After losing their openersof the Euro 2024 last weekend, both Croatia and Albania will atch-up in Group B. The two teams will aim to stay in contention for a place in the tournament’s knockout phase.
Tipped by some pundits to finally bring home some silverware this summer, Croatia started their seventh European Championship appearance – and sixth in succession – with a humbling 3-0 defeat to Spain in Berlin.
While Croatia are seasoned campaigners at the Euros, this summer marks only Albania’s second appearance since gaining independence – both coming in the last three editions.
Continuing their dismal record at UEFA’s main event, the Eagles lost 2-1 to holders Italy last weekend, despite Nedim Bajrami scoring a stunning opener after just 23 seconds – the quickest goal in European Championship history.
Croatia have not lost consecutive games at the same finals since Euro 1996.
Croatia recorded 16 shots against Spain in their Euro opener but failed to hit the back of the net.
Croatia played in the knock-out stages of the last two editions of the Euro.
Albania abysmal performance in Euro main tournament continues last weekend as they fell 2-1 to defending champions, Italy.
With an odd of 1.49, Croatia should win this according to bookmakers but not on a platter of gold as Albania will definitely push them to the wall, and who knows, we might experience another shocking result this afternoon following what was witnessed in the game between Belgium and Slovakia
High-flying Italian side will kick-off their Euros defense against Albania tonight Signal Idunna Park.
While the Azzurri are ultimately aiming to win back-to-back Euros, their neighbours are simply hoping to advance from the group stage on just their second major tournament appearance.
Now taking part at an 11th European Championship, Italy can join Germany and Spain on three wins if they go on to retain the Henri Delaunay Trophy next month in Berlin.
They will also attempt to become just the second team to win successive Euros after their Spanish counterparts did so in 2008 and 2012 – but few pundits have Luciano Spalletti’s side among the favourites to prevail.
While Italy nervously edged past Ukraine to qualify, Albania topped their group in some style: after losing their opening game against Poland, they went unbeaten through the next seven, finishing ahead of both the Poles and second-placed Czech Republic.
The Euro 2024 draw was not kind, though, and their first fixture brings them face-to-face with some familiar foes – no fewer than nine players in the Albanian squad play their club football in Serie A.
In addition to compatriots Edy Reja and Christian Panucci, Italian coach Gianni De Biasi previously held the post of Albania manager, taking his adopted country to Euro 2016, where they secured their sole victory at a major finals to date – against Romania in the final group game.
The Eagles were still eliminated on that occasion, and current coach Sylvinho – the first Brazilian boss to lead a side at the Euros since Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2008 – has a huge job on his hands to avoid an early exit in Germany.
Italy have conceded a miserly sum of just six goals across their last 12 matches in the competition.
The Azzurri have arrived in Germany unbeaten in six games.
La Nazionale have not conceded a goal in their last 317 minutes of play – including a 0-0 draw with Turkey and Sunday’s 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in two pre-tournament friendlies.
Albania topped their group in some style: after losing their opening game against Poland, they went unbeaten through the next seven.
With an odd of 1.34 to the defending champions Italy by the bookies, no doubt they are the favoirites for this tournament. It won’t be a surprise if they run over tonight’s opponent.
