Alvaro Morata (R) of Spain vies with Marin Pongracic of Croatia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
BERLIN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Spain ensured a perfect start into Euro 2024 after easing past Croatia with three goals in 45 minutes while Italy came from behind to edge Albania 2-1 in Group B on Saturday.
The three first-half goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Daniel Carvajal allowed the Spaniards to start their Euro 2024 campaign with a bang in Group B whereas uninspired Croatia posed no threat to Spain's defence over 90 minutes.
Both sides staged a slow start at a sold out Olympia stadium in Berlin but just when Croatia was about to create momentum, Spain broke the deadlock at the half-hour mark when Ruiz's defence-splitting pass found Morata, who made no mistake and put the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Luis de la Fuente's boys quick-fired a second goal only three minutes later as Ruiz got his name on the scoreboard after unleashing a low drive into the bottom right corner, giving Livakovic no chance for a parry.
Croatia regathered control as Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon palmed Marcelo Brozovic's hammer into the path of Lovro Majer, whose follow-up shot rattled the side netting, but Croatia was yet trailing 3-0 in the closing stages of the first half as Carvajal tapped home the pinpoint cross from Lamine Yamal, who became the youngest-ever player to appear in the tournament at the age of 16 years and 338 days.
After the restart, Spain continued to create chances but neither Yamal nor Morata was able to add more goals ten minutes into the second half.
Croatia also came close as Josip Stanisic's dangerous shot got blocked on the goal line while Simon defused Andrej Kramaric's header on target.
Zlatko Dalic's men should have reduced the deficit in the closing stage, but Bruno Petkovic couldn't beat Simon from the penalty spot and Petkovic's subsequent rebound goal was also disallowed due to encroachment.
In the other match of Group B, Italy turned around an early 1-0 deficit as Alessandro Bastoni cancelled out Nedim Bajrami's opener before Nicolo Barella's 2-1 winner secured Italy all three points.
In the second game of Group A, Switzerland moved 3-1 past Hungary to move equal on points with hosts Germany. Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer established a two-goal lead for Switzerland in the first half before Barnabas Varga halved the deficit after the half-time.
The Nati had the last laugh though as joker striker Breel Embolo ensured a 3-1 victory with a last-gasp goal. ■
Mikel Merino (L) of Spain vies with Marcelo Brozovic of Croatia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Daniel Carvajal Ramos (R) of Spain vies with Ivan Perisic of Croatia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Luis De La Fuente (C), head coach of Spain, gives instructions during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Alvaro Morata (R) of Spain breaks through during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Starting players of Croatia line up for photos before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Bench players of Spain celebrate for a goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Players enter the pitch before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Supporters of Spain celebrate after the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Luka Modric (R) of Croatia vies for the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Supporters of Croatia are seen before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Croatia's assistant coach Mario Mandzukic is seen before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Luka Modric (1st R) of Croatia vies for the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Luka Modric (R) of Croatia breaks through during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Nacho Fernandez (R) of Spain vies with Ante Budimir of Croatia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Players of Spain celebrate scoring during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Croatia in Berlin, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Players of Italy celebrate scoring during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Federico Chiesa (1st R) of Italy shoots during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Luciano Spalletti, head coach of Italy, gives instructions durnig the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
A man (2nd L) runs into the pitch during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Players of Italy line up for photos before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Supporters of Albania cheer for the team before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
A supporter of Italy is seen before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Federico Chiesa (R) of Italy breaks through during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Federico Chiesa (front C) of Italy breaks through during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Gianluca Scamacca (L) of Italy controls the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Starting players of Albania line up for photos before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, Germany on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
