Spain reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 in dramatic fashion as they beat Croatia in extra time after an eight-goal thriller.
Luis Enrique’s side were rocked when Croatia substitutes Mislav Orsic and Mario Pasalic scored twice in the final five minutes to come back from 3-1 down and force extra time, but Spain rallied as the added 30 minutes produced yet more drama.
Striker Alvaro Morata, who revealed before the match that his family have been threatened during the tournament as a result of his performances, silenced his critics when he thumped in Spain’s fourth goal in extra time in Copenhagen.
The scoring did not end there as Mikel Oyarzabal added a fifth goal three minutes later to finally see off Croatia, who had fought bravely in this highly entertaining last-16 tie.
In a hint of what was to come, 20 minutes into the game goalkeeper Unai Simon failed to control Pedri’s 49-yard back pass, presenting Croatia with the lead.
That bizarre own goal sparked a response from Spain though, with Pablo Sarabia thumping in an equaliser, Cesar Azpilicueta heading in another and Ferran Torres making it 3-1.
Spain looked comfortable and poised to cruise through but Croatia burst into action through their substitutes late on to force added time.
The thrilling moments continued as Simon made up for his earlier error with a heroic stop from close range to deny Andrej Kramaric before Morata went up the other end to crucially put Spain ahead again.
It was the most entertaining match of the tournament so far and three-time champions Spain will face the winner of France and Switzerland (kick-off 20:00 BST) in the quarter-finals.
Morata and Simon display Spanish character
Spain became the first side in European Championship history to score five or more goals in consecutive matches – but Morata’s was the most important.
The forward had missed several good chances in the tournament before this game and it looked like it would not be his night again when he failed to nod in Ferran Torres’ cross early on.
Two minutes later, that miss looked especially costly as Croatia took the lead – but it was Morata who the Spain players gathered to congratulate at full-time after their place in the quarter-finals was sealed thanks largely to his goal.
Spain’s credentials to go deep into the tournament have been enhanced by this display of character to initially bounce back from the own goal then re-gather themselves after Croatia had forced extra time.
The scenes at full-time were a mixture of jubilance and relief even if their biggest test may come next, with world champions France their potential quarter-final opponent.
There was nobody more relieved than keeper Simon too – he pulled off a crucial save in extra time after his huge error.
Croatia bow out – but not without fight
World Cup finalists Croatia lost at the last-16 stage for the second Euros in a row after they were beaten by eventual winners Portugal in 2016.
But they did not leave without a fight.
Spain were relentless for periods of the match but Croatia created a number of clear-cut chances and had they been more clinical, it could have been a different story.
Nikola Vlasic smashed one into the side-netting and Kramaric was flagged offside as he snuck in behind before Spain went 3-1 up.
But just as Spain looked at ease, Croatia upped the intensity, unwilling to leave the competition without making an impact.
The substitutes forced extra time and Croatia could have gone ahead when Orsic fired dangerously over the bar minutes before Kramaric was denied by Simon.
Those misses proved costly and Spain almost scored a sixth when Dani Olmo’s curler smacked off the left post in the dying moments.
Croatia were naturally dejected at full time after they could not muster another astonishing comeback – but they had left their mark on this tournament by playing their part in an epic match.
Croatia
-
Squad number10Player nameModricAverage rating
7.38
-
Squad number18Player nameOrsicAverage rating
6.82
-
Squad number15Player namePasalicAverage rating
6.78
-
Squad number8Player nameKovacicAverage rating
6.69
-
Squad number11Player nameBrozovicAverage rating
6.28
-
Squad number13Player nameVlasicAverage rating
6.11
-
Squad number14Player nameBudimirAverage rating
6.08
-
Squad number9Player nameKramaricAverage rating
6.02
-
Squad number26Player nameIvanusecAverage rating
5.98
-
Squad number17Player nameRebicAverage rating
5.96
-
Squad number21Player nameVidaAverage rating
5.93
-
Squad number20Player namePetkovicAverage rating
5.90
-
Squad number1Player nameLivakovicAverage rating
5.88
-
Squad number22Player nameJuranovicAverage rating
5.77
-
Squad number7Player nameBrekaloAverage rating
5.75
-
Squad number5Player nameCaleta-CarAverage rating
5.74
-
Squad number25Player nameGvardiolAverage rating
5.29
Spain
-
Squad number2Player nameAzpilicuetaAverage rating
7.39
-
Squad number22Player nameSarabiaAverage rating
7.24
-
Squad number26Player namePedriAverage rating
6.83
-
Squad number19Player nameOlmoAverage rating
6.65
-
Squad number11Player nameTorresAverage rating
6.55
-
Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating
6.45
-
Squad number4Player nameTorresAverage rating
6.36
-
Squad number8Player nameKokeAverage rating
6.36
-
Squad number21Player nameOyarzabalAverage rating
6.34
-
Squad number24Player nameLaporteAverage rating
6.32
-
Squad number5Player nameBusquetsAverage rating
6.22
-
Squad number18Player nameAlbaAverage rating
6.05
-
Squad number7Player nameMorataAverage rating
6.02
-
Squad number14Player nameGayÃAverage rating
5.94
-
Squad number12Player nameGarcÃaAverage rating
5.78
-
Squad number17Player nameRuizAverage rating
5.77
-
Squad number23Player nameSimónAverage rating
4.90
Line-ups
Croatia
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Livakovic
- 22JuranovicSubstituted forBrekaloat 74’minutes
- 21Vida
- 5Caleta-CarBooked at 83mins
- 25Gvardiol
- 10ModricSubstituted forIvanusecat 114’minutes
- 11BrozovicBooked at 73mins
- 8KovacicSubstituted forBudimirat 79’minutes
- 13VlasicSubstituted forPasalicat 79’minutes
- 20PetkovicSubstituted forKramaricat 45’minutes
- 17RebicSubstituted forOrsicat 67’minutes
Substitutes
- 2Vrsaljko
- 7Brekalo
- 9Kramaric
- 12L Kalinic
- 14Budimir
- 15Pasalic
- 16Skoric
- 18Orsic
- 19Badelj
- 23Sluga
- 24Bradaric
- 26Ivanusec
Spain
Formation 4-3-3
- 23Simón
- 2Azpilicueta
- 12GarcÃaSubstituted forTorresat 72’minutes
- 24Laporte
- 14Gayà Substituted forAlbaat 78’minutes
- 8KokeSubstituted forRuizat 78’minutes
- 5BusquetsSubstituted forRodriat 102’minutes
- 26González
- 11TorresSubstituted forOyarzabalat 88’minutes
- 7Morata
- 22SarabiaSubstituted forOlmoat 72’minutes
Substitutes
- 1de Gea
- 3Llorente
- 4Torres
- 6Llorente
- 9Moreno
- 10Thiago Alcántara
- 13Sánchez
- 16Rodri
- 17Ruiz
- 18Alba
- 19Olmo
- 21Oyarzabal
- Referee:
- Cüneyt Çakir
- Attendance:
- 22,771
Live Text
Match ends, Croatia 3, Spain 5.
Post update