Punisher Perisic has Spain reeling

IVAN PERISIC dealt holders Spain an almighty shock with a winner a minute from time as Croatia turned thr Euro formbook upside down.

Perisic, above, cashed in on his side’s breakaway to beat David De Gea at his near post and ensure Croatia finished top of Group D.

It condemned Spain to second place and means that they will face Italy in the last 16 – a rerun of the 2012 final.

Vicente Del Bosque’s men were not clincal enough and Sergio Ramos missed a penalty on a bad night for the Spanish.

They had made the best of starts when Alvaro Morata showed why Real Madrid have beaten Arsenal and

CROATIA

Chelsea to his signing by triggering his release clause to buy him back from Juventus, as he scored his third goal of the tournament.

Morata is now level with Gareth Bale as leading scorer at the Euros.

Madrid had first option after inserting a £30 million buy-back clause when they sold him to Juve for £20m two years ago.

He struck after seven minutes, touching home from close range after Cesc Fabregas ran on to David Silva’s pass to send the ball towards goal. But Spain were rocked on the stroke of half-time when Nikola Kalinic equalised.

The Fiorentina striker showed brilliance and cheek in equal measure as he flicked Perisic’s near-post cross past De Gea.

Ivan Rakitic had already hit bar and post with a chip when De Gea gave the ball away in his own area.

Ramos escaped punishment after tripping Marko Pjaca midway through the second half, and then referee Bjorn Kuipers gave Spain a penalty when Silva went down far too easily.

But justice was done when Danijel Subasic saved Ramos’s penalty, even though he was way off his line.

Then Perisic punished Spain with his late winner.