Croatia stun Spain to top group B

Croatia tried to impose themselves and take some control from the very beginning. However, Spain managed to go in front after 7 minutes. Silva played a splendid ball through for Fabregas, who rolled it across the face of goal for Morata, and the striker scored his third goal of the tournament with a simple finish.

Spain nearly awarded a goal to Croatia on the 12th minute. Ramos gifted the ball to Kalinic who thumped an effort at goal which De Gea managed to parry behind for a corner.

A minute later, Croatia were close to get an equaliser when De Gaea handed possession to Croatia high up the pitch. With the keeper stranded off his line, Rakitic chipped an effort at goal which rattled of the bar and bounced on the line.

On the 28th minute, Silva went forward and picked out Fabregas, who left the ball for Nolito, but the striker’s effort was deflected behind for a corner.

Croatia had a good opportunity on the 41st minute as Srna provided a sumptuous ball in from the right-hand side, which arrived at the far post for Perisic. The Wolfsburg forward jumped above Juanfran to meet it with a header, but lifted his effort over the bar.

Spain went close to double the score on the 43rd minute after Nolito's corner was met by an unmarked Ramos in the centre. The defender opted to flick it on to the far post where there was no one on hand to meet it.

Although Spain had good moments, Croatia never stopped believing and managed to break Spain's lengthy run without conceding on the 45th minute.  Perisic floated a stunning ball in towards the near post where Kalinic came on to meet it and sent a wonderfully improvised finish past De Gea to make it 1-1.

Spain created the first chance of the second half on the 48th minute when Silva made a tidy run atop the area before laying it off for Juanfran, but the right-back lifted an effort over the bar with a clean sight of goal.

Ten minutes later, Croatia went close to score their second goal. Srna somehow whipped a stunning cross in at full-stretch, but De Gea managed to get the slightest of touches on it. The ball fell for Pjaca, with the keeper stranded, but he his over-head kick barely failed to find the target.

On the 64th minute, Croatia protested for a penalty after Pjaca put in some remarkable dribbling inside the area. He somehow weaved his way through the tightest of spaces before being hacked to ground. However, the referee played on.

Four minutes later, Ramos had a good opportunity to score for Spain. From a set piece, he took a free header that failed to hit the target

On the 70th minute, the referee made a controversial decision when he awarded Spain a penalty. Vrsaljko was knocked by a Spanish player and he barely grazed the back of David Silva from behind, but the Manchester City attacker went to ground in a heap and the referee pointed to the spot. From the resulting penalty, Sergio Ramos was denied by Subasic.

Croatia went top of the group on the 87th minute after Perisic sprung down the left and showed excellent pace to carry his run on into the area, before firing a finish past De Gea at the near post to make the score 2-1 in favour of his team.

This result means that Croatia top the group with 7 points, while Spain are second with 6.

Croatia starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Subasic; Srna, Corluka, Jedvaj, Vrsaljko; Rog, Badelj; Perisic, Rakitic, Pjaca; Kalinic.

Spain starting line-up (4-3-3): De Gea; Juanfran, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Fabregas, Busquets, Iniesta; Silva, Nolito, Morata.

Yellow cards

Rog (Croatia), Vrsaljko (Croatia), Srna (Croatia), Perisic (Croatia).

Referee

Bjoern Kuipers (Netherlands)