Bordeaux: Croatia came from behind to beat two-time defending champion Spain 2-1 Tuesday and finish top of Group D at the European Championship.
Ivan Perisic's 87th minute goal ended Spain's unbeaten run at a European Championship that stretched all the way back to 2004.
Defeat means that Spain will now meet Italy in the round of 16, in a potentially mouth-watering match at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Monday - a repeat of the 2012 final that Spain won 4-0. Croatia will play one of the third-place teams in the northern French city of Lens on Saturday.
It had all started so well for Spain, when striker Alvaro Morata put his side ahead in the seventh minute, redirecting the ball into the net after a shot by midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Spain playmaker David Silva had split open the Croatia defence with a through-ball to create the chance.
Nikola Kalinic equalized just before halftime with a nice back-heel flick that beat Spain goalkeeper David De Gea at the near post after Perisic delivered the cross from the left.
Spain had a chance to retake the lead, but defender Sergio Ramos saw his penalty saved by Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic in the 72nd minute.
It proved to be a costly miss when Perisic finished off a fast counter attack with a low left-foot shot that beat goalkeeper David De Gea at his near post.
Both teams had entered the match at the Stade the Bordeaux guaranteed a spot in the knockout stage. However, both teams wanted to win especially as the runner-up in the group meets Italy.
Spain was at full strength despite having already qualified, playing with the same 11 that won its first two group games.
"We had the game more or less controlled," Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said through a translator "We had our own errors and then they punished us. We have to get over this ... now we have to prepare well."
The result ended Spain's 14-game unbeaten streak at the European Championship over two tournaments. It also ended the team's run of seven straight games without conceding a goal. The last time it had conceded was in a 1-1 draw against Italy in its first group match in the 2012 tournament, 734 minutes ago.
Croatia's surprise victory came despite playing without star midfielder Luka Modric and forward Mario Mandzukic, both out with muscle injuries.
"The team spirit helped us and we were fighting until the last minute," Perisic said through a translator. "I think we can go far now. If we play like this we can go to the very end."
Croatia hadn't beaten Spain since a 2-0 result in friendly in Valencia in 1994. The teams had also met in the final group game at Euro 2012, when La Roja ran out 1-0 winners.
