Yamal, 16, leads Spain's new generation to 3-0 win over Croatia at Euro 2024
Yamal, 16, leads Spain's new generation to 3-0 win over Croatia at Euro 2024
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Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to appear in a European Championship as Spain’s new
generation brushed aside Croatia’s challenge 3-0 in their opening game on Saturday.
And the Spanish did it without dominating ball possession for the first time in 136 competitive games
tallied by stats analyst Opta. Spain had only 46 percent possession against Croatia, according to UEFA.
Yamal, aged 16 years, 338 days, also became the youngest to set up a goal at the tournament when he
crossed for Dani Carvajal to score Spain’s third goal before the break.
The 21-year-old Nico Williams starred on the other flank for Spain, which is going for its fourth European
title.
Midfielder Fabián Ruiz scored one goal and set up the opener for captain Álvaro Morata in a dominant
performance from the team in red.
“We have to stay wary, stay calm and be proud. We have to keep improving in the next game,” Spain coach
Luis De La Fuente said. He warned Spanish journalists not to get carried away. “We just have to stay calm
and be professional.”
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón saved a penalty in the 80th from substitute Bruno Petkovi?, who thought he
scored when Ivan Peri?i? sent in the rebound. But the goal was ruled out after a VAR review as Peri?i? was
too keen and encroached on the penalty area before Petkovi? took the spot kick.
Defending champion Italy was playing Albania in the other Group B game later.
The Croatia fans, who greatly outnumbered their Spanish counterparts, tried rousing the team before the
end at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, where the final will be played on July 14.
Hundreds gathered before the game near the Brandenburg Gate in the center of Berlin, and also at
Breitscheidplatz in the west of the city, where they set off flares, waved flags, jumped up and down, and
sang along to Croatian folk 합법 songs.
Croatian emigrants were among those who moved to Germany as so-called guest workers to help the
country’s post-war economy and never returned. Germany also became home to many Croatian refugees
who fled the country’s war of independence in the 1990s.
But it was a disappointing start to Euro 2024 from Zlatko Dali?'s team. The Spanish players were faster,
more committed, and cleverer. Last-ditch defending from Spain defenders Marc Cucurella and Nacho
snuffed out any other danger.
“We weren’t aggressive enough, we were too far from the (Spanish) players, and when you give such
players so much space, you don’t have opportunities,” Dali? said.
Croatia star Luka Modri?, who played at Euro 2008 before Yamal was even born, was unable to assert his
usual influence. The 38-year-old Modri? was given a warm embrace by Real Madrid teammates Nacho
and Carvajal before the teams walked out onto the field, getting a kiss on the cheek from each.
When Modri? and Mateo Kova?i? went off in the 65th, it was clear Dali? was already thinking of the next
game.
“They played for an hour and we realized we have two difficult matches in front of us. We didn’t want to
force them to the end,” Dali? said.
Croatia plays Albania in Hamburg on Wednesday, while Spain faces Italy in Gelsenkirchen on Thursday.
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