Spain 4-1 Croatia took less than two minutes to find its main character. Lamine Yamal scored early, added another after the break and helped Spain stretch their unbeaten run to 40 matches, a European national-team record.
The scoreline also changed Group A3. Spain have six points from two games and a three-point lead over England and Croatia. Their goal difference is plus four after scoring seven times across wins against England and Croatia.
Yamal’s first goal came before Croatia had settled. Spain kept the ball moving around the edge of the area, and the winger finished with his left foot in the second minute. Croatia did respond. Dion Drena Beljo headed in after 28 minutes to make it 1-1 and briefly turn a comfortable Spanish opening into a contest.
The reply lasted three minutes. Marc Pubill restored Spain’s lead with a header from a corner in the 31st minute, his first senior international goal. Spain reached half-time ahead and did not offer Croatia another route back.
Yamal closes the argument
The third goal came in the 63rd minute. Yamal received the ball inside the area and finished low with his left foot. Nico Williams added the fourth in the 89th minute after a quick passing move.
The match data supports the margin. Spain had 64% possession, completed 620 passes and put seven attempts on target. Croatia managed two shots on target from 36% of the ball. The difference was not only control. Spain turned control into repeated entries and clear finishes.
Croatia’s goal showed that Spain can still be attacked. Beljo found space between defenders and levelled with a header. Yet the broader pattern was unforgiving. Croatia could not hold the score for long, and Spain continued to create from wide areas and central combinations.
What it means in Group A3
Spain sit first with six points. England and Croatia have three each, with England second on goal difference. Czechia are fourth on zero.
The top two progress to the quarter-finals. Spain have already created a useful cushion and next host bottom side Czechia. Their objective is no longer to recover from a poor start or find rhythm. It is to protect the lead and keep the qualifying line at arm’s length.
Croatia face a direct test at home to England on Saturday. The sides are level on points, but Croatia’s minus-two goal difference puts them third. A heavy defeat in Seville has therefore carried straight into a match that can move them back into the top two or leave them chasing.
The 40-match unbeaten run gives Spain a historical line, but the more useful data is current. They have six points, seven goals and wins against both of their closest group rivals. Records describe what has happened. The table shows what those results have bought.
Yamal’s two goals will take the attention, and rightly so. Spain’s bigger strength was the response after Croatia equalised. Three minutes later they led again. That is why this group already has a clear leader after only two rounds.
No comment