Yamal set to be youngest Euros player as Spain take on Croatia

BERLIN : Teenage winger Lamine Yamal will become the youngest player in the history of the European soccer championship when he takes the field for Spain against Croatia in Group B at Euro 2024 on Saturday.

Yamal, who at kick-off will be 16 years and 338 days old, comfortably beats the previous record set by Poland's Kacper Kozlowski, who was 17 years and 246 days old when he made his debut at Euro 2020.

Yamal will be joined in Spain's attack by Nico Williams and centre forward and captain Alvaro Morata, with Pedri, Rodri and Fabian Ruiz behind them in midfield.

Luka Modric will captain the Croatians but there was no place in the starting 11 for his fellow long-time campaigner Ivan Perisic, with Ante Budimir starting in their attacking trio alongside Andrej Kramaric and Lovro Majer.