Spain 5-3 Croatia: Thriller leaves La Roja in the Euro 2020 quarters

Spain 5-3 Croatia: Thriller leaves La Roja in the Euro 2020 quarters

Luis Enrique's side lived on the edge in an end to end clash in Copenhagen

Spain reached Euro 2020’s quarter-finals by the skin of their teeth in a thriller against Croatia.

Luis Enrique’s side looked to be sailing through when Croatia hit two late goals to force the game into extra time.

Croatia took the lead against the run of play when Pedri’s pass-back, from near the half-way line, was missed by goalkeeper Unai Simon, in a bizarre and shocking moment, trickling into the net.

Spain equalised when Pablo Sarabia hammered home after good work by Pedri and a scramble in the box. The Barcelona midfielder had a fantastic game, amid the chaos.

Cesar Azpilicueta headed in Ferran Torres’s cross to put Spain ahead and the Man City winger netted the third in the 76th minute to seemingly settle the game.

However Orsic struck and Pasalic scored a header in stoppage time to send the game into extra-time.

The much-criticised Alvaro Morata, who had already missed many chances, eventually stuck with a vicious effort into the roof of the net to turn the game back in Spain’s favour.

Mikel Oyarzabal rounded off the rout and Unai Simon made some good saves in stoppage time to redeem himself.

Topics with the letter