Preview: Croatia vs Spain
As Croatia's tactical overhaul propels them into a thrilling Round of 16 clash against a rejuvenated Spain side, both teams seek to capitalize on their regained momentum in an intriguing showdown at Parken Stadium, Copenhagen.
Croatia
Croatia sealed a spot in the last sixteen after finishing in 2nd place, behind England in Group D, with 4 points from 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss. On Match Day 3, the Blazers secured a 3-1 victory over Scotland, their first and only win at the group stage, thanks to radical changes in the squad.
Scotland almost took the lead, but Che Adams missed a clear chance minutes after kick-off before Croatia drew first blood. Nikola Vlasic (17') fired through a line of Scottish shirts to give Croatia the lead. Minutes later, Callum McGregor (42') scored the equalizer—his first international goal for Scotland—leaving Steve Clarke celebrating on the sidelines. However, Croatia would restore their lead soon after the break.
From the edge of the box, Luka Modric (62') unleashed a stunning shot with the outside of his right boot into the net, leaving Scottish goalkeeper David Marshall fuming. Soon after, the Checkers extended the lead to two when Modric delivered an inch-perfect cross from a corner kick to Ivan Perisic (77'). It finished 3-1, with Scotland making their exit from the tournament.
AC Milan’s Ante Rebic was dropped from the starting line-up after failing to convert opportunities in the previous two games. He is unlikely to retake his place in Zlatko Dalić’s probable 4-2-3-1 formation, with Petkovic expected to start ahead of him. The Blazers return for this round of 16 with a recent form reading: WDLLDW.
Spain
After a slow start, Spain dismantled Slovakia with a 5-0 victory on Match Day 3. This result secured their spot in the round-of-sixteen, finishing 2nd in Group E with 5 points from 1 win, 2 draws, and no losses. Before this goal-fest, Spain had scored only once in their first two games.
The wide-margin victory temporarily silenced critics. Slovakian goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka initially kept his side in the match by stopping Alvaro Morata's penalty. However, an own goal by Dúbravka opened the floodgates for Spain.
Dúbravka later miscalculated, leaving Aymeric Laporte to head home just before halftime. After the break, goals from Pablo Sarabia, Ferran Torres, and another own goal by Juraj Kucka completed the rout, making it the largest win of Match Day 3.
Despite heavy criticism, Luis Enrique maintains his faith in Alvaro Morata, who will likely return as the central forward. Pablo Sarabia is expected on the right, with Gerard Moreno on the left in the probable 4-3-3 formation. Sergio Busquets, having returned from a COVID-19 absence, will retain his place in the lineup.
The Spanish national team, known as *La Roja*, remains unbeaten in their last six games across all competitions: winning, drawing, and performing consistently (WWDDDW).
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.