Spain vs Croatia LIVE: Euro 2024 result and final score as Lamine Yamal shines for La Roja
La Roja top Group B early at Euro 2024 and hope to add a third European crown after wins in 2008 and 2012
Spain got their Euro 2024 campaign underway with a 3-0 win on Saturday, as they beat one of the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists in Croatia.
Luis de la Fuente has plenty of tremendous attacking options in his squad, and 16-year-old Lamine Yamal was one of those who shone in the Group B opener.
The Barcelona winger assisted Dani Carvajal for 3-0, after captain Alvaro Morata opened the scoring and Fabian Ruiz doubled the lead.
Croatia thought they had pulled one back late on, when Bruno Petkovic won a penalty and scored in the aftermath after hitting the post. However, encroachment meant the goal was chalked off, ensuring a Spanish clean sheet.
Re-live all the action from Spain vs Croatia below plus build-up to the other Group B game, Italy vs Albania:
Albania’s Nedim Bajrami scores fastest European Championship goal ever to stun Italy
Nedim Bajrami scored for Albania against Italy after just 23 seconds in the fastest goal in European Championship history.
Federico Dimarco took a throw-in back towards Gigi Donnarumma’s goal. But it lacked enough power to reach a teammate, with Bajrami quick to pounce.
The finish was too powerful, despite hitting the inside of the near post, with the Albania fans celebrating wildly at the Westfalenstadion.
Albania’s Nedim Bajrami scores fastest Euros goal ever to stun Italy
The Azzurri suffered a shock just 23 seconds into their European Championship defence in Dortmund
HALF-TIME: Italy 2-1 Albania
48 mins
HALF-TIME! The referee brings the first half to an end.
It started brightly after the quickest goal in the history of the competition, but Italy’s quality has shone through and the holders go into the break 2-1 up.
Euro 2024: Italy 2-1 Albania
46 mins
There’ll be three minutes of added time in the first half.
Italy are ending the half in the same way that they’ve spent most of it – in fairly relaxed possession.
And it almost ends in a lovely goal, with Frattesi carrying towards the box and laying it off to Chiesa. He hits a lovely first-time cross, and Pellegrini is racing into the box – he gets contact with a diving effort but he can only direct it wide.
Euro 2024: Italy 2-1 Albania
42 mins
Albania are enjoying some possession as the half draws to a close, but they’re struggling to create any chances. They kick it long to try and get the knock down, but Calafiori deals with it well.
Euro 2024: Italy 2-1 Albania
Euro 2024: Italy 2-1 Albania
40 mins
CLOSE!
Pellegrini wins a header on the edge of the box which ends up at the feet of Scamacca. He’s one-v-one, but Strakosha makes another good save.
Euro 2024: Italy 2-1 Albania
25 mins
Albania go long once more and it looks problematic for Bastoni, but he cushions a header back to Donnarumma.
Italy go on the attack, but Di Lorenzo gives it away.
Euro 2024: Italy 2-1 Albania
20 mins
A brilliant recovery from Italy now, and what a goal that was.
Barella was a doubt for this game after a muscle injury, but that has really shown his importance to this Italy side.
The Azzurri attack again and win a corner, which Dimarco swings in, but Strakosha punches it away.
GOAL! Italy 2-1 Albania
16 mins
GOAL! What a hit, and Italy are ahead!
There’s some pinball in the Albania box and it’s cleared poorly.
It runs straight to Barella on the edge of the box, and he cuts across it on the half-volley and smashes it into the left-hand corner! Lovely technique.
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