Alvaro Morata, Fabian Luiz and Dani Carvajal allowed Spain to sweep Croatia aside 3-0 in Italy’s EURO 2024 group, as Unai Simon also saved a penalty.
Lamine Yamal made history at the starting whistle as the youngest ever player to feature in a European Championship at 16. However, it was the far older ex-Juventus striker Alvaro Morata – who has been linked with Roma and Juve this summer – who broke the deadlock. A Fabian Ruiz through ball allowed him to spring the offside trap and hold off Marin Pongracic to sweep into the empty net.
Former Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz doubled Spain’s lead moments later, gathering from the edge of the area to squirm between defenders and the finish went through Josip Sutalo’s legs.
Croatia tried to hit back, a save on ex-Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic and ball flashed across the face of goal just beyond Ante Budimir.
Instead, Spain went 3-0 up in first half stoppages with Dani Carvajal again springing the offside trap to volley a Lamine Yamal cross from six yards.
Josip Stanisic thought he’d scored on 55 minutes, but Marc Cucurella and Unai Simon threw themselves in the way during a chaotic team move.
Just as the game seemed over, Rodri clipped the heels of Bruno Petkovic, whose penalty was saved by Simon, but he managed to tap in the Ivan Perisic roll back on the rebound. However, there was encroachment on the penalty from Perisic, so the goal did not count.
Morata 29 (S), Fabian Luiz 32 (S), Dani Carvajal 45+2 (S)
Saved penalty: Petkovic 80 (C)
