Spain meet Croatia on Monday to fight for a place in the quarterfinals of Euro 2020.
Luis Enrique’s side ended their group stage campaign with an emphatic 5-0 abuse by a weak Slovak side, which will put them in a good mood before what could easily be a tricky affair against a Croatian team that picked up their own impressive 3-1 victory against Scotland last time.
Here’s everything you need to know about the game.
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Denmark’s Parken Stadium will host the game / Hannah McKay – Pool / Getty Images
When is kick off? Monday 28 June, 17:00 (BST)Where is the match played? Parken Stadium, CopenhagenWhich TV channel is it on? ITV (UK), fuboTV / ESPN (US)Who is the judge? TBCWho is WHERE? TBC
* You can find out how you watch each Euro 2020 game here.
Barisic is healthy again / Ian MacNicol / Getty Images
It could be the first start of the competition for Rangers left-back Borna Barisic, who made his return from injury with 20 solid minutes against Scotland.
Barisic’s return would allow RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol to return to central defense, where he will compete with Domagoj Vida, Dejan Lovren and Duje Caleta-Car in minutes.
Morata’s form is under review / Julio Munoz – Pool / Getty Images
With Sergio Busquets back after his positive COVID-19 test, Spain is at full strength for this, which means that Enrique has a full squad to choose from.
One of the boss’s main problems is that striker Alvaro Morata, who has so far failed miserably, has been subjected to some ugly criticism on social media because of it.
Croatia: Livakovic; Vrsaljko, Vida, Lovren, Barisic; Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic; Vlasic, Petkovic, Perisic.
Spain: Simon; Llorente, Torres, Laporte, Alba; Rodri, Pedri, Koke; Sarabia, Moreno, Olmo.
The two sides met in the Nations League 2018 / Denis Doyle / Getty Images
It is surprisingly even in the history books between these two pages. They have met only eight times before, where Spain won four and Croatia came in top three times.
They have met on each of the last two euros as well. Spain won 1-0 in the group stage in 2012, before Croatia avenged it with a 2-1 victory in the same stage four years later.
Their last meetings came in the Nations League 2018. The first match ended in a ridiculous 6-0 annihilation from Spain, but Croatia saved some dignity with a 3-2 victory just two months later.
Spain are favorites for this / Jose Manuel Vidal – Pool / Getty Images
It is Spain that decides this. If they are at their best, they can go all over Croatia, but a sub-performance from Enrique’s men can see them in a lot of trouble.
The strengths of both sides are in the midfield, but Spain has more of them in defense and attack. They should be able to win this one with the creativity they have at their disposal, but it will probably not be easy – Croatia knows how to make life tough for all sides and has a high-class midfield trio in Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic.
In the end, expect a small profit for the Spaniards – and do not be surprised if this goes to extra time either.
Prediction: Croatia 1-2 Spain
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