The Spanish team will begin this Saturday (11:00 am Colombia time) its journey in the Euro Cup hosted by Germany with a first high-level test at the Berlin Olympic Stadium, where it will meet again with a ‘well-known trip’ like Croatia, a key duel for their future in the continental tournament.
The triple European championthe most successful of the event along with the host of this edition, is excited to attend this eventsupported by its status as current champion of the League of Nations and wanting to get even for its discreet performance in the last World Cup in Qatar where it was eliminated in the round of 16 by Morocco on penalties.
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That setback caused the ‘promotion’ of Luis de la Fuente to the Absolute in place of Luis Enrique Martínez and the Rioja coach now faces his first great challengecomplicated at the beginning due to a group with Italy, current champion, and Albania, which will not allow a bad day despite the possibility that three could happen. The ‘Red’ challenge begins in Berlin with the aim of being back in the German capital’s stadium on July 14date of the grand final.
The premiere, historically and statistically a match that the national team usually chokes on, will be against an opponent who is competitive to the point of exhaustion and with whom they have already fought several battles since 2018, the last one almost a year ago. On June 18, in De Kuip, in Rotterdam (Netherlands), both teams met for the National League title, which finally went to the Spanish team after a tense penalty shootout and after a close match with hardly any chances. and that ended without goals.
Spain and Croatia know each other very well and it is most likely that this match could be more similar to the last time than the spectacular 5-3 in the round of 16 of the last Euro Cup, with 3-3 after regulation time, and joy also for the ‘Red’. With points at stake, it is likely that the script will be different, although the weight of the match seems to be that of Luis de la Fuente.
The Spanish coach, Except for surprise, although at the press conference he even played with confusion, he will bet on overthrowing the Balkan solidity with his two ‘daggers’Nico Williams and a Lamine Yamal who will have his big debut at 16 years old and possibly against a top-level defender like Josko Gvardiol, who could be on the left back as he has done regularly with Manchester City.
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In this sense, the Rioja coach’s eleven seems quite outlined, although with some doubts. Unai Simón will be the goalkeeper and in defense, De la Fuente ruled out Aymeric Laporte due to his discomfort the last two days, so Nacho Fernández is emerging as Robin Le Normand’s partnerwhile on the left he must decide between Marc Cucurella and Alejandro Grimaldo.
For the midfield, Fabián Ruiz would win the game over Mikel Merino to be Rodri Hernández’s partner, while the other question is who will be the footballer who acts as ’10’, whether Dani Olmo or a Pedri who returns with enthusiasm to be important and protagonist again with the national team. The ‘9’ position seems reserved for captain Álvaro Morata, who needs a good game as soon as possible to appease the criticism.not from inside a dressing room that seems united for this EURO.
But ahead there will be a tough first ‘bone’ to crack with Croatia, a team that knows how to compete and that will appeal to its weapons to control the theoretical superiority in possession of the Spanish team. The Euro Cups continue to resist the Balkan team, which, however, arrives with the endorsement of its last two performances, since the final of the Nations League is joined by sneaking into the top four of a World Cup for the second consecutive edition at the end. third in Qatar.
And from that team and the one he was in From Kuip on June 18, there are still players hardened in a thousand battles, led by Real Madrid player Luka Modrićwho at 38 years old is still the ‘boss’ and reference of Zlatko Dalic’s team.
The one from Zadar will lead a midfield with other well-known faces such as the veteran Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic, who could be reinforced in this match with players like Lowo Majer or Martin Baturina. Osasunista Ante Budimir and Andrej Kramaric would be in charge of creating headaches behind the ‘Roja’.
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AI Forecast:
Artificial intelligence predicted the most likely results, with percentages:
– Victory of Spain: 52.63%
– Croatia victory: 23.26%
– Tie: 29.11%
Most likely markers
1-1 draw: 15.38%
Spain victory 1-0: 14.29%
0-0 draw: 11.76%
Spain wins 2-0: 11.11%
Spain wins 2-1: 10.53%
The AI forecast also highlights the high probability of a tie, at 29.11%.
Probable lineups:
SPAIN: Unai Simón; Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabián; Yamal, Pedri, Williams; and Morata.
CROATIA: Livakovic; Stanisic; Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacevic, Majer; Budimir and Kramaric.
–REFEREE: Michael Oliver (ENG).
–STADIUM: Berlin Olympic.
–TIME: 11:00 am Colombia time.
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