With Fabregas in the starting lineup they ain't winning.

S wrote:I think its only Mole that underrated Spain. Everyone else rates them fine. They have a fairly comfortable road to the semis should they top the group.

I stand by what i said, them beating an awful Turkey team ( please don't overrate them) isn't going to change my mind if i didn't rate them before lol.

Just realized that Spain's road to the final might actually be the easiest if they top their group .

Spain , the Sevilla of the Euros ?

farfan wrote:Just realized that Spain's road to the final might actually be the easiest if they top their group .

Spain , the Real Madrid of the Euros ?

http://balkanist.net/democratic-hooligan-radical-democracy-social-protest-amongst-football-fans-croatia/

Good read on the Croatian football fan culture. Gives you a bit of context on the events that transpired yesterday.

@Mole, so where exactly are Spain weak?

For me the biggest problem for Spain was their lack of direct offensive options which looks to have been solved now with Morata and Nolito. If anything, they look more dangerous.

Xavi retiring also hasnt affected them mucg at all as Iniesta is completely running the show with almost every play going through him. Sorry, if anything, Spain have only gotten stronger compared to previous years imo.

Lol Nolito like he's somebody relevant.

Morata being your main goal threat when he scores like 5 goals a season.

They were crap at the last tournament, their key players have gotten older and the only change is Morata and Nolito ? come off it lol.

I'm not going to overreact and think they have improved just because they beat a crap team in Turkey and scraped by ( luckily may i add) Czech *bleep* Republic lol.

Again exaggerating.

Its well noted Morata performs well in cup tournaments so his goal tally at club level is irrelevant. Nolito on the other hand might not be a World beater but he offers the directness that others don't. Its pretty clear. You don't necessarily need to have world beaters in every position to win a tournament like this.

So what if their key players got older ? They still have the best players in their respective positions or one of the best. Iniesta has looked the best player of the tournament thus far. Their key player is stepping it up already.

It seems to me you are just trying to save face after claiming Brazil and Uruguay are top teams.

https://giant.gfycat.com/SlushyAlertCrow.mp4

Busi

Come on, Croatia!

With a win or draw Spain gets to play on the easier side of the Bracket. Hardest possible team before the final are Portugal*/Wales/Belgium. All possible thanks to Spaniard patriots like Pérez

Route to Final
Round of 16: Who cares (Solvakia, ROI, Iceland, Austira, Hungary, & Portugal**)
QRTs: Swiss/Poland
Semis: Belgium/Portugal* or Wales


*Assuming Portugal win their group by beating Hungary on Wed.
**Assuming Portugal draws with Hungary and Iceland wins their game against Austria.

Where are the lineups?

GK 23 Danijel Subašić
RB 11 Darijo Srna (c)
CB 5 Vedran Ćorluka
CB 6 Tin Jedvaj
LB 2 Šime Vrsaljko
CM 15 Marko Rog
CM 19 Milan Badelj
RW 4 Ivan Perišić
AM 7 Ivan Rakitić
LW 20 Marko Pjaca
CF 16 Nikola Kalinić

GK 13 David de Gea
RB 16 Juanfran
CB 3 Gerard Piqué
CB 15 Sergio Ramos (c)
LB 18 Jordi Alba
CM 10 Cesc Fàbregas
CM 5 Sergio Busquets
CM 6 Andrés Iniesta
RW 21 David Silva
LW 22 Nolito
CF 7 Álvaro Morata

So if Czech Rep.-Turkey game doesnt end in a draw, then Albania will bid goodbye to their qualification chances. N.Ireland has better chance than them to qualify as sad as it sounds. They are a good team. Cana's red card wrecked them in the opening game.

surprised spain not resting anyone

RG, If they win/draw they can rest players till the final

nasir6371 wrote:RG, If they win/draw they can rest players till the final

Poland will be a tough test.

unreal goal from morata

Juve did a great job developing him for Madrid

MORATAAAAAAA WE GOING BACK 2 BACK

De Gea Rakitic

M99 wrote:De Gea Rakitic

What's there to lol about Rakitic ? He was unlucky not to score there. The best he could've done from that position is chip the keeper.

Without Modric, Croatia absolutely lack control in midfield. They look an average team right now.

Baffling to see them make so many changes. Maybe they're dying to play Italy or something.

Spain facing the first competent team and looking fragile lol

They looked dominant in the first half .

Empty possession

Ivan Perisic.