Live ticker Spain – Croatia (U21 EM 2023 Georgia/Romania, Group B)

66

22:09

Arnau Tenas gets a back pass and is attacked by two opponents. The keeper cleverly frees himself with a feint and then calms the situation down. Strong action by the Barca player!

63

22:06

Kačavenda keeps dropping into midfield and trying to create from there. He wants to move from the center to the left, but plays a too steep pass to the full-back. If Croatia gets even more accuracy in their actions, things could get tricky for Spain.

62

22:03

Substitution for Spain: Gabri Veiga

62

22:03

Oihan Sancet

Substitution for Spain with Oihan Sancet

60

22:02

Luka Stojkovic

Yellow card for Luka Stojković (Croatia)

The substitute lets Victor Gómez run up without a chance of getting the ball and is shown a yellow card.

59

22:01

The Spanish dominance from the first round is gone, Croatia is now playing well and repeatedly winning the ball. Spain seems a little unfocused.

56

21:59

The first really dangerous action for Croatia: After a short corner, Baturina hits the leather from the right a little too long in the direction of the second post. Perković swings the ball in a high arc to the far corner from an acute angle, but Arnau Tenas is there and clears with a fist defence.

54

21:56

Now the Croatians have a longer ball possession phase, but they can easily make a move to the goal. In the end, Rodri even conquered the ball through a duel in the opposing half.

52

21:55

Croatia came out of the dressing room with some momentum, but Spain were able to slow it down and regain control of the action. With calm combinations, the Furia Roja brings back her security.

50

21:52

The first shot on goal for the Croatians! Kačavenda crosses into the center near the right corner of the box, where Frigan heads the ball. This sails exactly into the arms of Arnau Tenas from eight meters.

49

21:51

Spain counter via Rodri, who sends Victor Gómez to the baseline on the right. However, his cross is blocked. Then the Croatians counterattacked, played uncleanly in midfield, so Spain had no problems stopping it.

46

21:48

The second round is on! While Spain comes out of the dressing room unchanged, Croatia made two changes.

46

21:47

Lukas Kačavenda

Lukas Kačavenda comes on as a substitute for Croatia

46

21:47

Michele Sego

Substitution for Croatia: Michele Šego

46

21:47

Luka Stojkovic

Substitution for Croatia: Luka Stojković

46

21:47

Dion Beljo

Substitution for Croatia: Dion Beljo

46

21:46

Kick-off 2nd half

45+1

21:33

Mid-term conclusion:
Spain deservedly lead 1-0 against Croatia after 45 minutes. The Spaniards dominated the game at will in the first half and had several chances after the early 1-0 to ensure even clearer conditions. Croatia can be happy to only go into the dressing room with a 0:1, but only have a chance of winning a point with a clear improvement in performance.

45+1

21:31

End of 1st half

44

21:30

Croatia is now looking for the way to the opposing goal again. At the end of the pass relay, Krizmanić gets a cross attempt from the baseline, which is immediately blocked by Rodri.

41

21:26

Bulat crosses from the right half field into the center, where he cannot reach the target player Beljo. At the second post, Aitor Paredes heaves the ball out of the danger zone with his head.

39

21:24

Meanwhile, Spain has full control again and lets the leather run through its own ranks. In the center, the Spaniards always manage to speed up their actions. Croatia is now almost exclusively behind again.

36

21:21

Victor Gómez penetrates the penalty area at high speed and takes a shot from the inside right position from 23 meters. In the end, his attempt to finish rushes clearly over the crossbar.

35

21:20

Michele Sego

Yellow card for Michele Šego (Croatia)

Šego takes risks in the duel with Rodri, but in the end he doesn’t hit the ball, only his opponent.

34

21:20

Baturina lays out on the right to Frigan, who swings to try a shot near the right corner of the penalty area. The ball hops in the direction of the long corner – no problem for Spain’s keeper Arnau Tenas, who can easily grab it.

31

21:17

Álex Baena is exemplary in the depth through to Oihan Sancet, who is taking off on the right. He shows up on the right in the penalty area, but doesn’t get the ball on goal from an acute angle. The shot attempt from a promising situation in the direction of the long corner ends up in the side.

29

21:15

Kotarski saves his boys from the second goal! Sergio Gómez crashes a cross that hisses towards the short corner with a lot of train. Kotarski reacts quickly and punches the leather around his right goalpost with a fist.

28

21:14

The Croatians are now getting into the game better and are always coming into the offensive attacking third. But they haven’t had any really compelling actions yet.

26

21:12

Finally a goal for the Croatians: Bulat tries from the second row, but his shot is blocked and cleared by a Spaniard.

24

21:10

So far, Blanco hasn’t let Croatia’s top player Baturina get into the game at all. The ten had hardly any ball actions and no connection to the game.

21

21:08

The first 20 minutes are through and Spain have been dominant so far. Again and again, the Iberians come up with good chances – especially on the active left side. The Croatians hardly get into the duels because they are too far away from their opponents. So far, they have not made any offensive appearances at all.

18

21:04

Almost the 2:0! Croatia are too far away from their opponents, leaving room for Juan Miranda on the left to cross at the end of a combo. The cross slipped through to the far post, where Rodri volleyed just wide of the top left corner.

17

21:03

Rodri shows himself to be playful in the early minutes. After a one-two he closes from an acute angle on the right in the penalty area. His flick misses the right cross corner by a good meter. Spain is having a lot of fun in those early minutes, while Croatia can’t breathe deeply.

15

21:01

A long ball from the keeper is almost enough for Spain’s Sergio Gómez to pick up the ball on the left wing behind the last chain. Arnau Tenas’ long shot is slightly too steep for the left winger.

13.

20:59

Matija Frigan

Yellow card for Matija Frigan (Croatia)

The Croatian tackled Juan Miranda without a chance of getting the ball and earned his yellow card.

11.

20:57

Spain can combine at will and take Álex Baena from 23 meters on the left. In the end, his powerful shot rushes clearly over the goal. So far, Croatia has had no access at all.

9.

20:55

Juan Miranda goes deep with speed and then returns to the approaching Blanco. His deflected shot falls just short of the crossbar.

8th.

20:54

Now Croatia has the first longer pass relay, but at the end of this Beljo takes the leather uncleanly and possession of the ball is then back to Furia Roja.

6.

20:52

Spain has everything under control! Because Šego misjudged Spain’s right offensive side after a diagonal ball, Rodri was able to pick up the pace and shift it. In the end, Abel Ruiz couldn’t prevail against two Croatians in the penalty area.

3.

20:49

Again it goes over the left side and then Abel Ruiz is served again in the center. This time he catches Franjić near the baseline on the left side of the penalty area.

1.

20:46

Abel Ruiz

Tooor for Spain, 1-0 through Abel Ruiz

Lightning start for Spain! On the left flank, Sergio Gómez is exemplary sent down towards the baseline. The Manchester City player crosses into the centre, where Abel Ruiz shoots a dry shot into the near corner at the first post from close range.

1.

20:46

The ball is rolling in Bucharest! Tonight Spain will play in red and Croatia in dark blue. The referee of the game is Allard Lindhout.

20:29

Spain coach Santi Denia makes one change compared to the opening win against Romania: Arnau Martínez replaced Victor Gómez in the back right in the starting XI. This leaves Celta Vigo’s top talent Gabri Veiga in the second game only as a joker. Croatia coach Dragan Skočić has made two changes since the defeat against Ukraine: Krešimir Krizmanić and Michele Šego are allowed to start today for David Čolina and Lukas Kačavenda. With Dion Beljo and Bartol Franjić, Croatia have two Bundesliga players in the starting XI.

20:22

Despite a strenuous performance against Ukraine, Croatia lacked convincing chances in their first group game. So you lost 0:2 and have to tremble to get ahead. Hope gives the Croatian star player Martin Baturina. The only 20-year-old ten-man collected the most assists of any player in the Croatian first division last season and is supposed to feed FC Augsburg striker Dion Beljo with passes today in order to score a goal.

20:11

The Spanish national team presented themselves more than convincingly in the 3-0 victory: Furia Roja dominated for almost the full 90 minutes and left the field with a well-deserved clear victory. The left side was particularly strong: left-back and ex-Schalke player Juan Miranda made it 2-0, left winger and ex-Dortmund player Sergio Gómez made it 3-0 with a free kick. So Spain seems to be in top form early in the tournament and will look to underline that tonight.

20:01

While Spain got off to a great start with a deserved 3-0 win over hosts Romania, Croatia need to score points in tonight’s game. After the 2-0 defeat against Ukraine and their victory in the game against Romania, Croatia are now under pressure. Spain, on the other hand, can qualify for the finals with a win. Unsurprisingly, the Spaniards are the favourites, who together with Italy are record European champions with five titles.

19:44

Hello and welcome to the second match day of group B at the U21 European Championship! At 8:45 p.m. in Bucharest, Spain meets Croatia.

ttn-9