Spain vs Croatia Predictions

• Croatia lost just once in seven games at the World Cup
• Since then, the Croatians forced Spain to penalties in the Nations League final
• Croatia are unbeaten in their last six matches
• Spain have won just three matches in their last nine group-stage games at tournaments

Contenders face vital opener

Group B looks like the trickiest pool at Euro 2024, with holders Italy joined by Spain, Croatia and a solid Albania side. With only two guaranteed spots in the last 16 up for grabs, this opener in Berlin is vital to how the group shapes up.

That could lend itself to turning this clash between two draw-friendly sides into an even cagier game. Croatia are masters of knockout matches, they give very little away in tournament games. Meanwhile, this is a Spanish side that seems to have everything bar a reliable scorer, which can see them frustrated against top-tier opposition.

Croatia to play early spoilers

After a third-placed finish at the last World Cup, Croatia do hold some appeal at 40/1 to win this tournament as they’ve proven capable of deep tournament runs. They’ve also had some impressive results since Qatar, beating the Dutch in Amsterdam in the Nations League semi-finals before forcing the Spanish to penalties in the final.

Croatia head into this contest unbeaten in six games, having won 2-1 at Portugal in their final warm-up friendly. They gave themselves a week to build up for their opener and this experienced side should be prepared for the clash in Berlin.

Croatia proved their tournament credentials by losing just once in their seven games at the last World Cup, so Spain look worth swerving at odds-on here.

Another tournament struggle for Spain

Spain often start slowly at major tournaments, having won just three of their last nine group-stage games at major tournaments. Across the last two World Cups and Euro 2020, they won a single group-stage game in each.

Spain have blown away some poor sides at the last tour tournaments, thumping Costa Rica 7-0 and Slovakia 5-0. However, those are their only two victories across their previous 10 tournament outings. They could be frustrated here by a Croatia side who will be organised and comfortable in possession.

Goals tend to be a problem for both sides, but defender Josko Gvardiol could be an unlikely goalscorer in this one. He finished the Premier League season brilliantly with four strikes in Man City’s final seven games, while he netted in his final game at the 2022 World Cup, so take him as a great outsider to net in Berlin.