When Spain face Croatia within the spherical of 16 on the European Championship, Danny Olmo can be up towards some acquainted opponents.
In truth, he might have simply lined up for Croatia as an alternative of Spain at Euro 2020.
The attacking midfielder turned down overtures for the Croatia nationwide staff after shifting from Barcelona’s academy to Dinamo Zagreb on the age of 16 and spending six seasons on the membership.
Olmo has by no means performed senior membership soccer in Spain – he moved to RB Leipzig in 2020 – however doesn’t remorse his choice to remain in his nation.
“There was interest from the Croatian side, but I always loved playing for Spain,” Olmo mentioned.
Olmo, 23, is a part of a bunch of younger gamers who’ve been given key roles in Luis Enrique’s new-look Spain squad. Against Croatia, he has the added function of being an in-house specialist on opposing gamers.
“Our coach knows the Croatia team very well. If he asks me, I will share my opinion with him,” mentioned Olmo. “I’ve performed with most of their gamers. I feel (Bruno) Petkovic out He is standing. He is an entire participant and we now have to pay additional consideration to him.”
However, Croatia can be with out one among its finest gamers for the sport in Copenhagen when Ivan Perisic examined optimistic for COVID-19. Perisic, who scored two targets through the group stage, can be in isolation for 10 days and can miss the quarter-finals and semi-finals if Croatia progresses this far.
After a sluggish begin to the match, each Spain and Croatia are peaking on the proper time. Spain beat Slovakia 5–0 of their ultimate group sport to beat Croatia 3–1 to complete second behind England in Group D.
The two even have sturdy match pedigrees, though their current trajectories have gone in reverse instructions. Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup ultimate earlier than dropping to France and 13 of these gamers are nonetheless within the squad.
Spain received three straight main tournaments between 2008–2012, together with two European Championships, however misplaced within the spherical of 16 at each Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In addition, solely seven gamers on the Spain staff had performed within the final main match.
One of these legends, Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, gave the staff an enormous raise when Slovakia returned to the sport after testing optimistic for the coronavirus forward of the match.
Luis Enrique continued Spain’s conventional possession-based strategy, however the staff’s offensive seemed powerful within the first two attracts towards defensive-minded Sweden and Poland.
Croatia, nevertheless, will play a extra aggressive type and won’t maintain again from taking up Spain.
“When the Spaniards have possession they force it, they had little difficulty with scoring in the first two games,” mentioned Croatia defender Duje Caleta-Car.
“We have gamers who can present their high quality via possession and that’s the place I see a chance. He hasn’t skilled it but when somebody takes the ball from him.”
Croatia midfielder Nikola Vlasic additionally warned Spain towards giving Spain an excessive amount of time on the ball.
“We definitely need to make them feel comfortable and stop playing their football,” Vlasic mentioned. “It will be fatal for us, because they are really technically excellent.”
Croatia’s veteran Luka Modric confirmed along with his purpose towards Scotland that he stays a formidable drive at 35 and would be the participant who will attempt to direct the sport.
“He is their engine and the heart of the Croatian national team,” Olmo mentioned of Modric.
“The invasion of Croatia flows through his shoes.”
When it involves the Spanish invasion, many of the focus will once more be on lvaro Morata. The Spain striker obtained a torrent of on-line abuse after he missed a penalty towards Slovakia and was closely criticized after the primary two video games, regardless of scoring towards Poland.
Morata mentioned he obtained threats towards his youngsters and that Slovakia couldn’t sleep for 9 hours after the sport. But with Spain regaining its scoring contact towards Slovakia, the staff might not should rely a lot on Morata.
This is sweet information for Luis Enrique.
Spain have missed their final 5 penalties general – together with two at Euro 2020 – so the coach might be not relishing the prospect of a shootout.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
