Captain Alvaro Morata set La Roja on their method in Euro 2024 Group B with a low end after 29 minutes earlier than Fabian Ruiz quickly doubled the lead after some fast footwork contained in the Croatia penalty space.
READ: EURO 2024: Defending champions Italy bounce again to edge out Albania in Euro 2024 opener
Dani Carvajal volleyed residence a 3rd from shut vary in first-half stoppage time, with Croatia seeing a late aim from substitute Bruno Petkovic dominated out for encroachment when he slotted in a cross after his preliminary penalty had been saved.
Barcelona ahead Lamine Yamal – whose begin noticed him change into the youngest participant to characteristic at a European Championship aged 16 and 338 days – created an early opening for Morata, whose scuffed 20-yard effort lacked energy.
Croatia – overwhelmed on penalties by Spain in final 12 months’s Nations League last – slowly began to construct a spell of possession, with Ante Budimir heading vast after the ball was swung in from the precise.
Spain broke the impasse within the twenty ninth minute when Ruiz performed a central ball as much as Atletico Madrid striker Morata, who held off his marker and slotted previous Dominik Livakovic.
Croatia quickly fell additional behind as Ruiz doubled Spain’s lead within the thirty second minute.
The Paris St Germain midfielder collected the ball 20 yards out earlier than exhibiting fast ft to dart into the penalty space and drill into the underside nook.
Croatia nearly hit again right away as Marcelo Brozovic’s 18-yard strike was saved by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon and Lovro Majer fired into the facet netting.
Spain scored once more late within the half when Actual Madrid defender Carvajal darted by a crowded six-yard field to volley in Yamal’s curling cross.
Croatia – whose followers had packed out the Olympiastadion – had been near conceding a fourth early within the second half as Livakovic palmed away Yamal’s curling effort which regarded destined for the far nook.
Because the hour mark approached, Croatia lastly brought on some panic within the Spain penalty space when Josip Stanisic’s goalbound effort was blocked by Marc Cucurella earlier than Budimir’s header was punched clear by Simon.
Croatia had been awarded a penalty with 12 minutes left after Simon misplaced the ball and Petkovic regarded to fit into an open web earlier than he went down below a problem from Rodri.
English referee Michael Oliver swiftly pointed to the spot and confirmed a yellow card to the Manchester Metropolis midfielder, who regarded to have made minimal contact at finest.
Petkovic noticed his spot-kick saved by Simon – however Ivan Perisic lower the unfastened ball again by the six-yard field the place his team-mate tapped in.
The aim, although, was dominated out for encroachment by Perisic into the left facet of the world, and Luis de la Fuente’s facet noticed by the closing phases to finish a cushty win.
