Croatia 3 Spain 5 (AET) LIVE REACTION: Morata silences critics with crucial extra-time goal in epic Euro 2020 clash
SPAIN are through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 after an epic contest against Croatia.
Trailing 3-1 with just five minutes remaining, Croatia scored twice through Mislav Orsic and Mario Palasic to send the game into extra time.
But Spain took the spoils after dramatic goals from Alvaro Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal.
- Final score: Croatia 3-5 Spain (after ET)
- Croatia goalscorers: Pedri OG 20', Orsic 85', Palasic 90+2'
- Spain goalscorers: Sarabia 38', Azpilicueta 57, Torres 77', Morata 100', Oyarzabal 105'.
Follow ALL the reaction with our live blog below...
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GOODBYE FROM COPENHAGEN
And goodbye to Croatia. Goodbye and thank you.
Zlatko Dalic's team more than played their part in one of the great games in European Championship history, first by taking the lead through a bizarre own-goal, and then in coming back from the dead at 3-1 down with five minutes remaining to force extra-time.
Ultimately, it wasn't enough, and two further Spanish strikes ensured that it's Luis Enrique's team on the march to the quarter-finals.
La Roja will face either France or Switzerland in the last eight, and you can follow their contest that is currently taking place in Bucharest live on SunSport.
ALVARO REDEMPTION
Alvaro Morata answered his critics by scoring a sensational - and crucial - fourth for Spain in extra-time, and, with that goal, joined Fernando Torres at the top of his country's goalscoring charts when it comes to European Championship football.
LA ROJA DELIVER KNOCKOUT BLOW
Five goals for the second game in succession, and a place in the quarter-finals await Spain after their heroic performance this evening.
And when it comes to their destiny when winning a game in the knockout stages of the Euros, the signs are good.
HAVE YOUR SAY
FULL TIME STATS
Eight goals, 25 attempts on goal, and more than 1300 passes.
Beat that, Europe.
AET: CROATIA 3-5 SPAIN
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
EXTRA-TIME ENDS IN COPENHAGEN!CROATIA 3-5 SPAIN
120+1. As extra-time enters a final minute of stoppage time, the crowd inside the Parken Stadium rises and cheers to acknowledge the efforts of both teams.
CROATIA 3-5 SPAIN
120. Spain try to walk in a sixth!
Oyarzabal should shoot, but passes.
Olmo should score, but hits the post.
Oyarzabal should follow up to net himself, but his shot is blocked by a defender.
CROATIA 3-5 SPAIN
119. One last burst comes from the Croatia forwards, only for Unai Simon to speed off his line and smother the danger.
It's fitting that the goalkeeper, whose nightmare blunder begun the scoring should end the game by being a safe pair of hands.
CROATIA 3-5 SPAIN
115. Morata on the charge again after getting beyond Caleta-Car.
The striker weighs up his options, and rather than heading towards the corner flag, turns in and goes for goal.
A shot towards the near post followed, but it's touched into the side-netting by Livakovic.
CROATIA 3-5 SPAIN
113. Croatia make their for extra-time and is it's the end for Luka Modric at European Championships. Will it be the end of his international career?
The legendary midfielder passes on the captain's armband as he departs, and he is placed by Luka Ivanusec.
CROATIA 3-5 SPAIN
111. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this match, considering some of he games we've sat through, is that after almost two hours of football, I'm not even close to being sick of the commentator and co-commentator.
Joe Speight and Emma Hayes have been brilliantly company.
CROATIA 3-5 SPAIN
109. What drama we've had, but is that now the end of it?
The Croatians haven't given up, but many in their ranks now look out of puff. Can adrenalin alone usher them back into the contest?
CROATIA 3-5 SPAIN
106. We're back at it...
...and so are these two ridiculous sides.
Croatia nearly pull one back within seconds of the restart.
Pasalic slips in Budimir, who looks to have rolled his shot past Simon and into the far corner. However, agonisingly for the Croatians, the shot drops just the wrong side of the post.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
WE'RE STRAIGHT OFF WITH THE SECOND PERIOD!PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FIRST PERIOD OF EXTRA-TIME COMES TO AN END!CROATIA 3-5 SPAIN
105. Morata has a chance to run in for number six, but he's smothered out by Caleta-Car.
CROATIA 3-5 SPAIN
103. For the second match in a row at these European Championships, Spain have scored five!
It comes from another pinpoint right-wing cross from Dani Olmo, this time finding fellow substitute, Mikel Oyarzabal, on the run at the far post..
The Real Sociedad man keepps his head over the ball as the delivery arrives, and then slams his shot inside the post past Dominik Livakovic to break Croatia hearts.
Surely, that's the tie won for Spain.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLL!!
MIKEL OYARZABAL MAKES IT FIVE!!CROATIA 3-4 SPAIN
102. Kramaric tries his luck with a long ranger, straight into the arms of Simon.
CROATIA 3-4 SPAIN
101. Spain's captain Sergio Busquets has run out of steam. On comes Rodri.
CROATIA 3-4 SPAIN
100. If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again.
Alvaro Morata kept going, and he's been rewarded with a sensational goal that could - COULD - take Spain into the quarter-finals.
Dani Olmo delivered a cross from the right-wing, pinpoint and over the head of Josip Brekalo, and there was Morata. The take down with his first touch was exquisite, the arrowed volley into the roof of the net that followed was perfect.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!
ALVARO MORATA HAS DONE IT!!CROATIA 3-3 SPAIN
97. At the other end, Olmo lines up a shot at goal which is blocked by the slide of Vida.
A lot of games wilt when heading into extra-time. Not this one.