Croatia 2
Kalinic 45; Perisic 87
Spain 1
Morata 7
Croatia: Danijel Subasic, Tin Jedvaj, Sime Vrsaljko, Darijo Srna, Vedran Corluka, Marko Rog (82 Mateo Kovacic), Ivan Perisic (90 Andrej Kramaric), Ivan Rakitic, Milan Badelj, Marko Pjaca (90 Duje Cop), Nikola Kalinic.
Spain: David De Gea, Sergio Ramos, Juanfran, Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas (84 Thiago Alcantara), Nolito (60 Bruno Soriano), David Silva, Alvaro Morata (67 Aritz Aduriz).
Referee: Bjoern Kuipers (Netherlands).
Missed penalty: Sergio Ramos (S) 72.
Attendance 37,245.
Holders Spain lost for the first time in 15 matches at the European Championship finals last night when Croatia beat them 2-1 to win Group D at Euro 2016.
Ivan Perisic scored the winner with three minutes left after Croatia keeper Danijel Subasic had saved a penalty from Spain captain Sergio Ramos with 18 minutes remaining.
Croatia’s Nikola Kalinic had cancelled out an early goal from Spain striker Alvaro Morata in the first half.
Spain meet Group E winners Italy in a heavyweight last-16 tie on Monday in Paris – a rematch of the 2012 final – while Croatia will play one of the third-placed teams in Lens on Saturday.
Kalinic’s goal just before the break was the first goal conceded by Spain in 948 minutes of European Championship matches since October 2014.
Croatia’s excellence and commitment in battling back from behind condemned Spain, going for a third straight title, to their first defeat in a European Championship finals since they were beaten 1-0 by Portugal in the 2004 group stages.
The deserved winners overcame the disappointment of their second group match against the Czech Republic by starting confidently, with an intense press.
However, it was the Spanish who struck decisively in the seventh minute with a goal that encapsulated the technical prowess, the movement and the vision that sets them apart from the rest of this summer’s contenders.
David Silva drove inside before sending a delicious reverse pass out to Cesc Fabregas, whose diagonal run across the box went unnoticed by everyone else.
His cross was met by Morata who touched home.
Spain could have doubled their lead when Nolito directed Silva’s searching cross just wide, but Croatia held tight and steadily began to rediscover their early menace.
Ivan Rakitic sent an ambitious chip onto the bar with the goalkeeper stranded. With Spain eyeing a second, it was Croatia who struck, as Perisic’s cross found Kalinic, stealing in ahead of Ramos, who flicked the ball past De Gea.
It was hugely entertaining fare. Croatia began the second half confidently and De Gea was called into action to tip away Darijo Srna’s cross before closing down Tin Jedvaj’s follow up.
They were then left fuming at an unjust penalty in the 72nd minute when Silva fell under imperceptible pressure from Sime Vrsaljko.
Captain Ramos sent a hesitant spot kick down the centre of the goal and Subasic, advancing well off his line before the shot, was able to bat it away as justice was served.
Late goals have been a theme of this tournament, and while Spain struck late to down the Czech Republic in their opener, here they were on the receiving end.
Marko Pjaca surged on the break before laying the ball off to Perisic, whose low shot evaded De Gea as Croatia celebrated a famous win.