(Berlin) Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to participate in the Euro and the new Spanish generation defeated Croatia 3-0 in Berlin on Saturday.
Yamal, aged 16 years and 338 days for the match, also set the table for a goal from Dani Carvajal, Spain’s third in the first half.
PHOTO FABRIZIO BENSCH, REUTERS
Dani Carvajal celebrates his goal with Alvaro Morata.
Nico Williams, 21, played on the other flank for Spain, who are aiming for a fourth European crown.
Midfielder Fabian Ruiz scored a goal and set up captain Alvaro Morata’s opening goal.
“We must remain alert, calm and proud,” said Spain coach Luis De La Fuente. We have to do even better in the next match. »
Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon saved a penalty from Bruno Petkovic in the 80the minute.
“We weren’t aggressive enough,” Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic said. We kept our distance too much. When you give this type of player so much space, you don’t create chances. »
Petkovic thought for a moment he had scored when Ivan Perisic passed him after collecting the rebound. However, replays confirmed that Perisic had entered the penalty area prematurely and the goal was disallowed.
Switzerland 3 – Hungary 1
Switzerland resisted Hungary’s comeback attempt and won 3-1 in Cologne.
Goals from Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer – two surprising choices in the starting lineup – allowed Switzerland to take control in the first half.
However, a profitable header from Barnabas Varga brought Hungary back into contention.
Breel Embolo confirmed the Swiss victory by scoring on the counterattack with a lob during stoppage time at the end of the game.
In just his second game for Switzerland, Duah scored with a low shot that beat Peter Gulacsi following a pass from Aebischer.
PHOTO DARKO VOJINOVIC, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michel Aebischer scored one of Switzerland’s three goals.
Aebischer widened the gap just before half-time. He broke free from Attila Fiola on the edge of the penalty area and curled a low shot beyond Gulacsi’s reach.
Varga allowed the Hungarians to celebrate a little in the 66e minute, scoring with a header from a cross from Dominik Szoboszlai.
Hungary continued to apply pressure, without success.
Switzerland is second in Group A behind Germany, who defeated Scotland 5-1 on Friday.
Hungary suffered a first setback in a competitive match since September 2022.
Italy 2 – Albania 1
In Dortmund, Italy overcame allowing the quickest goal in tournament history, 23 seconds, beginning its title defense with a 2-1 win over Albania.
PHOTO PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW, REUTERS
After a quick goal scored by Albania, the Italian selection dominated the match.
With this hasty goal, Nedim Bajrami delighted a crowd where there were many compatriots. He intercepted a throw-in from Federico Dimarco, heading towards Alessandro Bastoni, then hit the mark with a shot at the near post.
It took barely a quarter of an hour for Italy to take the lead, however.
Bastoni scored with a header from a cross from Lorenzo Pellegrini, in the 11the minute, then Nicolo Barella gave priority to his team with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
The Azzurri were under pressure. The other teams in Group B are the Spaniards, three-time Euro champions, and Croatia, semi-finalist at the 2022 World Cup.
The previous mark for the fastest goal at the Euro was 67 seconds by Russian Dmitri Kirichenko in 2004.
Luciano Spalletti took charge of the Italian side last August, three months after he left Napoli following a Serie A triumph.
Under his leadership, Italy lost only once in 12 matches.
Its mission is to restore the image of a country excluded from the last two presentations of the World Cup.
With James Ellingworth in Cologne