⚽ Get ready, football fans! Spain and Croatia are set to reignite their fierce rivalry this Saturday night at Berlin's iconic Olympiastadion. 🇪🇸🇭🇷 This match isn't just any group opener; it's a clash of titans with a thrilling history! 🔥
Spain is kicking off their quest for a record fourth European Championship title. Standing in their way is Luka Modric and his Croatian squad, aiming to upset the Spanish ambitions once again. Did we mention that Italy (the defending champs!) and Albania are also in this group? Talk about a group of death! 💀
These two teams just can't stay away from each other at the Euros. This will be their fourth consecutive meeting! Remember Euro 2020? Spain edged out Croatia in an epic 5-3 battle that went into extra time. And who could forget last year's UEFA Nations League, where Spain clinched victory on penalties? This rivalry is the stuff of legends! 🏆
At 38, Luka Modric is proving that age is just a number. The evergreen midfielder is back for his fifth European Championship, fresh off winning the Spanish league and Champions League with Real Madrid. He's ready to pull the strings in midfield and show the world he's still got it. ✨
Spain isn't holding back either. They've warmed up with commanding wins over Andorra and Northern Ireland. Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal is on fire, netting four goals in those two games. Keep an eye on him; he might just be Spain's secret weapon! 🔥
Fun fact: Spain's Dani Olmo once played for Croatia's top club, Dinamo Zagreb, from 2014 to 2020. He was teammates with several Croatian stars like Dominik Livakovic and Josko Gvardiol. Croatia's coach, Zlatko Dalic, even wished Olmo could've played for them instead! Talk about a plot twist! 😲
Croatia's confidence is high after an encouraging win over Portugal in their warm-up match. They're fired up and ready to give Spain a run for their money. 🤑
This match is shaping up to be an unforgettable showdown. Who will come out on top this time? Will Spain continue their dominance, or will Croatia flip the script? Grab your popcorn and your favorite jersey; kickoff is just around the corner! 🍿🎽
Reference(s):
Euro 2024: Familiar foes Spain and Croatia clash again in group opener
cgtn.com
