The long-awaited Euro 2024 begins on Friday night when the hosts face Scotland before the tournament kickstarts on Saturday with three fixtures. One of these games see Luis de la Fuente's Spain take on Croatia in Group B.
Spain will be looking to better their previous European Championship run in France when they couldn't prevail in the semi-final. Their national side rank eighth in the world according to FIFA, only five fellow competitors this summer placing above them.
Lifting the trophy in 1964, 2008 and 2012, the Spaniards will be dreaming of making it four and so will be hopeful of triumphing in their opening game.
Zlatko Dalić's Croatia will want the three points on Saturday afternoon as they also have four-time World Cup winners and two-time champions of the upcoming tournament Italy to play. They are yet to make it past the quarter-final in the Euro's.
Ahead of this head-to-head, we look at five of the players we will see on Saturday who may be the ones to make the difference and take their team to victory in Group B's opener.
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Álvaro Morata
Atletico Madrid's very own Álvaro Morata looks like a man-to-watch in Germany this summer after a promising season in LaLiga. Scoring 15 and assisting three, it is fair to say that the Spaniard has been a real threat in front of goal.
Luis de la Fuente has looked to change the attacking format in the Spanish team, moving to a 4-2-3-1 system meaning Morata will lead the side from the front with the captain's armband. This newly-found structure has showed to work leading up to the Euro's as the side can now be a lot more aggressive when on the attack.
This has seemed to suit his style of play as he is supported more in forward positions. His four goals in the qualification for this summer's international competition shows his threat.
A majority of Morata's goals have come from inside the area this season, so it is predicted that if Spain can utilise his "fox in the box" attributes then he may be the one to be putting the ball in the back of the net.
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Josip Stanišić
After a very successful season under Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen which saw the German side go unbeaten in the Bundesliga and end Bayern Munich's domination, Josip Stanišić played a part of their invincible run and will be hoping to do the same for Croatia.
The Leverkusen full-back has predominantly began on the right flank but is anticipated to play left back this summer.
His consistent strong performances in the Euro Qualification period showed his class in the role and the red-and-white side will desire he can continue this form going into their clash with Spain.
Ferran Torres is likely to be the man to be challenging Stanišić on Saturday so his quick pace will be tested down the left-hand-side. Croatia are also known to attack using width to their advantage, so the 24-year old may need to utilise this speed to put his side in the attacking positions they will need to be in to break down Spain.
After lifting the Champions League earlier this month, now being a five-time winner of the prestigious competition, Carvajal is looking to be an integral part of the Spanish back line.
With a team looking to build out from the back more often, the 32-year old will be one to watch from the right flank when on the attack. Nine of Real Madrid's goals this season has come from a direct contribution by Carvajal, showing he has the ability to be a pain in forward positions for those against him.
Not only can he attack, but he is brilliant defensively too and will more than likely show this off. Implenting a more structured approach in de la Fuente's side has allowed them to press higher and force more mistakes. It is predicted that Croatia will have Ivan Perisic face the Spanish full-back on Saturday.
Dani Carvajal is a true winner and so will be hungry for his first European Championship. This is likely to be one of the Spaniard's last major international tournaments which will make him even more desperate to wrap his hands around this summer's trophy on offer for his home country.
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Andrej Kramarić
Primarily playing in centre midfield for TSG Hoffenheim, it is predicted Dalić will start Kramarić as a lone striker in the Euro's. This has come from his fantastic goal rate in the Bundesliga and strong performances for the national side in the build-up.
Croatia's experienced midfield and speedy options on the wing has allowed them to exploit back lines with the use of a target man to get in behind the opposition. This allows Kramarić, who will act in this crucial role, to link the play between himself and those behind him.
Andrej Kramarić took the headlines not long ago when his club was part of a huge win against Bayern Munich after going 2-0 down within six minutes. An important assist to get one back and then a hat trick of goals from himself saw Hoffenheim win the game in style.
It is promised that the Croatian forward will be an huge attacking threat in the group of death which is why he is one to watch this weekend.
We all knew Rodri had to get a mention in this list - arguably being the best defensive midfielder in the world right now.
Acting as an anchor for the Premier League champions for many years in a Manchester City shirt, the Spaniard will be doing just the same against Croatia this weekend. Luis de la Fuente's tactics have proved to work in the games leading up with a more aggressive nature on the attack, Rodri playing the deep role in the middle of the park and controlling the game from there.
Spain have looked to utilise their wide assets and will do this from those in the middle exploiting the space and finding those in behind.
Although collecting 12 pieces of silverware in his professional career so far, Rodri has only lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy with his national team. The midfield maestro will aspire to do the same this summer with the European Championship title.
