The impressive victory of the Spanish team in its debut at Euro 2024, 3-0 against Croatia, was supported by its right in the definitionthree goals in five shots on goal and the effectiveness in stealing the ball, statistically inferior compared to the rival, which contrasts with the result.
Croatia had more possession than Spain, ran more kilometers, made more passes and finished morebut clearly lost the match, sentenced in the first act with goals from Álvaro Morata, Fabián Ruiz and Dani Carvajal.
A fact as striking as loss of possession in a match for the Spanish team (111 games later), which had 46% to the rival’s 54%, but which did not diminish its effectiveness or its power in the final meters. 11 shots in 33 attacks, or in other words, one of every three attacks ended with a shot. On five occasions he scored three goals, a 60% success rate (his average last season was 45%, according to BeSoccer data). Only one attempt from outside the area.
The power of the Spanish team was born from its defensive strength, dominating the midfield battle, stealing more than the rival and winning the duels. Up to 36 balls recovered, compared to 29 for Croatia, which grew in the second half without success.
The game with the fewest passes in Spain since 2015
The striking thing about the statistics in a Spanish match, in addition to something unprecedented in recent years in possession, was the difference in the number of passeswhich reflects the increase in verticality with Luis de la Fuente.
Was his game with fewest passes attempted since September 2015: 455, of which he completed 392, according to the official UEFA match statistics. An 86% success rate, lower than the Croatian 88%, who made 528 passes and 467 were good.
Of Spain’s 392 completed passes, there was no abuse of short possession, as in the past, just 106 passes. He played in the middle distance, with 247 effective passesand with long passes, 39, to the runs of Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal, the unchecking of Morata and the offensive incorporations of Marc Cucurella mainly.
The left wing was the most exploited by Spainwith Cucurella and Nico, with 107 passes, while on the right, with Carvajal and Yamal, he left 93.
Croatia’s superiority in statistics came from greater possession, more shotsup to 15, of which five encountered the firmness of Unai Simón, and more distance traveled with 118.7 kilometers compared to 118.1 in Spain. Of the five players who performed the most, three were Croatians, Brozovic (13.09), Majer (12.70) and Gvardiol (11.08). In Luis de la Fuente’s team, the greatest wear and tear was carried out by the members of the double pivot, Fabián (12.19 kilometers) and Rodri (11.31).
