SPAIN hope they can keep up their scintillating form in the Euro 2020 last-16 clash with Croatia.
Luis Enrique’s side burst into life last week with a 5-0 drubbing of Slovakia, after drab draws in their opening two Group E clashes.
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That wasn’t enough for top spot, and now they face the beaten World Cup finalists, who finished second to England in Group D.
The clash between the sides will take place at the Parken Stadium, the home of Denmark with a quarters clash with France or Switzerland awaiting the winners.
And the game – which kicks off at 5pm – can be watched on ITV1 with coverage starting on the channel from 4:15pm.
What’s the form?
Croatia have won three of their last eight matches against their opponents with Spain beating them on four occasions.
Dalic’s team picked up a draw and a loss from two group stage games before a 3-1 dispatching of Scotland cemented their last 16 spot.
And their last two encounters were goal-laden Nations League affairs.
Enrique’s aces hammered their rivals 6-0 in September 2018 with Croatia grabbing revenge with a 3-2 win that month.
The Euro 2012 champs have endured a mixed start notching up two draws before their thumping win in their final group stage game.
And Alvaro Morata, 28, has revealed he has been on the receiving end of sickening social media abuse following his missed penalty against Slovakia.
The Juventus forward revealed his family have been subjected to verbal harassment in Seville after a string of misses against Sweden and Poland.
My wife and children have come to the stadium in Seville with Morata on the back of their shirts and people have been shouting at them. It’s complicated. I understand people booing me for missing chances but there’s a limit.
Alvaro Morata
Who’s in and who’s out
Reports claim Josko Gvardiol, 19, could be a doubt for his side’s knockout battle with Spain.
The rising star left-back appeared to hurt his shin during Croatia’s win against Scotland and was substituted around the 70th minute of that match.
Meanwhile, midfield lynchpin Sergio Busquets, 32, is in line to start for Spain following his heroics against Slovakia.
The Barcelona veteran put in a man-of-the-match performance last time out despite picking up a knock
It is reported Cesar Azpilicueta is likely to retain his place at right-back.
And it is thought Morata will keep his spot in Spain’s starting line-up with the forward reportedly having the full backing of boss Enrique.
Meanwhile, Croatia are likely to retain a similar line-up to the team that beat Scotland with Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic lining up in a midfield three.
Watch out for…….
Ferran Torres. The Manchester City star impressed as a substitute against Slovakia netting moments after coming off the bench around the 67th minute.
The forward, 21, who had a mixed debut season at City following a £21million move from Valencia in 2020, has been highlighted as a player to watch.
And the fleet-footed winger made a storming start to his Spain career netting a hat-trick against Germany during his senior international debut in November.
If the game is rubbish….
TV journalist Iva Saric will be cheering on a Croatia team which includes her partner Bruno Petkovic.
Saric, 32, met the Dinamo Zagreb forward Petkovic, 26, in 2019.
And the couple welcomed the birth of their first child together this year.
Fancy a punt?
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Match odds?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
