International Matches - Under 21

Spain 0 – Croatia 3

Spain: Kepa; Bellerín, Jonny, Rubén Duarte (Carlos Castro 67’), Adrián Marín; Saúl Ñíguez; Deulofeu, Óliver Torres, Dani Ceballos (Alfonso Pedraza 54’), Marco Asensio; Munir. 4-1-4-1.
Croatia: Livakovic; Jedvaj, Caleta-Car, Peric, Milic; Krovinovic, Coric (Fiolic 94’); Pavlicic (Capan 86’), Rog, Perica (Kolar 73’), Tudor. 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 36. Caleta-Car. Steered far post header back over Kepa from Coric corner.
0-2. 42. Perica. Picked up lofted Coric pass and struck angled shot past keeper.
0-3. 47. Perica. Ran on to score into empty net after Kepa gave ball away to him.

Spain’s place in the under 21 European finals is in doubt after they were beaten 0-3 by Croatia in their latest qualifying group game! A win in Croatia four months ago had taken Albert Celades’ side to the top of their group, and they had most of the play early on. However with ten minutes to go to the break Caleta-Car headed the visitors into the lead from a corner, and just five minutes later Perica made it two after Coric put him through. Worse was to come though, as just two minutes after the restart Kepa tried to dribble round Perica after picking up a loose Jonny back-pass, and only succeeded in gifting a goal to the striker. Spain threw everything forward after that but this was not their day, Saúl Ñíguez, Asensio and Pedraza coming up against Livakovic, and Oliver Torres, Deulofeu, Carlos Castro and Sául all failing to convert chances. The result left the youngsters two points behind their opponents with Sweden lurking in the wings, and with only the group champions sure of a place in the finals plus two out of nine runners-up, things are not looking good right now.