Ahead of their Group D clash in Bordeaux on Tuesday, Spain and Croatia UAE-based fans give their verdict on the game.
To gain an insight into the mindset of the fans we asked UAE fans to share with us their predictions, likely line-ups and players to watch.
Do you agree or have they missed the mark? Use #360Fans to share with us your thoughts.
SPAIN – Borja Burguillos (Global Strategy Manager, Dubai)
Spain seem to have put their 2014 World Cup demons to bed by showing a good performance against Czech Republic and an even better one against Turkey. The mix between old and new players is working and even our strikers have started to score with Alvaro Morata and Nolito both netting in the 3-0 victory over Turkey.
I still think we miss a midfielder managing the team, the new Xavi. That player should be Thiago Alcantara, he is the one who can play the music for Spain, or even Koke – but what is for sure is that there is no space for Cesc Fabregas in the Spain team (at least as a starters).
It looks on paper like a draw would be the most likely result – Spain don’t need to win to qualify top of the group and I think Vicente del Bosque will take the opportunity to give some of our reserve players a chance. A draw would also be enough for Croatia to finish second in the group but simply because they are likely to play without Luka Modric, who obviously knows the Spanish players very well, I think we will steal all three points.
PREDICTION: Spain 1 – 0 Croatia
LIKELY SPAIN XI: Casillas; Juanfran, Ramos, Bartra, Azpilicueta; Busquets, Thiago, Iniesta, Lucas Vazquez; Morata, Aduriz
SPAIN PLAYER TO WATCH: Lucas Vazquez – He finished the season in really good shape and I think his versatility can be an asset to the Spain team. We will need a player with pace during the knockout games and I think Lucas Vazquez can be this player. Today he will have the opportunity to show it.
CROATIA PLAYER TO FEAR: Ivan Rakitic – Croatia’s second best player after Modric, without the Real Madrid man, Rakitic will be expected to control things. Used to bossing the midfield for Barcelona, can Rakitic get the better of team-mates Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique?
WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME: I’ll watch the game at Barasti to breathe the real Euro 2016 spirit of Dubai.
CZECH REPUBLIC – Ondřej Piškula (Football Coach, Dubai)
What a difference five minutes makes! Croatia were comfortably cruising towards six points and a big showdown with Spain for top spot of Group D, before an epic meltdown against Czech Republic resulted in a 2-2 draw. Croatian players, fans, media – hell, everyone – was wondering how we didn’t win the game. And in the aftermath of the senseless act of sabotage by a few misguided fans, suddenly everything looks much gloomier.
The atmosphere among the players must have taken a knock and it is also likely that Luka Modric won’t play, at least not for 90 minutes, against Spain. He says that he wants to be involved, as does Mario Mandzukic, who has also taken a knock.
I don’t think we have played any worse than Spain so far and it should be an interesting contest. Our matches have usually been quite tight in the past although given the situation they do have an edge. There is, however, a possibility that Andres Iniesta won’t play full game which would be great news as he’s been magical so far. I’ll therefore optimistically go for a draw that gives both teams what they want – a top spot to Spain and a sure pass to the next round for Croatia. I just hope that we won’t see more of those stupid hooligans in Bordeaux.
PREDICTION: Spain 1-1 Croatia
LIKELY CROATIA XI: Subasic, Srna, Corluka, Vida, Strinic, Badelj, Brozovic, Pjaca, Rakitic, Perisic, Kramaric
CROATIA PLAYER TO WATCH: Ivan Perisic – He seems to have gone under the radar a little in a midfield containing Modric and Rakitic, but has really played great so far in France. He always performs consistently well for Croatia, and even helped himself to a goal against Czech Republic.
SPAIN PLAYER TO FEAR: David Silva – In all honesty, it could be any of Spain’s attacking players such is their immense quality. Silva glides across the turf and his silky skills could certainly unlock Croatia’s defence.
WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME: Lock Stock and Barrel at the Grand Millennium Hotel, TECOM.
