Spain’s chances of completing an unprecedented third straight European Championship win have been made a lot harder after a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Croatia in the final Group D game at Euro 2016. But with lone striker Roman Zozulya proving ineffective, Ukraine could not find their first goal since their opening game at the Euro 2012 tournament that they co-hosted with Poland.
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He said: “I’m very happy to have qualified for the tournament”.
From that point of view, Croatia pressed and pushed further up than Spain’s previous opponents – Turkey and the Czech Republic – and, despite going behind, caused plenty of moments of uncertainty at the back for Vicente del Bosque’s side.
“We can’t blame him”, said Del Bosque was quoted as saying by the Mirror.
“I’m not going to defend our performance excessively, but I think we played quite well”.
Yilmaz, who plays his domestic football in China with Beijing Guoan, said at the post-match press conference: “Today was our last chance”.
Euro 2012 winners Spain found it hard after the break, as the hard-working Croatia contained Del Bosque’s side, hitting them on the counter-attack. Spain finished second to Croatia in Group D.
Spain were then handed a controversial penalty as Vrsaljko bundled down Silva in the box, but after captain Darijo Srna gave Subasic instructions to dive right as Ramos stepped up, the stopper answered the command and beat away the Real Madrid defender’s effort.
“We managed to pull off a remarkable win against Spain, which I am really delighted about”, said the Croatian forward.
Both sides played at ease, showcasing high-level skills and tactics to please the fans.
They will need results to go their way in the Group E games between Italy and Irish Republic and Sweden-Belgium, or for Hungary to beat Portugal in Group F, to pull off the miracle.
Croatia equalised on the stroke of half-time through Nikola Kalinic, who superbly flicked home Perisic’s left-wing cross from close range.
The Manchester United goalkeeper was beaten at his near post by an 87th-minute victor from Ivan Perisic as the reigning champions suffered their first defeat at the Euros since 2004, a run of 15 matches. But the ball cannoned back off the crossbar, and the goal-line technology showed that the ball was just on the line.
While many observers continue to purr over the brilliance of Modric and Ivan Rakitic in midfield, for Plazibat, Croatia’s best player is winger Ivan Perisic, who scored twice in the group stages, including the late victor against Spain.
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After persistence at the byline, Perisic’s unsafe ball found Kalinic, who had got ahead of Ramos in the six-yard box, before the former Blackburn man’s finish slipped past De Gea for 1-1.
