EURO 2024
Spain and Lamine Yamal make easy work of Croatia
Spain sent a warning to the rest of Euro 2024 with an impressive victory over Croatia at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Spain 3-0 Croatia
Goals: 1-0 Morata (29'), 2-0 Ruiz (32’), 3-0 Carvajal (45+2')
Spain looked in complete control from the off in their Euro 2024 opener and the only surprised was that it took them almost half an hour score the game's first goal. Fabian Ruiz found Alvaro Morata with a delightful through ball, and the captain carried it under pressure and slotted home expertly in the 29th minute. It was exactly what Luis de la Fuente's side deserved, and three minutes later they had another when Ruiz showed some magic feet and fired in on the edge of the box. Croatia finally regathered control to end the half, but into stoppage time they found themselves 3-0 down when the European Championship's youngest-ever player, 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, picked out former Bayer Leverkusen man Dani Carvajal with another perfect cross and the Real Madrid veteren icon in his first international goal. Zlatko Dalić's side improved in the second period, and Bundesliga duo Josip Stanišić and Lovro Majer both had glorious chances. When Croatia did eventually get the ball in the net, through Bruno Petković, his penalty was ruled out for encroachment, and Spain were able to see out a comfortable victory. It wasn't all good news, though, with captain Morata taken off with an injury, only for the man who picked up the armband, Rodri, to also limp off shortly after.
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