Spain managed to defeat Croatia’s World Cup runners-up 6-0. This is Croatia’s biggest defeat as a guest in the match. This victory made Spain win in the UEFA Nations League. Team coach Luis Enrique claimed to be satisfied with the success of La Furia Roja.
In this match, Enrique, who is a former Barcelona coach, provided many places for Read Madrid players. Daniel Carvajal, Nacho Fernandez, Sergio Ramos, Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio and Isco are the names of Real Madrid players that Enrique took as the first team in the match. Meanwhile only Sergio Busquets decorate the La Furia Roja core team in the match.
These six goals were created from Niguez in the 24th minute, Asensio in the 33rd minute, Kalinic own goal in the 35th minute, Rodrigo 49th minute, Ramos 57th minute, and Isco 70th minute.
Midfielder Saul Niguez scored the first goal in his hometown of Elche. He made a header midway through the first half. This goal put Spain ahead in the first half and made the game difficult for Croatia. Even though Croatia has made a good start but missed two goal opportunities.
The hosts immediately increased their lead with two hard blows from Marco Asensio. Goals were given as an own goal to Croatia goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic when the ball bounced after crashing into the crossbar.
Rodrigo Moreno completed a good team move after the break. The goal came before captain Sergio Ramos blocked the five attackers, but failed to stem the attack from Isco.
Spain is currently the first team to score six points against Croatia. So they occupy the top position in the League A, Group 4 with six points.
“The Players’ actions in this game are very good. It’s difficult to give any criticism in a match that shows high level performance,” Enrique said as quoted by Marca.
“I don’t have things that should be highlighted because I like almost everything I see in this match,” he added.
Although he managed to win a landslide score, Enrique kept his hat on Croatia’s performance.
“It’s hard to overcome a team like Croatia that always puts pressure. They have the ability to score goals but we are superior today,” Enrique said.
“We have to win against England or Croatia. We are on the right track but we have not arrived at the desired place. Now is the time for us to return to work,” Enrique said.
Meanwhile, Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalic believes his team has surrendered and no longer shows determination overcome Spain when they are 0-2 behind in the UEFA Nations League.
“After Spain scored the first goal, we were not as focused as before. We tried to do everything too fast and start forgetting our game scheme. That should not be done when facing Spain who play at home and control the ball. We really do not present a danger [to them],” Dalic was quoted as saying by Football Espana.
“After the second goal, we gave up and everything was over. I couldn’t even motivate anyone in the first half. I tried to present a different second round, but we came back like the first half and nothing went well,” Dalic added.
Dalic believes there are still positive things behind the humiliating defeat experienced by Croatia.
“We have to learn from this kind of defeat because we can now see what happens when we play as a team and when we play not as a team. Almost all of the Spain attacks put the ball into the goal. Spain played as a team and beat us convincingly. Spain have a good percentage of possession but they now also play faster ahead to develop attacks and dangerous,” Dalic said.
