Spain made a dream start to Euro 2024 as Alvaro Morata scored in a statement 3-0 victory over Croatia in Berlin Saturday, with Lamine Yamal becoming the youngest player in the competition's history.
The three-time European champions have often been accused of being toothless in attack during recent major tournaments, but produced an eye-catching display at Olympiastadion to cut apart a disappointing Croatia.
Morata broke the deadlock in the 29th minute with his seventh Euros goal, moving joint-third on the all-time list alongside Alan Shearer and Antoine Griezmann.
Fabian Ruiz added a second shortly afterwards with a wonderful individual strike.
Yamal made his mark with the assist for Dani Carvajal to effectively kill the game as a contest on the stroke of half-time, while Croatia striker Bruno Petkovic missed a late penalty.
This repeat of last year's Nations League final, won by Spain on penalties after a 0-0 draw, suggests La Roja are capable of contending for a record-breaking fourth European Championship title.
World Cup semi-finalists Croatia, though, have it all to do if they are to reach the knockout phase for a fifth consecutive major tournament, with games against Albania and holders Italy to come in a difficult Group B.
Luka Modric, so often their inspiration, was substituted midway through the second half by coach Zlatko Dalic.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente named an exciting starting XI, including wingers Nico Williams and Yamal.
The Barcelona starlet, 16 years and 338 days old, beat the previous record for youngest player at a Euros held by Polish international Kacper Kozlowski, who played at Euro 2020 at 17 years and 246 days old.
Croatia's subdued start
Croatia enjoyed the vast majority of support from the stands, with their fans holding up one huge banner during their national anthem, reading "When we get going, heaven and earth will burn".
But Croatia started slowly, as Spain dominated possession in trademark fashion.
Spain also showed their increasing versatility under De la Fuente with their first goal, as one excellent through ball from inside his own half by Ruiz sent Morata clean through and the captain made no mistake with a cool finish past a stranded Dominik Livakovic.
Ruiz put Spain in total control just three minutes later, jinking past two Croatia defenders inside the box before shooting through the legs of Josip Sutalo and into the bottom corner.
Croatia almost pulled one back immediately as the game started to echo the end-to-end nature of the two teams' thrilling last-16 clash at Euro 2020, won 5-3 by Spain after extra time.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon got down quickly to keep out Marcelo Brozovic's shot and Lovro Majer could only find the side-netting from the rebound.
Croatia continued to create chances, as Josko Gvardiol's cross-cum-shot narrowly avoided both Ante Budimir in the center and the far post.
But full-back Carvajal, who scored the opening goal in Real Madrid's Champions League final triumph over Borussia Dortmund earlier this month, put the game to bed in first-half added time.
Yamal collected the ball after a corner was cleared and curled a delicious cross into the middle for Carvajal to stretch and stab home on the volley.
Croatia tried to press forward early in the second period but left spaces for Spain to exploit and Yamal was denied another record for youngest Euros scorer when Livakovic produced a fine save to turn away his low effort.
Marc Cucurella, a controversial selection by De la Fuente at left-back, made a goal-saving block to prevent Josip Stanisic giving Croatia hope.
Substitute Petkovic thought he had pulled one back late on when he tapped in after his penalty was saved by Simon.
But the goal was ruled out by Video Assistant Referee for encroachment by Ivan Perisic as Spain added a clean sheet to an almost perfect outing.
Switzerland make strong start
Switzerland made a flying start at Euro 2024 as Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer scored their first international goals in a 3-1 win against Hungary Saturday.
Murat Yakin's side raced into a two-goal lead by half-time in Cologne to kick off their Group A campaign in impressive fashion.
Duah opened the scoring in only his second international appearance after making his debut earlier this month.
The London-born 27-year old, who plays for Bulgarian club Ludogorets Razgrad, holds dual citizenship with Ghana and Switzerland, who will be relieved he opted to represent them on the evidence of this dynamic display.
After providing the assist for Duah's opener, Bologna midfielder Aebischer netted his maiden Switzerland goal with an eye-catching long-range strike just before the interval.
Barnabas Varga's seventh goal in nine starts for Hungary set up a tense finale, but Breel Embolo struck in stoppage-time to seal the points.
"I liken football to chess and we got our tactics right. We used this formation for a particular reason," Yakin said.
"We focused on making the most of our strengths and we made our opponents' lives very hard in the first half."
Following reports of a rift between Yakin and his players over tactics, Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka insisted Friday that the air had been cleared in time for the Euros.
A recent dinner with Yakin featuring "plenty of wine" healed the wounds and the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder showed his support for the manager with an influential performance.
Switzerland beat France on penalties in the last 16 at Euro 2020 before losing a shoot-out to Spain in the quarter-finals.
They will hope to emulate that memorable run after enjoying a perfect start in a group that also includes hosts Germany, who thrashed Scotland 5-1 in the tournament opener Friday.
Switzerland face Scotland in their second game Wednesday, while Hungary play Germany the same day.
Hungary boss Marco Rossi had urged his side to embrace the pressure of being ranked as one of Europe's emerging forces.
But their dismal first half proved fatal, showing that comparisons to Hungary's "Mighty Magyars", who finished as runners-up at the 1954 World Cup, were rather premature.
"Our players do not make mistakes like this every day. There aren't many strategies to stop individual mistakes. It isn't down to tactics," Rossi said.
"We play Germany in four days. I dare anybody to bet one Hungarian forint on us. As of today that looks impossible."
RESULTS
Spain 3 (Morata 29, Ruiz 32, Carvajal 45+2) Croatia 0
Hungary 1 (Varga 66) Switzerland 3 (Duah 12, Aebischer 45, Embolo 90+3)