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Spain bested Croatia 3-0 on Saturday in a game where everything went wrong for the boys wearing red and white. A good summary of Croatia’s game was a disallowed goal late in the second half during a penalty kick.
Trailing 3-0, Croatia were given a lifeline with a penalty kick after Rodri brought down Bruno Petkovic who was about to score. Rodri escaped with just a yellow card.
A penalty was given for this challenge in the box by Spain
Was it the right call? pic.twitter.com/fpmQdJSkZX— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2024
The ensuing penalty kick saw an interesting sequence with Unai Simón saving Petkovic’s effort, Ivan Perisic getting to the rebound and squaring it back to Petkovic who scored.
VAR then intervened. Perisic had stepped into the box before Petkovic’s initial shot. No goal.
Croatia goal disallowed after penalty
After a VAR review, this goal does not stand for Croatia pic.twitter.com/k6NgQFBDIq
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2024
It was truly not Croatia’s day.
The 3-0 score makes it seem like the Spanish dominated Croatia, however it was a back-and-forth contest that saw Spain take advantage of their chances.
A flurry of first half goals put Spain out of reach with Alvaro Morata, Fabián Ruiz and Dani Carvajal all finding the back of the net. It was the first time in history Spain had scored three first half goals in a Euro game.
Álvaro Morata
SPAIN STRIKES FIRST OVER CROATIA pic.twitter.com/mxsQtNAvz9— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2024
THAT. WAS. BEAUTIFUL.
Take a bow, Fabián Ruiz pic.twitter.com/lgNx9eOPCn— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2024
Spanish youngster Lamine Yamal made history as the youngest player to start a game at the Euros. The 16-year-old then added another record as the youngest player to record an assist.
ANOTHER ONE FOR SPAIN BEFORE THE HALF
What a sequence to take a 3-0 lead over Croatia pic.twitter.com/Wc2PqykUY1— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2024
16-year-old Lamine Yamal with a PERFECT ball
The youngest player in Euros history is already making an impact on the game pic.twitter.com/NbrBkM7HSY— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2024
Croatia had a number of great chances to get back in the game but couldn’t find the breakthrough. Credit also goes to Spain’s defense for putting their bodies on the line to keep the clean sheet.
Croatia was just inches away from finding the back of the net here pic.twitter.com/94GDgDbtKS
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2024
What an effort from Spain to keep Croatia from finding the back of the net pic.twitter.com/PHZq24f6Ag
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2024
The 3-0 defeat marks Croatia’s worst loss in a Euro since 1996 when they lost 3-0 to Portugal.
The result puts Croatia in a hole in the group of death. Italy will face Albania in the other game of Group B on Saturday.
