Today’s Euro 2020 action begins with Croatia against Spain in Copenhagen, and Mateo Kovacic knows he will have a key role to play if the Vatreni are to advance to the quarter-finals for the third time in their history.
1996 and 2008 were the years Croatia made it that far, and they came into this tournament on the back of finishing runners-up at the most recent World Cup. While it was a stodgy start to the group stage against England and then Czech Republic, when they had to win at Hampden Park last week they did so emphatically, securing their place in the knockout stage.
Spain also left it until the final matchday to guarantee their progression, thumping Slovakia 5-0 with Cesar Azpilicueta selected for the first time in the tournament, and Kovacic knows where their threat lies.
‘We have a difficult match ahead of us, the Spaniards are a great team that loves possession, loves to play,’ he said in the build-up to today’s game.
‘It will be important for us to try to have the ball in our legs as much as possible, to take away what they love the most. I know they will be ready against us because we are a great team and because we have played against them many times. Both teams will try to outplay each other.’
When it comes to the midfield battle, Kovacic knows stopping Sergio Busquets could go a long way to blunting the Spanish threat. The Croatian trio of Kovacic, Luka Modric and Marcelo Brozovic have worked well in tandem so far this tournament, with our man setting up Modric’s crucial goal against Scotland.
The stats show Kovacic ran the most of any of the Vatreni (the Blazers) in the group stage, and he is ready to go again tonight to keep his 2020/21 campaign alive.
‘We feel good, we did a good job, even though the season was long and we were exhausted,’ said Kovacic of the midfield combination.
‘However, it is the same for everyone, we try to refresh ourselves and be the way we were against the Scots. We are ready for another run and to do our best.
‘And one more thing, togetherness is very important in these moments, as it was in Russia. Unfortunately, not all players can play, but we put Croatia in the first place, everyone gives as much as they can. We are here to fight together and so it will be this time as well.’
Kick-off at the Parken Stadium in the Danish capital is at 5pm UK time. Croatia are without their dangerous wide forward Ivan Perisic after he tested positive for Covid-19 at the weekend.
The winners meet France or Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Friday.