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Group B is considered this year's group of death as it contains Croatia, Spain, Italy and Albania.
Group B of the UEFA European Championships kicks off with an exciting clash between former champions Spain and perennial overachievers Croatia.
Luis de la Fuente's Spanish squad enters the match as favorites, buoyed by a dominant qualifying campaign where they topped their group with seven wins out of eight matches, conceding only five goals in total.
Spain further showcased their form with convincing victories in their final two friendly matches, scoring five goals in each game against Andorra and Northern Ireland.
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22:07 - 14.06.2024
EURO 2024: German-Nigerian Musiala and Boniface's teammate Wirtz become first 21-year-olds to start and score for Germany
Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz helped Germany get off to the best possible start at the EURO 2024 after making history.
However, their defense has shown vulnerability, keeping just one clean sheet in their last six international matches (W4, D1, L1), a weakness Croatia has exploited in recent head-to-head encounters, scoring three goals in two of their last three meetings.
In contrast, Croatia faced challenges in qualifying but finished as runners-up to Turkey in their group, securing 16 points from eight matches (W5, D1, L2).
They bolstered their confidence with four consecutive friendly victories, including an impressive 2-1 win over Portugal.
With many of their seasoned players likely participating in their final major tournament, Croatia aims to navigate the tough Group B, known as this year's 'group of death', alongside Italy and Albania.
Key players to watch include Spain's Álvaro Morata, who has a strong Euro record with six goals in ten matches and recently scored against Northern Ireland.
Croatia's Luka Modrić, despite not scoring in his last six encounters against Spain, brings experience and a record of five goals in major tournaments.
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21:30 - 14.06.2024
Euro 2024: A look back at the mascots of previous European Football Championships
Previous Mascots of the European Competition
A notable statistic heading into the match is Spain's ability to score nine goals in the opening 30 minutes of their last six internationals, highlighting their intent and early-game prowess.
Both teams enter the tournament opener with contrasting forms and motivations, setting the stage for a compelling clash in Group B of the Euros.
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![[WATCH]: Lionel Messi's penalty miss just days after rival Cristiano Ronaldo](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/05072024/b1a5cb9b-809d-4cc7-8a4a-df102fab2733.jpg?operations=fit(600:))
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