare between the sticks, going from hero to zero after saving Alvaro Morata’s spot-kick.
Dubravka scored the tournament’s most shocking own goal and it was his error that led to Aymeric Laporte’s header in the dying moments of the first half.
Pablo Sarabia sealed the win soon after before Ferran Torres’ beautiful backheel and Juraj Kucka’s own goal sent Spain through to today’s clash in sunny Copenhagen.
EARLY TEAM NEWS
Spain have no fresh injury worries, with Villarreal goal-machine Gerard Moreno hoping to start up-top.
Thiago Alcantara impressed off the bench against Slovakia, but might not have done enough to force his way into the starting XI.
Despite being poor from the penalty spot in this tournament, Alvaro Morata is set to start.
Ante Rebic is set to replace Perisic for Croatia, who may otherwise name an unchanged XI from the win over Scotland.
HEAD TO HEAD
There’s been some classic tournament clashes between these two nations down the years.
And just check out some of the names on this list.
With no Perisic, Ante Rebic and Luka Modric will have to be at their majestic best this evening.
NO IVAN
The Croatians have been dealt a huge blow with the news that Ivan Perisic is out.
After two goals in the group stages, he was set to play a key part today in Copenhagen.
But Perisic is isolating after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Croatia FA explained: “Perisic will spend 10 days in self-isolation and in that period he will not compete for the matches of the Croatian national team.
“All other national team members, staff members and delegations are negative.”
HOW’S STAT?
Croatia took a bit of time to get going in the tournament, but really found their stride against Scotland.
That 3-1 win saw them easily into third-place and into the last-16, where they will be a dangerous proposition today.
Remember though, top scorer Ivan Perisic is OUT. More on that later…
FAN POWER
It might be drizzly on our shores today, but over in Copenhagen it’s baking hot.
26c pitch-side and the Croatian fans are making the most of it – expect a lively atmosphere in the Parken Stadium.
HERE WE CRO
Croatia are taking on Spain in a Euro 2020 last 16 match between two teams who have yet to play to their potential.
The Croats underwhelmed in games against England and the Czech Republic before rescuing themselves when a brilliant Luka Modric strike helped them to a 3-1 win over Scotland at Hampden Park.
And Spain had been dogged by problems up front with main man Alvaro Morata failing to fire in draws at home to Sweden and Poland.
But they did give some indication of what they were capable with in a 5-0 win over Slovakia to go through in second place in Group E.
Both sides will be happy to be heading to Copenhagen for the last 16 for different reasons.
Croatia will be followed by around 8000 of their supporters today after none were allowed to travel to the UK for the group stage.
And Spain will lose home advantage but be happy to get away from a dry pitch in Seville which was heavily criticised by boss Luis Enrique.
The Spaniards will enter this game as slight favourites but are taking on a team who know very well how to beat them.
Croatia triumphed over Spain 2-1 in the group stage at Euro 2016 and again in the Nations League in 2018, when they ran out 3-2 winners.
Kick-off is at 5pm in Copenhagen and the countdown is on…
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
