Spain revels in the feat of a teenage prodigy, displaying top-notch soccer skills.
The Spanish soccer team charms Berlin: In the Olympiastadion, the youthful Wildlings of Spain outplay the Croatian Senior crew led by Real Icon Luka Modric. The 16-year-old Lamine Yamal is nearly bursting with enthusiasm for the Spaniards and establishes a new record.
With brilliant ball control and merciless precision, Spain set the stage for a fantastic start in the European Soccer Championship and fortified their title chances. The "Red Fury" triumphantly won their grueling opening match in the Berlin Olympic Stadium against Croatia, who were directed by Luka Modric, with a well-earned 3:0 (3:0) score and advanced to the Round of 16. In the initial half-hour, the game was evenly contested tactically, but Álvaro Morata (29th minute) ignited the scoring for the three-time European Champion in front of 68,844 spectators. Morata, the forward from Atlético Madrid, had already scored against Croatia in 2016 and 2021 in the European Championship. Fabián Ruiz (32nd) and Daniel Carvajal (45+2) furthered the lead before halftime.
A supposed goal by the Croatians from Bruno Petkovic (80th), who managed to score despite missing an earlier penalty, was disallowed since Ivan Perišić had entered the penalty area too soon during the penalty kick execution. Spain now takes on the top game of Group B against Italy on Thursday with substantially less pressure. Croatia is under pressure a day earlier against outsider Albania.
16-year-old overshadows Modric
Young prodigy Lamine Yamal had double reason to be pleased: At the age of 16 years and 338 days, the FC Barcelona player is now the youngest player to have appeared in a European Championship. Yamal, who turns 17 years old the day before the final, was frequently targeted on the right attacking side, and with one of his daring runs, he set up the second goal for Spain.
Yamal was not even born when Croatia's star player Modric made his country debut. "We're here to achieve big things," Modric had said before the kickoff. But his team needs to significantly enhance - just like Modric himself. The playmaker had, as expected, been granted many freedoms before being substituted in the 65th minute, but he wasn't as impactful. The pressure of the Olympic Stadium was clearly in favor of Croatia. The fans of the "Fiery Ones" created at least until the initial goals an exciting European Championship atmosphere. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and former German national team captain Philipp Lahm were also in attendance from the VIP stand.
After a half-hour, things pick up
The action on the field wasn't particularly entertaining initially. Both teams showed respect for each other, and the lack of tournament rhythm was evident. However, the dynamics changed completely after about a half-hour. Spain took the lead through their initial dangerous attack, as Fabián Ruiz slipped his captain Morata through with a clever pass, and the striker finished off confidently.
One minute later, Mateo Kovacic scored the equalizer for Croatia with a shot, but Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon was on the post. The missed chance was immediately avenged with the second goal: This time it was Fabian Ruiz himself who left three Croatians in his wake during a solo run and shot the ball flat into the goal with his left foot. But even the two-goal deficit shocked the Croats neither, Lovro Majer (33.) and Josko Gvardiol (41.) had good opportunities for an equalizer in the first half. However, just before half-time, Real Madrid's Carvajal dealt another blow with the 0:3.
After the change of sides, the Croatians elevated the pressure and played more offensively, but even the best chances, such as that from Leverkusen's Josip Stanisic (55%), were not converted. For the Spaniards, for whom Leipzig's Dani Olmo came on as a substitute after an hour, larger spaces emerged for counter-attacks.
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Despite Croatia's strong showing in the European Football Championship 2024, hosted in Berlin, Spain emerged victorious with a convincing 3-0 win. The young Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal, only 16 years old, outshone Croatia's Luka Modric, who led the Croatian team. Yamal, playing for FC Barcelona, even set up one of Spain's goals in the match, further cementing his place in the European Championship's history books as the youngest player to appear.
