Euro 2024 Group B Match Day 3 Blasts Off: Albania vs Spain & Croatia vs Italy

Albania battles Spain, and Croatia tries to score a win against Italy on Euro 2024 Group B Match Day 3!

Albania marches into the match with Spain at a severe disadvantage—a small, scrappy band of players up against one of soccer’s leading national teams. Spain sealed their qualification with a six-game winning streak. While Albania was impressed with its qualifying run, it drew into a tough group and could struggle even to make it to the knockout stages. 

Although Croatia is not the soccer behemoth that the Italian national team is, it is considered a wild card with a strong chance of going further than expected. Italy is the reigning champion at the moment, and it will defend its title with force. 

Who will leave the field one step closer to the championship? Which team will face defeat and go home? Read our analysis below so you can root for a winner! Also, read our analysis for the Group C and Group D games.

EURO 2024 Group B Match Day 3: Introduction 

Group B is an intriguing mix of two soccer giants and two teams from smaller countries that have made it to the continental championship more than once.

While Italy and Spain could be expected to clinch first and second place in the group, leaving Croatia and Albania to compete for third, that might not be the case. It only takes one upset to shuffle the cards. 

Italy is returning from a miss at the World Cup, now under the guidance of the coach who took Napoli to the national championship in 2023. Spain has won the continental championship three times, most recently in 2012. 

Albania qualified and played in the championship only once before, in 2016. They could not make it past the group stage. Croatia’s best showing was reaching the quarter-finals in 1996 and 2008.  

A closer look at each team’s strategy will reveal more. Join us as we analyze in depth the strategies you can expect to see on Match Day 3.

Albania vs. Spain

Spain and Albania have never faced off in the European championship. Albania finished third in their group in 2016, which included France, Switzerland, and Romania, who finished last. In their previous eight international friendlies, Spain has beaten Albania every time!

Albania head coach Sylvinho — that’s right, one name, the Beyonce of soccer coaches — has stuck pretty consistently with a 4-2-3-1 formation. It has served him well, winning eight out of eleven games since taking charge at the beginning of last year. All in all, a total of seven different players scored eight goals during qualifier games. 

Spain is often set up in a 4-4-3 formation, relying on midfielders and fullbacks. Head coach Luis De La Fuente knows his players’ strengths and weaknesses and will position them to the team’s best advantage. 

Spain will pit its exceptional midfield players and a wide array of full-back and goalie options against Albania’s leading team of up-and-coming scorers. As they say, defense, defense, defense!

Croatia vs. Italy

Croatia is a national team that has always been a thorn in Italy’s side. Though Italy took them down in their first meeting over eighty years ago, they have failed to beat Croatia in their last eight meetings, with five of the matches ending in a draw. 

Italy will take the field, and Head Coach Luciano Spalletti will likely employ a balanced 4-3-3 formation with an experimental strategy of three at the back, ready just in case. Besides scoring goals, the main goal will be to dominate possession, thus providing more opportunities to score those goals. 

Croatia, guided by Head Coach Zlatko Dalic, still retains some golden-age players, though many suspect the team’s golden age is riding into the sunset. The player’s strengths include possession and passing accuracy.

Dalic sometimes puts a 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 formation into practice, with the occasional veer into back three. However, you can expect a more traditional 4-3-3 strategy for such a crucial game. 

Unraveling The Underdogs

Returning to the Euros for the first time since 2016, Albania is an undisputable underdog. All the other teams participated in the last championship in 2020. Against Spain, who has won the championship three times and could become the only team ever to win four trophies, Albania will have to play with a heap of skill and a monster helping of luck.

Albania’s scorers worked in their favor. They played at the top of their game in the qualifying matches, helping them finish unbeaten in seven of their qualifier games. Team players are also strong in free kicks and tackling. 

This match going to Albania would make them the underdogs of the century. 

Croatia, though not really an underdog in the general sense, is decidedly the underdog in a match against the returning champions Italy. Italy will most likely launch counterattacks from the midfield against Croatia. Croatia has a dynamic defensive squad, and Dalic hopes to transition to attacks quickly. 

There’s a good chance the Croatia-Italy match could end in a draw. 

Key Players To Watch

Dominik Livakovic, Josip Stanisic, and Ante Budimir are the key players on the Croatia squad. Livakovic is a goalkeeper who wowed many with his performance against Brazil in the 2022 World Cup. Budimir is the team’s leading Golden Boot contender. Josip Stanisic is a defender, playing primarily as a right-back. 

Mirlind Diku, Nedim Bajrami, and Etrit Berisha are the players to watch on the Albania national team. Diku is considered a counterattack threat. Bajrami possesses exceptional balance and agility. Berisha is a goalkeeper who likes to punch the ball. 

Keep an eye on Unai Simon, Dani Carvajal, and Alvaro Morata playing for Spain. Simon is a goalkeeper known for strong reflexes. Carvajal is a right-back whose strengths include holding onto the ball. Alvaro is an attacking midfielder who is expected to lead the line. 

The key players for Italy are Alessandro Bastoni, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Di Lorenzo is their top tackler, and Pellegrini is a midfielder who plays both center and left. Bastoni is a defender who likes to dribble and whose strengths include passing.  

Conclusion: Which Powerhouse Will Take The Cake?

Euro 2024 Group B Match Day 3 comes down to a first-place race between Italy and Spain. 

If Spain wins, they will face the third-place winner from Group A, D, E or F, which could be Scotland, Turkey or Austria. Italy in second place means they will be up against the runner-up from Group A, which could be Hungary, Switzerland, and possibly Germany. 

This leaves Albania and Croatia to pick up the pieces. Which team will make it out alive? Exciting times!