Croatia begin their UEFA EURO 2024 campaign against heavyweights Spain in one of the most highly anticipated matchups in the opening round of games in the tournament. Zatko Dalic’s men come into the match with the confidence of beating EURO favourites Portugal away from home in a warm-up game. Last Word on Football brings you our Croatia predicted lineup against Spain.
Croatia Predicted Lineup vs Spain
How Croatia Have Lined Up Recently
The match in Portugal was the only game that the Vatreni had a full squad available for, in their preparation for this tournament. In it they started as follows: Dominik Livakovic began in goal. Josip Stanisic and Josko Gvardiol played on the flanks of the back-four, while Josip Sutalo was the centre-back alongside Marin Pongracic.
Read More: A Look Back at the Three Spain vs. Croatia Euro Meetings
Meanwhile, Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic were the midfield trio, as Lovro Majer, Ante Budimir and Andrej Kramaric made up the front three.
This team collected a well-deserved 2-1 victory that could have produced a goal or two more for Dalic’s side. The trouble with that is that the expectations on the team are greater than before. The fact that the EURO takes place in Germany, a country with a huge Croatian population – adds only more pressure.
Croatia Recent Form and Tactics
Croatia have won eight of their last ten matches, losing the other two. Those both date back to the October 2023 international break. Since then, they have been nearly flawless.
Read More: Croatia Players to Watch at UEFA Euro 2024
Tactically, the 4-3-3 formation has worked well. Time will tell whether or not Gvardiol’s transformation from centre back to left back will last for his country as it has for his club.
Croatia Injuries to Consider
Ivan Perisic has not yet returned to full fitness following his gruesome knee injury suffered during his time at Tottenham Hotspur.
Croatia Predicted Lineup vs Spain
Livakovic, Stanišić, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Majer, Budimir, Kramaric.
