Spain’s ambition collides with Croatia’s dream in Euro 2024

The Spain national team will begin its Euro 2024 campaign in Germany, with a difficult confrontation against its Croatian counterpart, tomorrow, Saturday.

The Spanish national team’s ambitions to achieve a fourth European title collide with the dreams of its Croatian counterpart to top the tournament podium for the first time in its history.

The Spanish national team previously won the championship title in 1964, 2008 and 2012, and was close to achieving the achievement or at least reaching the final in the last edition, before losing to the Italian national team in the semi-final on penalties.

The Spanish team was drawn in the second group alongside Italy, Croatia and Albania.

The Spanish national team qualified for the tournament, after topping the first group in the qualifiers, which included, alongside it, Scotland, Norway, Cyprus, and Georgia.

Spain topped the group with 21 points, followed by Scotland with 17 points, qualifying with them to the finals.

The Spanish national team owes credit for its rise in level after the great disappointment in the 2022 World Cup, to its coach, Luis de la Fuente, who restored hope to the fans in the existence of a Spanish team capable of competing for championships, given the team’s journey in the qualifiers.

The Spanish national team includes many familiar faces and names that are strongly present in the world, such as Pedri, Rodri, Alvaro Morata, Dani Carvajal and Nacho.

Before competing in the continental tournament, the Spanish El Matador played two friendly matches, where it defeated Andorra 5-0, and Northern Ireland 5-1.

The Croatia national team also played two friendly matches, during which it defeated North Macedonia 3-0, and Portugal 2-1.

The Croatia national team has met its Spanish counterpart 10 times before, winning 3 times, one draw and 6 defeats. It has also met Italy 9 times, winning 3 times, drawing 5 and losing once, while it will face Albania for the first time.

The Croatia national team participated in the Euro for the first time after secession from Yugoslavia in 1996.

Throughout its previous participation in Euros, Croatia’s most notable successes were reaching the quarter-finals twice in the 1996 and 2008 editions, while it was eliminated from the group stage twice, and from the round of 16 twice.

The most notable success of Croatian football comes through the World Cup, where the team won 3 medals throughout its participation, one silver and two bronze.

The Croatia national team is armed with the current golden generation during its journey in Euro 2024, as it includes among its ranks elements of experience and youth, and resonant names that adorn the lists of major European clubs, including Luka Modric, Gvardiol, Borna Sosa, Stanisic, Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic and Kramaric, under the leadership of coach Zlatko Dalic. .