Our prediction for this Euro 2024 match:
Expect an electrifying atmosphere at Olympiastadion when Spain and Croatia square off against each other in the Group B opener. La Furia Roja cruised past Andorra (5-0) and Northern Ireland (5-1) in their last warm-up games, but beating Luka Modric and Co. is easier said than done. The likes of Lucas Vazquez, Marco Asensio, Marcos Llorente, Pau Cubarsi, and Aleix Garcia have been omitted, but Luis de la Fuente still has a number of high-profile players to choose from, including Alvaro Morata, Rodri, and Lamine Yamal.
Zlatko Dalic’s men, on the other hand, did well to shock star-studded Portugal (2-1) in their last friendly and they are now on a quest to claim yet another major scalp. Given the number of experienced players (Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Andrej Kramaric) in the away team, we believe that there is a big value in betting on draw. Despite his tired legs, Man City defender Josko Guardiol is widely expected to start against Spain.
Highlighted Player (Daniel Carvajal):
Dani Carvajal is a Spanish footballer who is a product of Real Madrid’s youth academy. After making 68 appearances for Castilla, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen in 2012 and he was producing outstanding performances with the Bundesliga outfit in the 2012/2013 season.
In the summer of 2013 he returned to Real Madrid as los Blancos exercised their buy-back option and the pacey full back has been playing for the Spanish giants ever since. Carvajal won two Champions League trophies with Real Madrid (2013/2014, 2015/2016), but he has yet to win the La Liga trophy with the capital club. Dani has five caps for Spain U21 and he played his fifth game for the senior team against Macedonia in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
He made his Spain debut on 4 September, 2014 in a 1-0 loss France in Paris. Speaking of his individual honours, he was named in the Champions League team of the season (2013/2014). Dani Carvajal has a contract with Real Madrid which expires on 30 June, 2020.
Highlighted Team (Croatia):
While the national football team of Croatia also played international matches between 1940 and 1944, they only resumed their duties in 1990 after the country gained independence from Yugoslavia. Vatreni enjoyed a remarkable start on the international stage, winning the third place on their first ever World Cup appearance in France in 1998, while crashing out in the group stage at the 2002, 2006 and 2014 tournaments.
Croatia also reached the quarter-finals at the 1996 and 2008 European Championships, proving they are rightly considered one of Europe’s top sides at the start of the 21st century. Long-serving captain Darijo Srna is their most capped player with over 130 appearances for the national team, whereas former Real Madrid striker Davor Suker is one of their most famous players and top scorer with 45 goals.
Other notable footballers to have played for Croatia include Luka Modric, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic. Miroslav Blazevic and Slaven Bilic are the coaches that have been behind team’s biggest success stories up to date.