Manager Sylvinho has made changes to the Albanian lineup, bringing in Qazim Laci and Rey Manaj from Sparta Prague. Taulant Seferi and Chelsea's out-of-form striker Armando Broja have been dropped. Jasir Asani, who has recovered from an ankle injury, retains his place in the team. Goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha from Brentford and Lazio defender Elseid Hysaj are key players for Albania. Hysaj has faced criticism and apologized for his role in failing to prevent Italy's winning goal.
Albania came close to salvaging a draw in their match against Italy, with substitute Rey Manaj denied by Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, they ultimately suffered their third defeat in four major finals matches. Prior to this loss, Sylvinho's team had been on an unbeaten streak in competitive matches since March 2023, finishing ahead of Poland and the Czech Republic in their qualifying group.
Having not suffered back-to-back defeats in a single European Championship since Euro 1996, it is crucial for Croatia to avoid another loss as they face regional rivals Albania, whom they will meet for the first time in senior international football. If they want to progress further in the tournament, they must secure at least one point in their upcoming match in Hamburg. However, even that won't be an easy task, as they are set to face reigning champions Italy in their final group fixture.
While Croatia boasts extensive experience in the Euros, this is only Albania's second appearance since gaining independence, with both coming in the last three editions. Unfortunately, their record in UEFA's flagship event has been disappointing. They suffered a 2-1 defeat against Italy in their opening match, despite Nedim Bajrami scoring the fastest goal in European Championship history just 23 seconds into the game. Albania will need to adopt a more attacking approach against Croatia, especially after witnessing their opponents struggle against Spain. Realistically, they must secure a victory here, considering they will face a confident Spanish side in their final group game.
The Euro 2024 draw has presented a tough challenge for Albania, and they face an uphill battle to avoid an early tournament exit. Even if they manage to secure a point against Croatia, they must then face Spain in what could be a decisive final fixture next week.See UEFA EURO 2024 STANDINGS
Croatia's Euro 2024 Campaign Starts with a Disappointing Loss to Spain, Must Rebound Against Regional Rivals Albania
There were high expectations for Croatia as they entered their seventh European Championship, hoping to secure their first major title. However, their tournament debut in Berlin ended on a sour note with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Spain, who had previously emerged victorious in the UEFA Nations League final. The Croatians found themselves trailing by three goals before halftime, and to make matters worse, Bruno Petkovic missed a penalty and faced criticism from his manager for jumping the queue.
Head coach Zlatko Dalic, known for his tactical prowess in major tournaments, watched his team struggle to convert any of their 16 shots, resulting in a frustrating goalless performance. With three losses in their last five competitive matches, including defeats against Turkey and Wales during qualifying, Croatia's form has taken a hit. This is as many losses as they had in their previous 29 matches.
