UEFA Euro Preview: Spain’s Major Overhaul Marks a New Era, Croatia’s Veterans Eye One Last Dance

On June 16 at midnight, Spain will face Croatia in the first round of Group B in the UEFA Euro. This encounter marks the first major showdown of the tournament, and the sparks between these two powerhouses are eagerly awaited.

In the UEFA qualifiers, Spain secured an impressive 7 wins and 1 loss, amassing 21 points to top their group and advance to the Euro finals. Spain has won the European Championship three times, tied with Germany for the most victories in the competition’s history. After a disappointing exit in the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Spain redeemed themselves by defeating Croatia on penalties to win the 2023 UEFA Nations League.

Over their last 10 matches, Spain has claimed 8 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, with their only defeats coming against South American teams Colombia and Brazil. They have been unbeatable against European opponents, leaving spectators amazed. In the qualifiers, José卢 and Morata both scored 4 goals to lead the team, while Ferran contributed 3 goals, making them key offensive threats for the Spanish side.

Compared to the 2022 World Cup squad, Spain retains only 10 players: Simon, Raya, Carvajal, Laporte, Rodri, Pedri, Ferran, Olmo, Morata, and Williams, representing a player renewal rate of 61.6%. This significant transformation signifies the beginning of a new era for the Spanish national team, the “La Roja”.

Spanish manager De La Fuente mentioned that although Laporte is available, the team won’t take any risks and prefers him to return for the match against Italy. Olmo, on the other hand, is fully prepared and ready to feature in this contest.

Croatia qualified for the Euros with a record of 5 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses, securing second place in their group. With a golden generation that has achieved a World Cup runners-up finish in 2018 and third place in 2022, the Croatian national team’s European Championship record is less illustrious, with their best result being a quarterfinal appearance. During the qualifiers, Majer scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist, topping the team’s scoring charts.

For Modric, Perisic, Budimir, Kramaric, Kovacic, Brozovic, and other players over 30, this might be their final European Championship, presenting a last chance to capture the continental title. These veteran players will strive to create history for Croatian football and fulfill their dream of winning a major tournament before gradually bowing out of the national team.

Historically, Croatia and Spain have clashed 10 times, with Spain holding the upper hand at 6 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses. In their two most recent encounters – the 2021 Euro Round of 16 and the 2023 UEFA Nations League final – Spain triumphed through penalty shootouts.

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