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Agence France-Presse

Ivan Perisic struck a sensational winner three minutes from time as Croatia ended Spain’s 14-game unbeaten run at the European Championship to top Group D after a 2-1 victory in Bordeaux on Tuesday.
Spain will now face Italy in the last 16 in Paris on Monday in a repeat of the 2012 final.
Alvaro Morata’s early strike got Spain off to a flying start, but, despite the absence of key man Luka Modric through injury, Croatia battled back to equalise before half-time through Nikola Kalinic.
Spain captain Sergio Ramos saw a penalty saved by Danijel Subasic 18 minutes from time.
And that miss proved vital when Perisic snuck the ball home at David de Gea’s near post.
Croatia meet one of the best third-placed sides in Lens on Saturday.

“Now we have to dance with the favourites, but to be champions you have to beat everyone,” said Ramos.
“We will concentrate on ourselves and think about the last 16.
“We need to turn the page, learn a lot of lessons from this, so that it doesn’t happen to us again in the last 16.”
The manner of back-to-back victories over the Czech Republic and Turkey had seen Spain installed as bookies’ favourites to win an unprecedented third successive European Championship.
Morata’s return to European champions Real Madrid from Juventus had been confirmed earlier on Tuesday.
And he moved level with club teammate Gareth Bale on three goals in the fight for the golden boot by finishing off a slick Spanish move after seven minutes.
David Silva’s cute reverse pass picked out Cesc Fabregas’s run and the Chelsea midfielder’s cross was tapped into an empty net by Morata.

Spain looked rarely troubled at the back in their opening two games, but were given plenty of problems by Croatia despite the absence of star midfielder Modric.
Kalinic stung the palms of David de Gea before forcing an error from the Manchester United ‘keeper as he dallied.
The loose ball fell to Ivan Rakitic and his brilliant chipped effort floated over Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique on the line before coming back off both the crossbar and post.
Morata had a great chance to double Spain’s lead when he failed to control Fabregas’s fine through ball with just Subasic to beat.

However, Vicente Del Bosque’s men were pegged back right on half-time when Perisic’s cross from the left was delightfully flicked home by Kalinic.
It was the first time Spain had conceded in 11 competitive games stretching back to October 2014 and first time they had conceded in the Euros for a record 733 minutes.
The goal seemed to knock Spain out of their stride as Croatia pushed them onto the back foot at the start of the second period.

De Gea saved from Tin Jedvaj to atone for his own error in flapping at a cross before Marko Pjaca sent an acrobatic effort just wide from the rebound.
Pjaca also had claims for a penalty waved away as Croatia threatened the goal that would have taken them top of the group.
Del Bosque responded by withdrawing front two Nolito and Morata for the more physical presence of Bruno Soriano and Aritz Aduriz.

Spain were then handed a great chance to retake the lead when referee Bjorn Kuipers adjudged Silva had been pushed by Sime Vrsaljko inside the area.
Modric appeared to send on a message to Subasic when he saw his Real Madrid teammate Ramos step up to take the spot-kick.
And Subasic got lucky as his penalty save was allowed to stand despite the fact he had encroached well before Ramos took aim.
Croatia took full advantage to blow the tournament wide open as Perisic lashed home to round off a clinical counter-attack leaving Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England all on the bottom-half of the last-16 draw.


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2016 Uefa European Championship (Euro 2016)

Late stunner from Croatia’s Ivan Perisic leaves champions Spain face Italy in Euro 2016 knockout stage - a repeat of 2012 final

Ivan Perisic of Croatia celebrates after scoring the winner EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

epa05382502 Croatia's goalkeeper Danijel Subasic saves a penalty shot by Spain's Sergio Ramos during the UEFA EURO 2016 group D preliminary round match between Croatia and Spain at Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France, 21 June 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/ARMANDO BABANI EDITORIAL USE ONLY

TOPSHOT - Croatia's defender Tin Jedvaj (L) challenges Spain's goalkeeper David De Gea during the Euro 2016 group D football match between Croatia and Spain at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux on June 21, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU

TOPSHOT - Spain's forward Alvaro Morata (Top) stumbles with Croatia's defender Darijo Srna after scoring Spain's first goal during the Euro 2016 group D football match between Croatia and Spain at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux on June 21, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / MEHDI FEDOUACH

TOPSHOT - Croatia's forward Marko Pjaca attempts an overhead kick during the Euro 2016 group D football match between Croatia and Spain at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux on June 21, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU

Croatia's midfielder Ivan Perisic (L) celebrates his goal with Croatia's defender Darijo Srna during the Euro 2016 group D football match between Croatia and Spain at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux on June 21, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / LOIC VENANCE

Sport

Football

Holders finish second in group after losing 2-1


Late stunner from Croatia’s Ivan Perisic leaves champions Spain face Italy in Euro 2016 knockout stage - a repeat of 2012 final

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Holders finish second in group after losing 2-1

Holders finish second in group after losing 2-1