Spain vs. Croatia Line-Ups: Predicted Teams and Confirmed Team News

Spain vs. Croatia Line-Ups: Predicted Teams and Confirmed Team News By Evening Standard Predicted Line-Ups: Spain: Unai Simon (GK), Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Torres, Koke, Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Pablo Sarabia, Ferran Torres, Álvaro Morata Croatia: Dominik Livaković (GK), Josip Juranović, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa, Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Marcelo Brozović, Nikola Vlašić, Ivan Perišić, Mario Pašalić Confirmed Team News: Spain: * Gerard Piqué has been ruled out due to injury. * Eric García is also out with a knock. * Jordi Alba is a doubt with a muscle problem. Croatia: * No major injury concerns have been reported. * Zlatko Dalić is expected to field a strong squad. Tactical Analysis: Spain is likely to adopt their trademark possession-based style, with Busquets and Pedri controlling the midfield and attackers like Sarabia and Morata looking to exploit the spaces left by Croatia’s high press. Croatia will aim to frustrate Spain by defending deep and hitting them on the counterattack. Modrić and Kovačić will be key to their build-up play, while Vlašić and Perišić will provide a threat from the wings. Key Battles: * Pedri vs. Modrić: The midfield battle between these two maestros will be crucial in dictating the flow of the game. * Dani Carvajal vs. Ivan Perišić: Carvajal will have his work cut out trying to contain the lively Perišić. * Álvaro Morata vs. Dejan Lovren: Morata will look to break his goalscoring drought against the experienced Lovren. Prediction: This is a tough match to call, but Spain’s superior quality should ultimately see them through. Score Prediction: Spain 2-1 CroatiaSpain and Croatia will meet in the last 16 of Euro 2020 on Monday, with both sides looking to book their place in the quarter-finals. Spain are the slight favourites heading into the match, having won their group with two wins and a draw. Croatia, meanwhile, finished second in their group behind England, with one win, one draw and one defeat. Both teams have a number of injury concerns ahead of the match. Spain are without Sergio Busquets, who is suspended, while Croatia are missing Ivan Perisic, who is also suspended. Despite the absentees, both teams are expected to field strong sides. Spain are likely to start with a front three of Alvaro Morata, Gerard Moreno and Dani Olmo, while Croatia are likely to start with a front three of Andrej Kramaric, Ante Rebic and Ivan Rakitic. The match is likely to be a close and competitive affair, with both teams having a chance of winning. Spain will be looking to control the game with their possession-based style of play, while Croatia will be looking to hit their opponents on the counter-attack. The winner of the match will face the winner of the match between France and Switzerland in the quarter-finals.