Good afternoon! Welcome to live coverage of Croatia versus Spain in the round of 16 at Euro 2020. We’re halfway through this opening bout of fixtures in the knockout phase and, bar Denmark’s shellacking of Wales, it’s been tight; Italy went to the brink against Austria, the Czech Republic upset the Netherlands and the reigning champions Portugal were dumped out by Belgium. This evening we’ve got what looks like another coin flip between 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia and a Spain team fresh from thumping Slovakia 5-0 in their last match. The Croats are at the end of a generation, while Spain are wondering what to make of this one; it’s another fascinating match in what has been an absorbing tournament. Let’s get it popping then; team news to follow from Copenhagen shortly.

Euro / Last 16

Parken / 28.06.2021

Croatia

Completed

Spain

Pedri(20' O.G)
M. Oršic(85')
M. Pašalic(90+2')

Live

Live Updates

ByTim Hobbs

Updated 28/06/2021 at 19:44 GMT+1

16:45

Enrique keeps faith with Alvaro Morata up front today. He's had a difficult tournament so far, missing a couple of good chances including a penalty against Slovakia; he's also got 20 goals in 43 internationals and has scored in a Champions League Final. Recently, he's been receiving repulsive abuse on social media and his family have been insulted in person; the world simply has to become a better place than this.

16:40

To get to this point, Spain equalled the record for the biggest margin of victory at a European Championship with a 5-0 hosing of Slovakia last Wednesday.

16:35

A quick reminder here of how Croatia sorted qualification for the knockout rounds. Their captain Luka Modric turned in one of the performances of the tournament so far against Scotland, capped by a sweeping drive into the top corner for Croatia's second.

16:30

Spain are looking to end a prolonged After The Lord Mayor’s Show existence in recent years. Since winning three international competitions on the spin from 2008-12, inclusive of being the only team ever to retain the European Championship, they’ve not won a knockout match at their last three tournaments. Luis Enrique’s team have lost just once in the last 27 matches though, and walloped Germany 6-0 in Seville in the Nations League in November. There’s something there, definitely, and if Enrique can coax it out of his players in the next fortnight they could go close.

16:25

Croatia had a slow start to the tournament, losing to England and then drawing with the Czech Republic, before coming through 3-1 in their must win match against Scotland last Tuesday. They will be underdogs today, and they’ll be fine with that; no team so regularly tweaks the noses of their supposed betters than Croatia. As well as reaching the most recent World Cup Final, since being re-admitted into international football in 1992 this land of four million people has scored major tournament victories over Germany (twice), the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Argentina and England. Overawed? Pffft.

16:20

Spain also make two changes. Jose Gaya is in at left back for Jordi Alba, while Manchester City’s Ferran Torres slots in on the left of the front three in place of Gerard Moreno.

16:15

There’s a major out for Croatia today in Ivan Perisic, who has returned a positive COVID-19 test and is in isolation. Speedy recovery there, Ivan, who is replaced on the left of the front three by Milan’s Ante Rebic. Dejan Lovren is suspended meanwhile and replaced at centre half by Duje Caleta-Car.

16:10

And your Spain:

16:05

Here's your Croatia for the evening:

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