Final result: Spain-Croatia 3-0
SPAIN REPORT CARDS (by Filippo D’Angelo)
Unai Simon 7 – One of the best on the pitch for Spain. He always responds when called upon and also saves a penalty from Petkovic, who is bewitched in the second half of the second half.
Carvajal 7 – He scores his first at a European Championship, taking advantage of a great cross from Yamal transformed to perfection in the Spanish 3-0. A good start for the Real Madrid defender.
Le Normand 6.5 – Debuts at the European Championship by playing a precise and error-free match. Excellent impact on the match for the Real Sociedad defender, who deservedly took a starting place.
Nacho Fernandez 6.5 – The Real Madrid defender also performs well, bringing home another high-level performance that contributed to the Spanish victory.
Cucurella 6.5 – Surprisingly, he is started on the left-handed lane in place of Grimaldo, playing an attentive game full of positive ideas. He can carve out an important space for himself.
Pedri 6.5 – The Spanish double scored by Fabian Ruiz is auspicious, as he receives the right ball from him to score. Even from a tactical point of view it is more than valuable. From the 59th minute Dani Olmo 6 – Takes over at the start of the second half but the match is already settled.
Rodri 6.5 – His only flaw is the foul committed on Petkovic during the penalty kick won by Croatia. Unai Simon certainly didn’t help him, but the yellow was a blessing. For the rest it is very effective for Spain. From ’86’ Zubimendi sv
Fabian Ruiz 7.5 – First he delivers a perfect assist for Morata, then he scores his first goal at a European Championship, completing a splendid move. Unforgettable debut at Euro 2024.
Yamal 7 – At the kick-off he has already written history, becoming the youngest debutant at a European Championship. At the end of the first half he then takes the perfect measures for the third Spanish goal, scored by Carvajal after a splendid assist from the Barcelona talent. From ’86’ Ferran Torres sv.
Morata 7 – The more he is criticized, the more he responds with facts. Just before the half hour of play he reads the perfect suggestion from Fabian Ruiz, scoring a great goal as a pure attacker, the seventh in his experience at the European Championships. From 67′ Oyarzabal 6 – You don’t see much but when he enters the pace of the match is already low.
Nico Williams 6.5 – A good debut at the European Championships for the young Athletic Bilbao striker, who plays his part in a very delicate match for Spain. From 68′ Mikel Merino 6 – A piece of the match that is certainly not enlightening but precious.
Luis de La Fuente 7 – Spain deservedly won their first match of Euro 2024, sending a great message also to the other favorites for the final victory.
Final result: Spain-Croatia 3-0
CROATIA’S REPORT CARDS (by Filippo D’Angelo)
Livakovic 5.5 – Conceded three goals but could do very little. His defense certainly has greater responsibilities.
Stanisic 5.5 – On the right front he has more than one problem with Nico Williams, to whom he leaves a lot of space.
Sutalo 5 – Croatia’s defense dances excessively. He could have done more.
Pongracic 5 – Despite a sufficient start, it gets lost as the minutes pass. He concedes too much to Spain, especially to Carvajal who mocks him at 3-0
Gvardiol 5.5 – Creates Croatia’s best chances, even going close to the net. However, his marking on Yamal was not as effective as Dalic would have liked.
Modric 5.5 – Not the debut one imagined. His geometries were not seen in a complicated match for Croatia, who suffered a great disappointment today. From the 65th minute Pasalic 5.5 – He can do little in half an hour, given that the match was already largely compromised.
Brozovic 6 – He has the best chance in favor of Croatia but Unai Simon takes away the joy of the goal with a super intervention. He tries to revive the fortunes of a match to forget and is one of the few to survive in the Croatian home team.
Kovacic 5.5 – He tries to shake up Croatia’s maneuver, also trying several insertions which were not useful in avoiding this tough knockout. From 65′ Sucic 5.5 – He doesn’t do better than his teammate but the challenge was already uphill for everyone.
Mayer 5.5 – In the lane he doesn’t have a particular impact and at the end of the first half he wastes a potential to shorten the distance. From a few steps away he should have done more.
Budimir 5.5 – It’s not an easy match but he tries to hit the Spanish goal without success. Dalic wants a shock from him and prefers Perisic at the start of the second half. From 56′ Perisic 6 – One of the few to believe it until the final whistle. He works a lot in the lane and will probably find a starting shirt in the next match that Croatia plays against Albania.
Kramaric 5 – One of this afternoon’s disappointments for Croatia. On his debut at Euro 2024 he didn’t score but in general his performance was mediocre. From the 72nd minute Petkovic 5.5 – Won a good penalty kick after a foul by Rodri, had his shot saved by Unai Simon but made up for it by scoring the rebound. However, VAR takes away his first joy at Euro 2024.
Zlatko Dalic 5 – His Croatia withdrew from the match too quickly but an immediate reaction will be needed to ensure that qualification for the round of 16 is within reach.