One of Spain’s most impressive records was broken in their Euro 2024 opener against Croatia, despite earning a convincing 3-0 victory on Saturday.
Goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal were the difference as Spain got their European Championship campaign off to the best possible start.
Meanwhile, it was a difficult afternoon for Croatia’s aging midfield led by 38-year-old Luka Modric as they struggled to cause concern amongst Spain’s defensive ranks, but did succeed in ending a long-running record.
The approach of Spain manager Luis de la Fuente against Croatia saw his side work largely on the counter-attack in a startling change to the nation’s famous tiki-taka tactics of possession-based build-up play.
Croatia enjoyed far more of the ball than they would have expected before kick-off and ended the match with the greater possession stat.
Spain had only 47 per cent of the ball compared to Croatia’s 53 per cent, meaning that it was the first time in 136 games that they have not had the majority of possession in a match.
The last time such a feat occurred was in Spain’s 2008 European Championship final victory over Germany that saw ex-Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres score the winner.
Spanish supporters will be hoping history can repeat itself again as they attempt to overcome their underdog status with a team packed with potential but lacking experience.
Barcelona winger Yamine Lamal is the youngest member of the squad aged just 16 years and 338 days, with his starting role against Croatia making him the competition’s youngest-ever figure.
There were no signs of nerves from the Barcelona prodigy who was a constant threat to Croatia’s defence throughout and recorded a smart assist for Carvajal’s goal on the stroke of half time.
Spain head coach, De la Fuente, described heaped praise on the teenager after the match and hailed his ‘incredible’ ability at such a young age.
‘They are young players, especially Lamine, he’s a young boy, with incredible talent that only the chosen ones have,’he said.
‘They have a gift from God, very few players have these qualities.’
