Spain vs Croatia Preview: Key Battles, Predicted Lineups and More

Published on: 20 June 2016

Spain were the first team to secure qualification to the last 16 of Euro 2016, and they could become the first team to go through with a 100% record with a win over Croatia on Tuesday night.


Croatia are no pushovers though, and they could give the Spaniards a real fight in Bordez

Since Croatia were admitted to FIFA as an independent country in 1992, they've faced Spain five times. A Croatia team including Slaven Bilicwon the first meeting in 1994, withRobert Prosine�ki and Davor Suker scoring the goals in a 2-0 win.


Since then, though, things have swung pretty rapidly in favour of the Spaniards. Three Spanish wins and a draw have followed in the other four meetings, including a 1-0 win in the teams' last match - four years and three days before, at Euro 2012.

Spain vs Complacency

With two impressive wins in their first two games, Spain were the first team to qualify for the last 16 of the competition, leaving them with very little to do against Croatia on Tuesday. Maybe too little - with only a draw needed to see them finish top of the group. If they get complacent and take their collective foot off the pedal, Croatia can and will punish them.


Darijo Srna vs Nolito

Nolito may have come into the Spanish team relatively late in his career, but he's shown himself to be a real threat already in this tournament. Fresh off an impressive showing againstTurkey, he'll be brimming with confidence - and it'll be up to highly-regarded Croatian right-back Srna to keep him quiet and limit the Spanish threat on his flank.

The single biggest bit of news in the buildup to this match comes on the Croatian side, with Luka Modric looking almost certain to miss out with the knock he picked up in last week's dramatic 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic. With him out, Croatia's threat diminished massively - with Real Madrid teammateMateo Kovacic likely to slot into his place.


On the Spanish side of the ball, there are no such injury concerns. Vicente del Bosque is expected to make some changes to rest players though, especially with Sergio Ramos just one booking away from finding himself suspended for Spain's next game. Marc Bartra may well come into the side in his place.

Iker Casillas could also come into the side, allowing David de Gea to duck out of the spotlight a little while accusations about his personal conduct circle the camp.


Spain: Casillas; Bellerin, Bartra, Pique, Azpilicueta; Iniesta, Busquets, Fabregas; Silva, Morata, Nolito.


Croatia: Subasic; Srna, Corluka, Vida, Strinic; Badelj, Kovacic, Brozovic, Raketic, Perisic; Mandzukic.

Spain have looked good. Like, really good. Probably the only country to string two genuinely convincing performances back-to-back thus far, a third win in three could well make them favourites for their third successive Euros title.


Croatia have got some serious talent in their ranks, and IvanPerisic andhis namesake Rakitic will give Andres Iniesta and co their toughest midfield battle thus far, but it's almost certainly going to be too little to hold back the red tide.


Prediction: Spain 2-1 Croatia

For more from Chris when he's not writing on 90min, follow him on Twitter at@ThatChris1209!


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