On June 19th at 9:00 PM, a crucial match in Group B of the European Championship will see Croatia facing Albania. Both teams lost their opening matches and need a win to stay in contention for qualification. Especially for Croatia, with their star-studded lineup, a second consecutive loss would be a complete disaster.
Croatia reached the semi-finals in the last two World Cups, achieving a runner-up finish and a third-place finish. Their relentless fighting spirit has garnered a huge fan base. However, their performance in this European Championship has been a huge disappointment so far. Despite dominating possession, they suffered a humiliating 0-3 defeat against their old rivals Spain, dropping them to the bottom of the group.
In contrast, Albania, who are participating in the European Championship for the second time, have shown greater resilience. They scored the fastest goal in the history of the tournament, with Bajrami netting in the 23rd second of their opening match against defending champions Italy. Ultimately, they lost 1-2, but they still managed to overtake Croatia in the group standings based on goal difference.
However, if we consider the qualification criteria, Albania’s performance is not enough. Croatia, on the other hand, needs a win to rescue their faltering campaign after a disastrous first match.
Over the past 10 matches, Croatia has been decent, winning 7 and losing 3, with a win rate of 30%. Their two defeats came in the European qualifiers, against Wales and Turkey, as well as the 0-3 loss to Spain in the European Championship. Before the start of the tournament, Croatia had a six-game winning streak, including a 2-1 victory over Portugal, a major contender for the title.
This suggests that Croatia’s performance is inconsistent, with a high ceiling but sometimes falling to absurd lows. Croatia’s strength lies in their midfield, with Modric still playing at a high level, Brozovic’s tireless running, and Kovacic’s ability to both attack and defend. These three have been Croatia’s key assets in their pursuit of success. However, their attack is really struggling, with neither Budimir nor Petkovic consistently finding the back of the net.
Against Spain, Budimir wasted several chances in front of goal, and Petkovic also missed a penalty, contributing to their disastrous performance. Albania, while ranked 66th in the world and only above Georgia among the 24 teams in the European Championship, boasts several experienced players like Broja, Gjimsiti, Hysaj, and Asllani, who have honed their skills in Serie A. Their tactical execution is strong, and they certainly are not pushovers.
Interestingly, Croatia and Albania have never met before, with their first encounter being a crucial battle for qualification in the European Championship. Who will grab the vital three points and lay the foundation for a successful campaign? We’ll have to wait and see.
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