Spain made a profitable begin to Euro 2024 as they outclassed Group B rivals Croatia to say a 3-0 victory at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
Impressed by Barcelona phenomenon Lamine Yamal, making historical past because the youngest participant ever to function at a European Championship – aged 16 years and 338 days, Luis de la Fuente’s aspect scored all three of their targets in a one-sided first half.
The primary two got here within the area of three minutes as captain Alvaro Morata buried a one-on-one probability from Fabian Ruiz’s incisive through-ball, earlier than the midfielder twisted and turned within the Croatia field and rifled dwelling the second aim himself.
Yamal was concerned within the build-up to Fabian’s aim and offered the help for the third when his excellent cross was poked in by Actual Madrid defender Dani Carvajal for his first worldwide aim, solely two weeks after he scored within the Champions League closing.
Croatia, led by 38-year-old Luka Modric, taking part in in his ninth main match, surprisingly had a better share of possession than Spain however their defensive sloppiness was ruthlessly punished and, on the different finish, they did not capitalise on their openings.
Marc Cucurella cleared a Josip Stanisic effort off the road within the second half and Croatia then noticed a late aim dominated out for encroachment after substitute Bruno Petkovic had gained a penalty off Rodri following an error by Unai Simon, then scored from the rebound after the Spain goalkeeper saved his spot-kick.
The consequence represents a near-perfect begin to the match for Spain, the one concern being an obvious knock to Rodri which noticed the Manchester Metropolis midfielder substituted late on.
Star performer: Lamine Yamal excellent
At 16 years and 338 days outdated, Yamal smashed the youngest-player file beforehand set by Poland’s Kacper Kozlowski, who featured on the final European Championship aged 17 years and 246 days.
If that was not sufficient of a feat in itself, the precocious Barcelona winger went on to play a vital position within the victory, inflicting issues for Croatia proper up till his 86th-minute substitution.
The spotlight of his efficiency was the scrumptious, diagonal cross to arrange the third aim however there have been loads of different eye-catching moments as he exploited the area behind Croatia left-back Josko Gvardiol to lethal impact, his pace, imaginative and prescient and one-on-one capacity shining by way of in an exciting show.
