Spain finished as the Group D runner-up after Croatian winger Ivan Perisic’s late goal handed the Balkans the top spot in the group, and a knockout stage match with a third-place team from Group B, E or F. Slovakia is the lone team from any of those three groups to have clinched a spot in the knockout stage.
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Turkey’s Burak Yilmaz, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2016 Group D soccer match between the Czech Republic and Turkey at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, France, Tuesday, June 21, 2016.
Nikola Kalinic equalized just before halftime with a nice back-heel flick that beat Spain goalkeeper David De Gea at the near post after Perisic delivered the cross from the left.
The result means Croatia top Group D with seven points and Spain also qualify with six points.
His winning goal gave Croatia its first victory over Spain in 22 years and ended its unbeaten run at a European Championship that stretched back to 2004.
Spain will face the Italians at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Monday – a repeat of the 2012 final that Spain won 4-0.
“Hopefully we get what we deserve and advance”, Yilmaz said.
Spain had gone ahead when Cesc Fabregas chipped shot was tapped in by Alvaro Morata from close range.
Despite the absence of the injured Luka Modric, Croatia roared back through Nikola Kalinic and Perisic’s late strike.
Spain captain Sergio Ramos then saw his second-half penalty saved by Danijel Subasic, and it cost his side dearly as Perisic struck a victor three minutes from time to fire Croatia through in first place. Perisic scored with a low left-foot shot, beating goalkeeper David De Gea at his near post to finish off a fast counter attack. However, both teams wanted to win especially as the runner-up in the group will meet Italy.
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque will start the same 11 for the third straight game even though the team has already advanced to the next round.
Their movement on and off the ball in a tactical system that’s been reinvented by Del Bosque since the retirement of stalwarts Xavi, David Vila and Fernando Torres deserves much credit and admiration, but their problems lay elsewhere on the pitch. “Now we have to prepare well”.
Kalinic’s goal just before the break was the first goal conceded by Spain in 948 minutes of European Championship matches since October 2014.
Spain will play Italy in the second round, with the winners likely facing Germany in the quarter-finals.
“This Euro is just proving everyone can beat you. We have to impose ourselves and make them worry about us”.
“We are playing outstanding football in this tournament”, Pjaca told reporters, “and shouldn’t be afraid of anyone”.
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Ahead of the tournament, the Arsenal keeper had said he would decide after Euro 2016 whether to retire from global football.
