Day two of Euro 2024 and it’s time to kick off this year’s “group of death”. While it’s quite possible Spain, Croatia and Italy all make it into the knockout phase, it’s also a conceivable possibility that a giant will fall at the first hurdle. Meanwhile Albania have been written off by many as the beating boys of the group but could they put the cat amongst the pigeons?
Group B dubbed “group of death” from the moment the draw was made
Kicking off proceedings in Group B we have tournament specialists Croatia facing off against a Spain side packed with young talent. Three years ago their last 16 encounter in Copenhagen was arguably the game of the tournament with Spain winning 5-3 in extra time having let Croatia back into the game late on in normal time. The game will also be remembered by many for Pedri’s extraordinary own goal to open the scoring for Croatia with Unai Simon failing to control his pacy back-pass.
Pedri after scoring bewildering own goal against Croatia at Euro 2020
However the pair’s previous meeting came in last summer’s Nations League Final in Rotterdam which Spain also won, all-be-it on penalties after a bore 0-0 draw. Spain go into this one as slight favourites but Croatia are one of those sides you can never write off.
Spain celebrate Nations League success after defeating Croatia on penalties
Croatia just seem to have that knack of playing their best football on the biggest stage and that makes them an incredibly dangerous opponent. Their organisation and discipline is up there with the top nations in the world but they do seem to be lacking in attacking flair. You can’t talk about Croatia without mentioning their main man Luka Modric, still going at the age of 38. Who’d have thought Modric, Ronaldo and Pepe could all be starting for their national teams at Euro 2024?
Former Leicester City flop, Andrej Kramaric, now a goal machine for Hoffenheim in Germany is their star on paper in attack while the lesser known target man, Ante Budimir, of Osasuna comes into the tournament off the back of the best scoring season of his career, notching up an impressive 17 goals in La Liga this term. It looks like the latter will occupy the central striker role with Kramaric starting wide left.
Modric and Kramaric during World Cup victory over Brazil at Qatar 2022
It is difficult to know whether Italy will be happy facing Albania in their opener or not. On the one hand it’s a good opportunity to get three points on the board, potentially rack up a few goals and go top of the group. On the other hand, Albania, playing in just their second ever Euros, will come into their opener feeling they have nothing to lose and how many times do we see big sides upset early on in tournaments? The pressure is all on the Italians as holders, amplified by their missing out on the World Cup in Qatar.
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