Croatia VS Spain UEFA EURO LIVE Football Match Score 28 June 2021
Spain will be looking to build on their five-star performance in their last match at the European Championship when they take on Croatia in the last-16 stage of Euro 2020 on Monday night.
La Roja finished second in Group E to advance to the knockout round of the competition, while Croatia, who were eliminated at this stage of the 2016 tournament, claimed second position in Group D behind England.
Suddenly Spain have a sense of momentum, but not one accompanied by either self-satisfaction or complacency. When they were last defending European champions, at EURO 2016, it was Croatia who derailed a team previously in full sail, winning their group match 2-1 with a very late Ivan Perišić clincher. Spain missed a penalty in that game too (as they did against Poland and Slovakia at these finals). However, Luis Enrique’s side now look good enough to make Croatia chase the ball and have a cutting edge up front. Should be a cracker.
It’s an old adage that the best teams grow into a tournament and Croatia will be hoping that holds true as they head to Copenhagen. Zlatko Dalić’s side created little in defeat against England during their group opener, stirred into life in the second half of a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic, then roared past Scotland to reach the last 16. But history is against them as they have been eliminated in all three previous EURO knockout games.
Vlasic justified his selection with a goal, and it seems likely that the 23-year-old will again be given the nod as part of a front three alongside Rebic and Bruno Petkovic.
Unless there are any late fitness problems, the same midfield three will take to the field, with Modric, who scored a brilliant goal last time out, lining up alongside Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic.
Dejan Lovren is in line to feature alongside Domagoj Vida in the middle of the defence, while Josko Gvardiol is expected to again be selected at left-back.
There is uncertainty when it comes to the right-back spot, though, as Josip Juranovic was given the nod over Sime Vrsaljko for the clash with Scotland.
Vrsaljko is in line to come back into the starting XI against Spain due to his experience, but the bulk of the side that took to the field for the first whistle at Hampden Park should remain in place.
