That is exactly what you get with 36 matches just to eliminate eight sides.

This should be a good game. Had Croatia been fully fit, I would have fancied them. Spain 1-0.

That didn't take long. Great play by Spain.

Excellent, excellent team goal.

Shinned it in but quality goal.

Oh God, Spain are going to win everything again aren't they?

good goal... and potentially good news for the czechs.

Turkey have gone 1-0 up on the Czechs - which is good news for Croatia and Northern Ireland.

I should have been clearer. I meant escaping from all the violence I see on the news and in the world - not from or in my daily life, that's hard line pottering around

Oh my word, that was so unlucky.

Haha!

Sloppy Spain... Come on Croatia!

I have switched to that game now

can't believe that didn't go in! ...class from rakitic.

Clive Tyldesley is such a fanny. Trying to tell us that Croatia aren't through to the knockout stages yet.

They ARE through whatever happens tonight. How about doing your research properly on the particular match which you are being paid loads of money to commentate on, instead of pulling your pisser over England and Wayne Rooney all day.

Well, Spain or Germany, yes. You know, the two teams that have been streets ahead of the rest of the world for the past decade.

Why is that a bad thing? The best teams deserve to win.

Silva is looking match fit and sharp - unlike how he seemed for most of last season with City. If he is back on song, then Spain really will be formidable.

I wish these teams would play in their normal team strips where possible ..
Watching Spain in all white and Croatia in all blue is annoying .

I keep getting flashbacks of the 1970 FA Cup final between Leeds United and Chelsea ( when they were good - lol )

I do know, but thanks for the recap.

The same teams winning everything does little for me, whether they're the best or not.

The Croatian defence is so susceptible to that reverse ball played behind them by Silva.

As a Leeds boy I have spent the last 46 years having flashbacks about that match, and the effing replay.

It's kinda crazy that Arsenal's Cazorla plus United's Mata and Herrera plus others can't even get into the squad !

Same here ... seem to recall a muddy pitch and a blood and guts atmosphere .

Spain looking good so far but a few uncomfortable moments at the back. I think an efficient counter-attacking team could get at them, but I'm not sure if there is one in this tournament.

I watched the final in the student union at my university - great banter between the Leeds fans (mainly me, I wasn't shy ) and a couple of Chelsea fans. End of first half Chelsea lads agreed with me it was first division against third or fourth - second half more even and still Leeds couldn't win the damned thing, bloody Osgood wasn't it.

Naughty from Morata there.

I know what you mean, but I just had a quick look and Spain haven't conceded more than one goal in a match over the past year or so.

Slovakia hit 2 against them in Oct 2014 - since then no one has scored more than once.