Spain fell 72-70 to Croatia in its debut in Rio-2016

Spanish basketball team started on the wrong foot in the Olympic Games Rio 2016 Sunday falling 72-70 against Croatia in the match played at the Arena Carioca 1 Olympic Park.

Sergio Scariolo's men, current Olympic doubles runner-up, controlled the first part of the meeting, but after the break began the Croatian comeback against a very Fallona Spain, who lived an agonizing end.

The match was eventually decided in the last five minutes when Croatia drew level 67 before finishing seizing victory.

"In the second half we did not defend well. Now we have to think about the next game and look ahead," he said after the meeting the Nikola Mirotic power forward.

Spain already started something cold, leaving Croatia take the lead for a while, but two triple Pau Gasol and Mirotic launched the Spanish team, which would end the first quarter with partial 21-13 in their favor.

Gasol and Mirotic were the best men of his team with 26 and 19 points, respectively.

Given the defensive strength of Spain in the first half, Croatia tried from the outside, but continuous misfires allowed the escape of the Spaniards in the lead at halftime winning 38-32.

"We had many problems in attack for the first time," he acknowledged after the meeting Dario Saric.

- Spanish Disconnection -

After the break, the success of Darko Planinic from the free throw line and Roko Ukic triple Croats approached a 47-51 before entering the fourth quarter with two more points for the Spaniards.

"The last quarter was horrible, we had five turnovers and other mistakes and although we could put back in the game, could not avoid losing," said Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo.

In the fourth quarter, with an off Spain, two consecutive failures attack Mirotic allowed paths Croatian recoveries, which were placed 52-56, before a 6:47 for the final three-pointer put the Balkan Ukic to a point .

A new failure led the Croatian attack against and mate Luka Babic to put Croatia ahead one 6:13 remaining.

The last five minutes were epic with a three pointer by Sergio Rodriguez answered with Bojan Bogdanovic another, the best of his team with 23 points, before Gasol made a third consecutive to post a 63-62 in favor of Spain.

1:35 to go, Planinic tied at 67 points. Croatia sentenced after two free throws by Krunoslav Simon, in the absence of 17 seconds, which placed one 71-70 in favor of the Balkans, which would add a new point, also free kick.

The buzzer, Gasol had one last chance to tie, but received a great plug Saric.

Scariolo will now have to bounce back from defeat on Tuesday to face a complicated Brazil.

"Other times we lost the first game and we could fix it," said Spanish coach.

Player to watch Euro 2016: Croatia's Luka Modric hoping to Become an unlikely hero in France

As some of European football's Most skilful midfield schemers Have left the stage over recent years, Croatia's Luka Modric has gone some way towards filling the void. The diminutive Real Madrid man Boasts the same level of vision and timeless That technique allowed the likes of Xavi Hernandez and Paul Scholes to prosper at the top level.

In a sport That Appears to be reliant on increase increasing physicality and workrate, there is a charm to watching Certain the 30-year-old midfielder dictate the pace of the match courtesy of His exquisite passing range. And if Ante Cacic's side are to stand any hope of Achieving an upset win at Euro 2016 tournament, They Will Need The former Tottenham Hotspur star to be at His eye-catching best.

, Although Modric is now Widely Recognised as one of the modern game's Most creative and influential midfielders, His enviable skills Have Been Frequently overlooked and underrated for the bulk of His career.

Modric first fell in love with football in the early 1990s after His Family Were displaced From their home in Yugoslavia Because of war. I trained With the Croatian side NK Zadar and shin pads wore Reportedly made of wood Because Could not Afford His family the real thing.

Modric's lightweight frame led to serious Doubts About His Ability to Establish a career as a professional and I was even overlooked by Hajduk Because of His lack of physicality. Shortly afterwards, however, the opt Dinamo Zagreb to take a punt on the Cleary talented but fragile-looking 16-year-old.

Within two years, Modric was loaned out to Zrinjski Mostar in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where, at the age of just 18, have impressed experts With His versatility and was named the Herzegovinian and Bosnian League Player of the Year. The Real Madrid player would later claim That His experience in the Bosnian league made him more resilient and prepared him for stiffer tests later in His career.

Modric was subsequently loaned out to Croatian side Inter Zapresic, Where have impressed eleven more and Helped to Achieve second position in the Croatian First Football League, as well as a place in the preliminary round of the Uefa Cup. This meant That by the time I returned to Dinamo in 2005, there was a great deal of Already excitement surrounding His progress, with a number of Europe's top clubs Reportedly in for His signature.

As if to underline Modric's burgeoning talent, the youngster Agreed 10-year Deal with Dinamo at the start of the 2005-06 season, I have played a key When role in Their title-winning campaign, scoring seven goals in 31 matches. The club Followed That success with back-to-back league titles in 2008 and in 2007, by Which time it was apparent the time had eaten for Modric to leave the fishbowl of Croatian football.

Barcelona and Arsenal Were Among a host of big-name clubs keen to acquire WHO Were the silky midfielder, but to have joined the opt Instead the Gunners' north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur . The transfer was seen as something of a coup for Spurs, even though Modric struggled to find INITIALLY His feet in England football, with many pundits questioning if I was physically equipped to deal With its frenetic pace.

For a time, Modric found himself marooned on the left side of the Tottenham team, Where I was hidden from the fire and brimstone of the central midfield. But under Harry Redknapp, I was Given another chance in the center of the park, where, it soon Became apparent, I was reliable to use His superior technical skills to orchestrate the play for Spurs.

"He was unbelievable," Redknapp Recalled of His Time Working with Modric. "He's an amazing footballer, the little man Takes the ball in the tightest areas With people around him, wriggling out of situations. He Could play in any team in the world."

And That came home to roost sentiment by 2012, When Modric found himself in the middle of a high-profile, three-way tug of war Between Tottenham, Real Madrid and Chelsea . Madrid President Florentino Perez Eventually Got His man - as is so Often the case - and DESPITE INITIALLY Struggling at the Bernabeu, Modric is now Firmly established as one of the club's key players, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and his former Spurs teammate Gareth Bale.

At international level, Modric is, Perhaps, an even more crucial figure, more than Having Already amassed 90 caps for His country. And Croatia - who are in an intimidating-looking group alongside Turkey, Spain and the Czech Republic at Euro 2016 - will need him to be in peak form in France This Summer.