Euro 2020 - Spain and Croatia search for lost magic: Dream11, Preview, line-ups and the story so far

Euro 2020 - Spain and Croatia search for lost magic: Dream11, Preview, line-ups and the story so far

FPJ Web DeskUpdated: Monday, June 28, 2021, 08:22 PM IST
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Spain's forward Alvaro Morata (L) and Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric. - Croatia face Spain in their UEFA EURO 2020 round of 16 football match at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen at 9.30 pm today | Photo by David RAMOS and Paul ELLIS / AFP

Copenhagen, Jun 28: Dani Osmo will be lining up against some familiar opponents when Spain faces Croatia in the round of 16 at the European Championship.

In fact, he easily could have been lining up for Croatia instead of Spain at Euro 2020.

The attacking midfielder turned down overtures from Croatia's national team after moving to Dinamo Zagreb from Barcelona's academy as a 16-year-old and spending six seasons at the club.

Olmo has never played senior club soccer in Spain - he moved to RB Leipzig in 2020 - but doesn't regret his decision to stick to his home country.

"There was interest from Croatia, but I always preferred to play for Spain," Olmo said.

The 23-year-old Olmo is part of a group of young players who have been given leading roles in Luis Enrique's new-look Spain team. Against Croatia, he has the added role of being the in-house expert on the opposing players.

"Our coach knows the Croatia team well. If he asks me, I will share my opinion with him," Olmo said. "I have played with the majority of their players. . I think (Bruno) Petkovic stands out. He is a complete player and we have to pay extra attention to him."

Croatia's Bruno Petkovic

Croatia's Bruno Petkovic | File photo

However, Croatia will be without one of its best players for the game in Copenhagen after forward Ivan Perisic tested positive for COVID-19. Perisic, who scored two goals during the group stage, will have to self-isolate for 10 days and would also miss the quarterfinals and semifinals if Croatia advances that far.

Spain and Croatia both seem to be peaking at the right time after slow starts to the tournament. Spain beat Slovakia 5-0 in its final group game to advance, while Croatia defeated Scotland 3-1 to finish second behind England in Group D. Both also have strong tournament pedigree, although their recent trajectories have gone in opposite directions. Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup final before losing to France, and 13 of those players are still in the squad.

Spain won three straight major tournaments between 2008-2012, including two European Championships, but lost in the round of 16 at both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Russia. What's more, only seven players in the Spain squad had played at a previous major tournament.

Sergio Busquets

Sergio Busquets | AFP

One of those veterans, Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, gave the team a massive lift when he returned for the Slovakia game after testing positive for coronavirus before the tournament.

Luis Enrique has continued Spain's traditional possession-based approach but the team's attacking play looked labored in the first two draws against defensive-minded Sweden and Poland.

Croatia, though, will play a more aggressive style and won't sit back to let Spain dominate possession.

Duje Caleta-Car

Duje Caleta-Car |

"When the Spaniards have possession they force it, they had a little difficulty in the first two games with scoring," Croatia defender Duje Caleta-Car said.

"We have players who can show their quality through possession as well, and that's where I see our chance. They haven't experienced that yet, that someone takes the ball from them." Croatia midfielder Nikola Vlasic also warned against giving Spain too much time on the ball.

"We certainly must prevent them from feeling comfortable and playing their football," Vlasic said.

Croatia's Nikola Vlasic

Croatia's Nikola Vlasic | File photo

"That would be deadly for us, because they're really excellent technically." Croatia veteran Luka Modric showed with his goal against Scotland that he remains a formidable force at 35 and will be the player trying to dictate the game.

"He is their engine and the heart of the Croatian national team," Olmo said of Modric. "Croatia's attack flows from his boots." When it comes to Spain's attack, much of the focus will again be on Alvaro Morata. The Spain striker received a torrent of online abuse after missing a penalty against Slovakia and was also heavily criticized after the first two games, despite scoring against Poland.

Morata said he received threats against his children and couldn't sleep for nine hours after the Slovakia game. But with Spain having recovered its scoring touch against Slovakia, the team may not have to rely so much on Morata.

That's good news for Luis Enrique.

Spain has missed its last five penalties overall - including two at Euro 2020 - so the coach probably isn't relishing the prospect of a shootout.

Manchester City recently signed Spain's winger Ferran Torres from Valencia

Manchester City recently signed Spain's winger Ferran Torres from Valencia | @ManCity - Twitter

Ferran Torres, Spain forward: "Croatia are World Cup runners-up, a top team, so we know they'll be difficult opponents. Winning is down to us working really hard and pushing for victory in Copenhagen."

Dani Olmo - Spain midfielder

Dani Olmo - Spain midfielder | File photo

Dani Olmo, Spain midfielder: "This is a big, special match for me [because I used to play in Croatia for Dinamo Zagreb]. I have a lot of friends in the Croatia team. I knew I would be a Spain international one day and that I would play against Croatia."

Predicted line-ups

Croatia - Livkovic; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Gvardiol; Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic; Vlasic, Kramaric, Rebic

Spain - Simon; Azpilicueta, Laporte, P Torres, Alba; Koke, Busquets, Pedri; F Torres, Morata, Olmo

Dream11 captain and vice-captain:

Captain: Gerard Moreno

Vice-Captain: Pedri

Dream11 Team Prediction

Goalkeeper: Unai Simon

Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta, Jordi Alba, Josko Gvardiol

Midfielders: Koke, Pedri, Luka Modric, Andrej Kramaric

Forwards: Gerard Moreno, Alvaro Morata, Ante Rebic

Form guide (most recent first)

Croatia: WDLLDW

Spain: WDDWDW

2018 flashback: Croatia 3-2 Spain

Team news from UEFA

Elvir Islamović, Croatia reporter: I remember very well that night in Bordeaux at UEFA EURO 2016, when Croatia defeated Spain 2-1 and won their group. A lot has changed since then but Luka Modrić remains, still leading the charge – and there's a sense that he's now going into each game knowing it could be his last for the country he has served with such distinction. Croatia have shown time and again that they can mix it with the best; do not bet against them doing so again here.

Graham Hunter, Spain reporter: Suddenly Spain have a sense of momentum, but not one accompanied by either self-satisfaction or complacency. When they were last defending European champions, at EURO 2016, it was Croatia who derailed a team previously in full sail, winning their group match 2-1 with a very late Ivan Perišić clincher. Spain missed a penalty in that game too (as they did against Poland and Slovakia at these finals). However, Luis Enrique’s side now look good enough to make Croatia chase the ball and have a cutting edge up front. Should be a cracker.

View from the camps

Zlatko Dalić, Croatia coach: "It will be very hard to replace Perišić but I think we have quality solutions and I am sure whoever will be playing, he will play to his best to help the team. Can he replace Perišić at the same level? I doubt it. But we are really well covered at that left-wing position and we will have a quality solution. We don't need to worry about the other teams. We respect them all, especially [Spain]. They also know that we are a quality team and they are not happy to be playing against us. We have to be fully motivated. Our goal is to reach the quarter-finals."

Domagoj Vida, Croatia defender: "Spain are a great team, with great players but I think they were far better when the likes of Xavi [Hernández] and [Andrés] Iniesta were playing. But that doesn't mean that Hell isn't awaiting us. We'll have to work hard to try to beat them. We must remain calm while they have the ball. When we have the ball, we have to counter-attack quickly. They don't like not having the ball, so we'll have to make the most of that."

Mateo Kovačić, Croatia midfielder: "A difficult match awaits us. Spain are a great team that love possession and love to play their game. It will be important for us to try to have the ball as much as possible, to take away what they love the most."

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