Spain seeks to sign the pass to the quarterfinals against Croatia
Santi Denia’s team is one victory away from qualifying for the next round after the victory against Romania
MADRID, 23 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish under-21 soccer team faces Croatia this Saturday (8:45 p.m., La 2) in the second match of the European Championship group stage between Romania and Georgia, and in which a victory would mathematically give them the pass to the quarterfinals of the tournament and would get closer to the goal of Paris 2024.
The team led by Santi Denia arrives after convincing and thrashing (0-3) in their debut against Romania, with moments of brilliant football in some phases of the match. Croatia had more problems in its debut, which fell 2-0 against Mudryk’s Ukraine.
In the case of achieving victory, Spain would access the knockout phase for the fourth consecutive European under-21. A first step towards achieving the main objective of the tournament: sealing the qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. For its part, Croatia needs to score points so as not to reach the last day of the group stage without qualifying options.
It will be the ninth time that Spain and Croatia meet in the category, with a balance of six Spanish victories, a draw and a Croatian triumph. The last precedent is quite recent, in the quarterfinals of the 2021 European Under-21. On that occasion, Luis de la Fuente’s team needed an extension to get the pass (2-1) to the semifinals of the continental tournament .
Not many changes are expected in the Spanish eleven, which would again draw a 4-3-3 and in which Sancet and Álex Baena would accompany Antonio Blanco in midfield. The one from Villarreal, author of Spain’s first goal in the tournament, and the one from Athletic, with his mobility, were two of the most outstanding players against Romania.
Ahead, Sergio Gómez, Abel Ruiz and Rodri, the best and most destabilizing in the first game, would be the chosen trident. In this way, Santi Denia would maintain confidence in Abel Ruiz despite the fact that he was not very successful in the definition, but he did provide many solutions to the team in attack thanks to his mobility.
The only presumable change in Santi Denia’s lineup could come from the right side. The great second half by Víctor Gómez, culminating in an assist on goal, could give him a starting position to the detriment of Arnau Martínez who, despite not having a bad game, did not shine too much in attack.
In Croatia, Roko Simic, Zurich’s Croatian striker, who played just seven minutes against Ukraine, aims to start. He is the greatest attacking danger for Skocic’s team, as he was the Croats’ top scorer in the qualifying phase for the tournament, with seven goals. In addition to the striker position, more changes are expected in the Croatian lineup, such as Stojkovic instead of Kacavenda in the midfield and Sego for Colina, on the left side.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
SPAIN: Arnau Tenas; Víctor Gómez, Paredes, Pacheco, Miranda; Antonio Blanco, Sancet, Álex Baena; Rodri Sánchez, Sergio Gómez and Abel Ruiz.
CROATIA: Kotarski; Sigur, Franjic, Perkovic, Sego; Bulat, Prsir, Stojkovic, Baturina; Semic and Beljo.
–ARBITRATOR: Allard Lindhout (NED).
— STADIUM: Giulesti Stadium.
–TIME: 20.45/2.