Qatar tribune DPA Berlin Three-time winners Spain started their Euro 2024 campaign in impressive fashion with a 3-0 triumph over Croatia on Saturday. Spain side quickly built a 2-0 lead when Man of the Match Fabiann Ruiz set up Alvaro Morata in the 29th and scored the second himself three minutes later. Dani Carvajal added a third shortly before the break in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
Croatia thought they pulled one back in the 80th after Bruno Petkovic had a penalty saved by Unai Simon but got the ball back to score. The goal, however, was ruled out because Ivan Perisic, who assisted Petkovic, was already with one foot in penalty area when the spot-kick was taken, to the disappointment of the overwhelming majority of Croatian fans at the Olympic stadium. Croatia have recently been convenient opponents for Spain, losing to the Spanish side in the last 16 of Euro 2020 and in last year’s Nations League final.
Spain top Group B ahead of holders Italy’s clash against Albania later on Saturday. Spain’s Lamine Yamal became the youngest player in European championship history making his debut at 16 years 338 days, and also provided the assist for Carvajal. “The most important thing is that we won.
The assist was important, but so was the goal. I thought the team did really well. We did what we wanted to and worked very hard for it.
We achieved everything we wanted as a team, which is important,” Ruiz said. He added in the direction of the Barcelona youngster Yamal: “He�.
