The Croatian coach, Zlatko Dalic, expressed regret to the tens of thousands of fans gathered at Olympiastadion Berlin on Saturday after his team suffered a 3-0 defeat to Spain in their first Euro 2024 match.
During a press conference, the 57-year-old Dalic, who had previously led the team to the 2018 World Cup final and the semi-finals four years later, acknowledged the vibrant atmosphere but apologized for the disappointing performance, citing a lack of aggression.
The Croatian team, aiming to mirror their recent World Cup success in a Euro tournament where they have never won a knockout match, proved unable to contend with Spain’s astute attacking strategy. Dalic’s game plan fell into disarray after approximately thirty minutes of play.
Spain dominated Croatia with a commanding 3-0 victory, scoring all three goals in a brilliant first half to secure a strong start in their Euro 2024 Group B debut on Saturday.
The Spaniards, aiming for a record fourth Euro title, showcased their prowess with quick strikes – Fabian Ruiz assisted Alvaro Morata in the 29th minute and then added a goal of his own shortly after.
