Euro 2024: Croatia x Italy, Match Preview, Team News, Odds and Predictions(24/06/2024)

Croatia and Italy will square off in Leipzig on Monday night for the second place in Group B at Euro 2024.

The Azzurri know that one point will get them into the last 16, but they also need Albania to lose to group winners Spain.

Croatia x Italy Team News.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic might consider making a few alterations to his starting lineup since all 25 players are still in the camp. Torino attacker Nikola Vlasic just left the camp due to injury and trained during the weekend.

Ante Budimir might replace Bruno Petkovic up front, and after struggling so far, 21-year-old Luka Sucic, a former Inter Milan midfielder, could be demoted for fresh legs.

Mateo Kovacic and captain Luka Modric will remain in the engine room. At the same time, Josko Gvardiol of Manchester City should stay in central defense, and seasoned winger Ivan Perisic will play left-back.

On Monday, Italy is also anticipated to reshuffle its squad after players like Gianluca Scamacca, Jorginho, and Giovanni Di Lorenzo performed poorly against Spain.

Injury ravaged Luciano Spalletti's team before the competition began, but Matteo Darmian, Bryan Cristante, and Genoa striker Mateo Retegui are all excellent options; young midfielders Nicolo Fagioli and Michael Folorunsho would be wildcard picks.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who won player of the tournament at Euro 2020, will lead the Azzurri; Inter's Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella are also very specific to be selected.

Head To Head And Previous Matches

Croatia may yet reach the knockout stages of another European Championship even though they suffered a significant blow on Wednesday when they let up a last-minute goal against Albania to sit on just one point after two Group B games.

If they beat Italy on Monday and Albania fails to shock Spain, they would undoubtedly go to the round of sixteen; if the Albanians win as well, the two would be divided by goal difference.

As the two teams' head-to-head record is even after events at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion, a loss would condemn the World Cup bronze medalists to an early departure, as would a draw and Albania escaping defeat.

The Vatreni were held to a thrilling 2-2 draw by Albania four days after losing 3-0 to Spain in their opener. The Vatreni scored twice in the second half to flip the game on its head before conceding a gut-wrenching stoppage-time equalizer.

Though an aging midfield and a faltering offense have not helped their prospects this summer, Croatia has already had more shots and attempts on goal at Euro 2024 than they mustered throughout three group games three years ago.

Long-serving head coach Zlatko Dalic has some difficult choices to make since his club has already given up five goals and may have yet to win a major final for the first time since 2006.

Now, two countries divided by the Adriatic Sea will square off in a crucial match in eastern Germany. Croatia has the advantage of history: they have defeated their Italian opponents eight times since attaining independence in the 1990s.

Italy knows that a draw would advance them as Group B runners-up when they meet Croatia for the third time at a major event; they lost 2-1 in the 2002 World Cup and drew 0-0 at Euro 2012.

The current European champions may have already guaranteed their spot in the round of 16, but their 1-0 loss to Spain the last time puts the Azzurri at some risk of a dismal departure.

In Gelsenkirchen, only Riccardo Calafiori's goal kept the teams apart, although La Roja was the superior team in almost every way, infuriating people across the Italian peninsula.

Dreams of becoming the second nation to win consecutive Euros now rely on swiftly correcting matters after a 10-game unblemished run at UEFA's major tournament is finally finished.

After trying their fewest attempts in a European Championship game to date and appearing shaky at the back, Luciano Spalletti's men have much to prove: Though they have never lost consecutive Euro games, La Nazionale's last group encounter seems challenging.

A minimal condition is to avoid losing against Croatia since Azzurri's championship defense would collapse if Italy lost and Albania managed to shock already-qualified Spain.

Our Predictions

Full-time draw @3.20 on Sky247.ng

The Azzurri may focus on absorbing pressure and then attacking the break since Croatia is expected to come out and assault an understaffed Italy squad.

A low-scoring stalemate, which would send the Italians through and their Croatian opponents packing, is possible since neither team has a clinical finisher.

Elevate your betting experience with Sky247 Nigeria. Join now and discover a thrilling world of sports, live events, and exclusive bonuses. Bet with confidence on your favorite teams and games.