Each day our exclusive MATCH OF THE DAQ service previews the big match of the day – usually a televised game.

As well as the preview we also bring you the head to head records of the two teams as well as a recommended bet on BETDAQ for the match.

Croatia v Spain
European Championships
K.O 19.45, BBC 1

HEAD-TO-HEAD
(Max last 10 only)
07 Jun 2006 Friendly Spain 2 Croatia 1
23 Feb 2000 Friendly Croatia 0 Spain 0
05 May 1999 Friendly Spain 3 Croatia 1
23 Mar 1994 Friendly Spain 0 Croatia 2

PREVIEW
Croatia have began Euro 2012 looking much like the quality side that surprised the footballing world by finishing third in the 1998 World Cup.

Slaven Bilic’s men started with a comfortable 3-1 win over the struggling Irish in Poznan and backed that up with a credible draw against Italy on Thursday.

In Mario Mandzukic they have the joint-top scorer of the Euros so far and he will be expected to pose the biggest difficulties for the Spanish backline. In tandem with Everton forward Nicola Jelavic and the creative talents of Spurs’ Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar, Croatia have a team capable of holding their own.

The Spanish ‘tiki taka’ brand of football ran Ireland ragged last week in a 4-0 rout and even Fernando Torres, the much-maligned Chelsea striker, boosted his confidence with a tidy brace. He is expected to start again with manager Vicente del Bosque likely to name the same side that beat Ireland, meaning that three goal tournament hero Cesc Fabregas will again start on the bench.

Group C as it stands is very complicated. Spain are assured a place in the quarter-finals as long as they avoid defeat, or if Italy fail to beat Ireland. Croatia will definitely go through if they can pull of an unlikely win or more realistically if they can score two or more goals in a draw; a result bookies have slashed odds on. Italy know winning by a two goal margin over an Irish side that have conceded seven goals in two games will still mean they are relying on the Spaniards for a result.

In reality it’s difficult to ever see a side like Spain playing for a draw and mindful of the fate Russia suffered on Saturday they can outshine their rivals. With Croatia knowing they need goals it should leave plenty of space for Xavi and Andres Iniesta to exploit and backing Spain on the Asian Handicap seems the best value option.

RECOMMENDATION: (1-10 points)
Back Spain on the Asian Handicap (-1/1.5) at around 2.14 on BETDAQ: 6 points

Sunday: +9.20 points
JUNE RETURN TO DATE: +50.86 points

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