Like a fine wine
Who comes to mind?
Thiago Silva? Andrea Pirlo?
For me, it’s Luka Modric.
The Croatian midfielder is an absolute spectacle, and still plays as though he was 23.
He may have lost a yard of pace, but every time he plays he reminds us of the level of technical ability in a midfielder which is largely unparalleled in the modern day.
Still winning Champions League medals in his club career, this is a man who may be getting on but is certainly still a titan in the European game.
There are 22 years between him and Lamine Yamal, wild.
Lamine Yamal – record breaker
When you talk about special talents, this man is right up there.
Starting on the right wing for Spain, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal becomes the youngest player ever to feature at the Euros aged just 16 years and 338 days old.
It happens on special day for the Spanish wonderkid, his father Mounir’s birthday.
He might be young, but boy is he special.
Having watched him a few times for Barcelona this season he is certainly a player to keep an eye on, and will surely cause Croatia a handful of problems.
Spain’s starting XI
This is how Spain line up!
Croatia’s starting XI:
This is how Croatia line up as they look to get the better of Spain
The key man for Spain
This is a very, very talented Spanish national team.
While the starting lineup is yet to be announced, you can be sure that there will be one man who is nailed on in midfield.
That man is Manchester City’s Rodri.
A defensive midfielder by nature, he is so much more than that.
He has added goals and assists to his name this season, and absolutely loves a rocket from outside the box.
If the national side can put together a similar unbeaten run to what Man City did this season with him in the team, they may well go all the way in this tournament.
Luka Modric and co will need to be quick to try and dispossess him when they can.
Hello! Welcome to Spain vs Croatia!
Good afternoon and welcome to what has got to be the best clash of the 2024 European Championships so far, Spain vs Croatia!
The first game in the ‘group of death’ which also includes Italy and Albania who play later on.
You have to imagine the winner of this tie will be the pacesetter in the group, so there is plenty to play for.
Croatia have been a huge success story in recent years, but with an ageing squad this tournament will either reveal a few chinks in their armour, or show that they have aged like fine wines.
As for Spain, they have been far from the side they were in the 2008 and 2012 championships, when they won it back to back, but have got an exciting crop of young players, and an experienced number nine too.
It’s going to be an absolute belter of a game, so stay with us for full coverage of it!