Euro 2020 - R16 : Croatia - Spain

Monday 28 June 18:00 CET, Copenhagen, DEN

This news can make difference, he's been best Croatia player after Modric
(Perisic tested positive for Covid )

Hrvatski nogometni savez zaprimio je tijekom večeri rezultate redovnog testiranja na virus SARS-CoV-2 koje je pokazalo da je reprezentativac Ivan Perišić pozitivan na koronavirus. Priopćenje za medije: https://t.co/4Rao2kOT1X

— HNS (@HNS_CFF) June 26, 2021

Wow yeah
https://football-italia.net/perisic-tests-positive-for-covid/

I think this reduced Croatia's chance vs Spain by a lot. They're having difficulty in scoring and Perisic is usually the solution for that.

Spain had been huge bookie favourites before Perisic was tested positive. For me, the current Spanish team is suspect. I think Modders & Co. can get past them.

Not too positive for this but Croatia are a team in decline and not the same one from 2018.

If the midfield can run as smoothly and Morata wont be a choking mental midget for once we can just get through closely as otherwise if Croatia survive the usual early onslaught they may settle in, and from there find the obvious holes in our defence.

Superstone Mariomintsch wrote:Wow yeah
https://football-italia.net/perisic-tests-positive-for-covid/

I think this reduced Croatia's chance vs Spain by a lot. They're having difficulty in scoring and Perisic is usually the solution for that.

This. Certainly one of the irreplaceable players for Croatia.

Spain is bereft of any actual individual quality up front. What is worse is that they are relying on Pedri and Koke to offer that final pass from the middle.

Busquets needs to be starting. Yeah, he's over the hill physically, but on the ball there's no DM better than him in the world. He was the difference for Spain between their first two matches and their last match.

Lucho said this about him after the game:

"Busquets game was a guide of how to play as a pivot, in defence and attack. He is a player who many people do not understand, after so many years of being used to watching him, but he is a unique player, and a guarantee.”

Those are strong words of praise and I can't disagree at all.

Unbelievable that he's not playing Thiago. Just absolutely unbelievable. Biggest act of self sabotage I can remember.

Hard game to predict. Was 5 nil a turning point?

I think there is no doubt they are better with Busi in team and I will say the same about Ferran Torres up front rather than the sides.

Croatia will have chances in transitions, but we need to see a more effective Rebic than we have seen so far.

Spain (4-3-3): Unai Simón; Azpilicueta, Eric García, Laporte, Gayà; Koke, Busquets, Pedri; Ferran Torres, Morata, Sarabia.

Croatia (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Caleta-Car, Vida, Gvardiol; Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic; Vlasic, Petkovic, Rebic.

Spain rotate their attack again with Ferran and Sarabia on the sides of Torres this time. The interesting thing is they replaced Alba with Gaya.

Croatia are without Perisic due to Covid and Lovren due to suspension. They are replaced by Rebic and Caleta-Car

Great move by Busi and Pedri, Koke has to score.

What a pass from Pedri to release Koke who shot straight at the keeper

Unai Simon....shocking stuff. Comedic. He's a really good goalie but that was awful.

Morata doing what he does best and stinking up a great chance

that own goal lmao

Shocking stuff from the keeper - but you also shouldn't play that kind of airborne pass to the goalie.

GOOOAAALLL!!!!

What a bizarre own goal from Simon failing to trapping a long backpass from Pedri I think. Croatia haven't really attacked so far

Dubravka approves this

Pedri too young to know that you should never backpass own goal direction that fast. Nevertheless the goalie was sleeping there.

Lol the Eurocup of the own goals

That's a hand ball. I saw it from my screen 20 cm width

That goal has changed the game. Spain are rattled now.

Harmonica wrote:Pedri too young to know that you should never backpass own goal direction that fast. Nevertheless the goalie was sleeping there.

80% keeper's fault, 20% Pedri's fault. If that pass stays on the ground, then it's 100% the keeper's fault.

1-1 Sarabia. It was coming, Spain stepped up the last 5 minutes.

Took them everything to score this goal

Defense will regret not clearing the ball

Now we have a game