Pyrotechnic draw between Croatia and Albania at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg in the first match of the second day for Group B at Euro 2024. A result (2-2) which also makes Spain and Italy happy in view of the clash tomorrow evening at 9pm which at this point, with a victory for one of the two teams, they could already define first place in the group. Petkovic at the center of the attack is the main novelty of Dalic’s eleven who also launches Perisic in the unusual position of low left winger.
Compared to the match against Italy, Sylvinho confirms Asani and Bajrami among the four offensive players and inserts the new players Manaj and Laci. Smart moves for the Albania coach which immediately reaps the dividends: at the first useful opportunity, in the 11th minute, Asani brushes the cross from the midfield and precisely the graft Laci cuts through the defense and passes Livakovic with a winning header. It’s a very convincing start from the Eagles who keep Croatia from playing with pace and intensity. A low attempt by Brozovic ends at the back, a header by Petkovic goes high over the crossbar while shortly after the half hour Inter player Asllani calls on Livakovic to make a great save. Before the break another unrealistic attempt by Brozovic and a header by Manaj blocked by the goalkeeper.
The script of the match completely changes in the second half, also thanks to the changes of Dalic who starts again with Sucic and Pasalic for Majer and Brozovic. Newcomer Sucic immediately shows up with a nice left-footed shot that challenges Strakosha, then pays attention to Kovacic’s shot from outside. Sutalo, with his header, also wastes a good opportunity for the equaliser, but it is in the air and it doesn’t take long to arrive: Modric and his teammates phrase close to the opponent’s area, the ball is served by Budimir to Kramaric who kicks and passes the ball under Hysaj’s legs and slips Strakosha: goal on his 33rd birthday for Kramaric which changes the history of the match. Albania is stunned and Croatia takes advantage of the situation to overturn the result, even with a bit of luck.
After a decisive exit from Strakosha on Pasalic, a shot from the usual Kramaric hits Djimsiti and then hits the substitute Gjasula hitting the ball into his own goal while the eagles protest for an alleged foul on Manaj at the start of the play which was not recognized by the referee and Var. Gjasula himself, in full recovery, found a way to make amends with an insertion in the center of the area and the winning conclusion of first intention which leaves no way out for Livakovic. The last bell of the match is a shot from outside by Kovacic blocked by Strakosha. Croatia and Albania share the stakes and keep their hopes of qualifying for the round of 16 hanging by a thread.