Euro 2024: Reasons Why Croatia’s Goal After Penalty vs Spain Was Disallowed by Michael Oliver

• Spain thrashed a hapless Croatia 3-0 in their opening game of Euro 2024 to send out an early statement of intent
• The three-time champions scored all the goals in the first half through Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal
• Croatia had a late goal disallowed under contentious circumstances after Bruno Petkovic failed to beat Unai Simon from the spot

The Luka Modric led Croatia's Euro 2024 campaign begun in dispiriting fashion after Spain blew them away with a slick first-half performance on June 15.

La Furia Roja scored all their three goals in the first 45 minutes to begin their pursuit for a fourth title in emphatic fashion.

Alvaro Morata got the show going in the 29th minute to become the third-highest scorer in the history of the Euros. Fabian Ruiz then dazzled with some impressive footwork to score the second before Dani Carvajal completed the rout with a neat finish off a beautiful Lamine Yamal cross at the stroke of half-time.

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So off-colour were Croatia that their ageless skipper Luka Modric was hooked off in the 65th minute. The 2018 World Cup finalists thought they had gotten a route back into the game when a defensive lapse at the back saw Rodri concede a penalty.

Reasons behind Croatia's disallowed goal

Bruno Petkovic's resultant spot-kick was saved by Unai Simon but found the back of the net seconds later after Ivan Perisic squared the rebound for him to score from close range.

However, the goal was chalked off after a VAR review showed that there was encroachment on the area before Petkovic took the penalty. Fans were amused when referee Michael Oliver disallowed the goal outrightly and failed to order a retake.

According to IFAB laws, encroachment is an offence which should be penalised. Section 14 of the law states that;

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"A team-mate of the player taking the penalty kick is penalised for encroachment only if: a) the encroachment clearly impacted on the goalkeeper; or b) the encroaching player plays the ball or challenges an opponent for the ball and then scores, attempts to score or creates a goal-scoring opportunity."

In this case, Perisic was the player who stepped into the area before the penalty was taken before playing the pass back to Petkovic, an offence that was penalised by disallowing the goal.

Croatia will now seek to bounce back and save their campaign when they play Albania on Wednesday. Spain will face defending champions Italy a day later.

Lamine Yamal makes Euro history

Sports Brief has also reported that Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal was named in Spain's starting lineup for their Group B opening match against Croatia at the 2024 European Championships.

At 16 years and 338 days old, Yamal is now the youngest player to feature at a European Championship, surpassing the record held by Polish international Kacper Kozlowski, who played at Euro 2020 at 17 years and 246 days old.