After two massive exits yesterday in Netherlands & Portugal, the attention turned towards another intriguing match between former Champions, Spain & World Cup runners up Croatia at Copenhagen. Both teams are in a rebuilding phase currently with a mix of youth & experience, but Croatia certainly missed their mercurial midfielder Ivan Perisic, who is out having tested positive to Covid !! A huge blow to their attacking third, as it eventually panned out to be. Spain prevailed in the end in an unbelievable game, which involved, horrific own goal, dramatic come backs & extra time winner. Football was the winner truly.
The game started in frenetic fashion, as the Spanish Armada swarmed into the Croatian half, creating chances after chances, that seem to fluff at the last moment, as Livakovic under the bar made some fascinating saves. The game looked rather one sided, when suddenly out of nowhere, Pedri in possession around the midfield, backpassed towards his keeper Unai Simon, who made a disastrous mess of controlling, & the ball ricocheted off his shin to glide into his own goal. A horror of a goal, really, as Croatia went up 1-0 & suddenly Spain lost possession of their beautiful possession game, & the beefy Croats started to find their physical presence, as the game opened up at both ends. However, Spain gained control back after a period of wilderness, & in the 38th minute, Gaya took a cracking shot at the goal which was blocked by Livakovic, but the ball fell at the eager feet of a lurking Sarabia, & he made no mistake in firing into the top corner of the net for the much needed equaliser. Game 1-1 at half time.
If the 1st half had bizarre drama of an own goal, 2nd half turned out to be what dreams are made of. The game really opened up, as Spain got the early lead in the 57th minute, as Ferran Torres floated a beautiful cross into the box & Azpilicueta jumped past Gvardiol to head past the hapless goalkeeper, for his first international goal, 2-1. Croatia, tried hard, & their midfield led by Modric made some ambling runs into the Spanish box, but Unai Simon was firm under the post to deprive any scoring opportunities. The game, seem to be running out of the Croatians, as in the 76th minute, Torres picked a wonderful cross field pass from the ever conjuring Pedri, & sidestepped Gvardiol to slot past Livakovic, as the score read 3-1. With the game slipping out of their hands, Croatia rose like a phoenix in the last 5 minutes of the game & in a goal mouth melee, Modric pulls back the ball from goal line to pass in & Kramaric poked the ball towards the goal only to cleared by Azpilicueta, but Mislav Orsic drills the ball past the goal line (checked by goal line technology), & the scoreline reads 3-2, promising for some more late drama. True to the Croatian grit of never giving up, in the injury added time, around the 93rd minute, Mario Pasalic ghosted into the box to head home a superb floater from Orsic, levelling the score at 3-3, as Spain looked completely flummoxed by this sudden surge by their opponents.
Into extra time, Croatia, riding the momentum, almost surged ahead, as Kramaric whipped a menacing cross into the box, which Brozovic brings down for Osric, but his curling shot went inches above the post. Once again, Orsic drilled another cross into the box, & amidst a host of Spanish defenders, Kramaric volleyed hard, but Unai Simon made a superb save. Spain settled into their customary rhythm slowly, & Olmo swung a great cross over a Croatian defender, & Morata lurking behind, controlled the ball down with a superb first touch & smashed a left footer into the top corner of the net to make it 4-3. Moments, later, Olmo, once again found Oyarzabal onside, with acres of space, & the winger snucked a left footer into the bottom corner, as Spain gained ascendancy 5-3. Croatia tried hard yet again, as Budimir got between a couple of defenders to hit hard, but Spanish keeper Simon gets down in time to push it wide past the goal line with his fingertips. From then on for the last 8-9 minutes, Spain played well within their control of short passes, as the tired legs & spirits of Croatia gave in. They should be proud of their performance today, but Spain were the superior team, all round & deserved the winner's tag.
A fantastic match with 8 goals on display, probably the best till now in the competition, in terms of skills & tenacity - money's worth for all spectators, both on the field & millions over TV. Spain move into the quarter finals & await the winner of France vs Switzerland. Another fascinating contest in the offing
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