Desire for revenge

The history of crosses between Spain and Croatia begins to taste stale. The balance is very even, with four victories for the National Team, three defeats and a draw. But it was the Croats who won a crucial match in the French European Championship, with goals from Kalinic and Perisic, and sent Spain to the crossroads with Conte's Italy, which with three centrals destroyed the team of Forest, who defended the title won in 2012.

That match was replicated in the 6-0 that Spain endorsed Croatia in Elche, in the debut of Luis Enrique on the national bench. But it was of little use, because a defeat against England and another against the Croats themselves, in Zagreb (3-2), eliminated Spain from the first edition of the Nations League. That defeat in the stadium Martinez Valero it is to date the largest of the runners-up in the world. Saul (24 '), Marco Asensio (33 '), an own goal from Kalinic (35 '), Rodrigo (49 '), Sergio Ramos (57 ') e Isco (70 ') scored the goals of the National Team in that match played in September 2018.

Just two months later Croatia avenged defeat with a 3-2 victory at Maksimir Stadium, on November 15, 2018. The first goal of Kramaric in minute 54 it was equaled by Ceballos Two minutes later. Tin Jedvaj returned the lead to Croatia in the 69th minute, and Sergio Ramos responded from the penalty spot on 78 'before Jedvaj got the win when they had played three minutes of discount. That match was a blow to Spain, as qualification for the Nations League final was on track. But the Croats pushed a lot in their stadium and took the game forward. The National Team learned from the mistake, and in the second edition of the continental tournament it did manage to qualify for the final four, which will be played in Italy next October. Spain's rival will be precisely the Scuadra Azzurra, while Belgium Y France they will play the other semifinal.

But first, in just 24 hours, another confrontation between Spain and Croatia arrives. Tomorrow Monday at Copenhagen It will be the first elimination match between the two teams, which until now had only met in the qualifying or group phase, as happened in the 2012 and 2016 Euros.

Since then, both teams have changed. But much more Spain. Jordi Alba and Busquets are the only players left from the national team's golden age, while Croatia still has veterans such as Modric, Vida, Kovacic and Perisic in active service.. A rival with a strong nationalistic sense, but also with expert players of outstanding quality who will face a Spain with quality and enthusiasm.