Daily Times

Coach Zlatko Dalic said he “apologised” to the tens of thousands of Croatia fans who travelled for his side’s disappointing opening 3-0 loss to Spain at Euro 2024 in Berlin on Saturday.

Croatia were stunned by a vibrant first-half display from Spain as goals in the opening 45 minutes from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal left Dalic’s men precariously placed in Group B.

They are attempting to reach the knockout phase at a fifth consecutive major tournament, after finishing third at the Qatar World Cup two years ago. “It was a great atmosphere. I don’t know how many Croatia supporters were here today,” he said of the crowd at the Olympiastadion, which was vastly made up of Croatia fans. “I apologise for this bad show today… It was amazing how many of them travelled here and my message is that I apologise to them… “We weren’t aggressive enough, we were too far away from their players. We gave them too much space and when you give such players so much space, it is difficult. Especially in the first half.” Croatia next face Albania in Hamburg on Wednesday, before a potentially crucial closing group match against reigning European champions Italy in Leipzig on June 24.