Spain sent a strong message for its entry into Euro 2024 against Croatia. Thanks to a sparkling first period from Fabian Ruiz and the very young Lamine Yamal who was already decisive, La Roja won 3-0 in the first match of the “group of death”.
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Mocked, even ridiculed by PSG supporters after a delicate end to the season, marked by a very disappointing performance against Dortmund in the semi-final of the Champions League, Fabian Ruiz entered his Euro as if he were coming out of a huge season. For Spain’s first match in this Euro 2024 in the group against Croatia this Saturday, the Parisian midfielder was decisive twice in the first act alone.
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While he had already tried to throw a few well-thought-out arrows for his attackers in depth, without success, just before the half-hour mark, he found Álvaro Morata, thrown deep between two not very attentive Croatian defenders. The striker and captain of La Roja took the leather to finish calmly in a controlled face-to-face with Dominik Livakovic.
Three minutes later, Fabian Ruiz, again, triggered a reversal of play from elsewhere to find Lamine Yamal thrown like a ball on the right. After a few dribbles and a relay with Pedri, Ruiz, untenable, who had projected himself forward, received the ball, eliminated two Croats at the entrance to the area and hit the ground hard to make the break.
A first period in the form of a dream. And just before the half-time alarm sounded, Yamal delivered a marvelous cross for Dani Carvajal, who finished from close range to finish knocking out the Croats. A rather original connection, from Barcelona to Madrid, from the youngest player in Euro history (16 years and 338 days) to the oldest to ever score a goal in the competition for Spain (32 years and 156 days). Three whistles sent the 22 players back to the locker room with the score 3-0 for the Iberians.
A rebellion as if doomed to failure
The checkered team tried to rebel in the second half. It also took a high-class defensive gesture in front of his goal and good responsiveness from Unai Simon in the same action (56th) to avoid a reduction in the score. And when the Spaniards stopped attacking the Croats, fate took over. 10 minutes from the end of normal time, Bruno Petkovic raced forward to score a generously awarded penalty. Unai Simon superbly intervened and pushed the ball back into the opponent’s feet. Petkovic was then able to score in an empty goal, but he was… in an offside position. As if Spain should win this match.
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The score is tough given the performance of Luka Modrić’s teammates, who had great opportunities and who, in sequence, did not have to be ashamed of their game compared to that offered by the opponent of the day. On the other hand, the defeat is painful in a “group of death” which also includes Italy. La Roja sends a message, the Croats already need a rebound.