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The third game of UEFA Euro 2024 sees three-time winners Spain take on Croatia in Berlin on Saturday. These two familiar faces of European soccer form part of a competitive Group B which also includes Italy and both will want to make a strong start. The Spanish perhaps more so given that their second game is against the Azzurri although Albania should not be totally written off either. Luis de la Fuente has gone for a largely domestic-based squad for this one while precious few of Zlatko Dalic’s players ply their trade in their home country. This one promises to be part of a loaded first full day of group action in Germany.
Here’s our storylines, how you can watch the match and more:
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How to watch and odds
- Date: Saturday, June 15 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
- Location: Olympiastadion — Berlin, Germany
- Watch: FOX or Fubo (try for free)
- Odds: Spain -110; Draw +250; Croatia +333
Group B
The rest of Group B will get their tournament underway later on Saturday in Dortmund when Italy and Albania clash, but the big match from this group will be Spain vs. Italy in Gelsenkirchen come the second round of games. Depending on the opening results, that one could shape the outcome of this group and decide which nation is likely to finish top. The Italians could do with an opening win so that things do not get complicated with the Spanish and then Croatia last. Winning the group certainly has its advantages and puts first or second on opposite sides of the draw with the second-placed side likely to face the runners-up from Group A which features hosts Germany.
Golazo Network’s Morning Footy previews: Group B
Team news
Spain: Marco Asensio, the injured Gavi and Pau Torres while Pau Cubarsi, Marcos Llorente and Aleix Garcia were all cut from the final squad. Spain’s warm up match for the tournament ended with a 5-1 thrashing of Northern Ireland. Attacking prowess doesn’t seem to be a problem for this side but questions remain in defense where Aymeric Laporte and Robin Le Normand are the likely starters in central defense, both of whom originally come from France.
Possible Spain XI: Simon; Navas, Nacho, Le Normand, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams.
Croatia: This is a veteran led side. Luka Modric, Domagoj Vida and Ivan Perisic are all 35 or over while Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Andrej Kramaric and Ante Budimir are all in their 30s. On the one hand, that experience could be beneficial, as they all have played together during Croatia’s recent deep tournament runs, but it could also be a problem during a grueling month of games after the end of a long season when other sides have younger legs to rely on.
Possible Croatia XI: Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Majer, Budimir, Kramaric.
Prediction
This one could be tight so a score draw would not be a huge surprise. Spain might fancy themselves to nick the result by a narrow margin but Croatia have international tournament pedigree which could see them surprise the bigger names in Group B. Pick: Spain 1, Croatia 1.