UEFA Euro Preview: Croatia Struggles with Lack of Forwards, Can Albania Pull Off an Upset?

On June 19th at 9:00 PM, a key match in Group B of the UEFA Euro second round sees Croatia face Albania. Both teams, having lost their opening fixtures, cannot afford another defeat if they hope to advance, especially Croatia, with its star-studded squad, whose early exit would be considered a major disappointment.

Croatia reached the semi-finals in the last two World Cups, securing a runner-up and a third-place finish, earning admiration for their tenacity. However, in this Euro edition, Croatia’s opening match was a shocker, losing 0-3 to rival Spain despite dominating possession, plummeting them to the bottom of the group standings.

In contrast, Albania, participating in only their second Euro, showed remarkable resilience in their debut, scoring the fastest goal in Euro history through Berisha just 23 seconds into their match against defending champions Italy, eventually losing 1-2. Thanks to their goal difference, Albania currently sit above Croatia in third place in the group.

But as far as qualification prospects go, Albania still has a long way to go, while Croatia, after their humiliating first-round loss, desperately needs a victory to regain control.

In their last ten matches, Croatia boasts a 70% win rate with seven victories and three losses, two of which came in Euro qualifiers against Wales and Turkey, and the recent 0-3 defeat to Spain. Prior to the Euros, Croatia enjoyed a six-match winning streak, including a 2-1 triumph over title contender Portugal.

This inconsistency highlights Croatia’s fluctuating performance, capable of great heights but also prone to disappointing lows. Their strength lies in the midfield with Modrić’s experience, Brozović’s work ethic, and Kovačić’s attacking and defensive skills. However, their attacking line is weak, with neither Budimir nor Petković providing consistent goalscoring.

In their opener against Spain, Budimir squandered several chances, and Petković missed a penalty, contributing to their poor showing. Albania, ranked 66th globally and only above Georgia among the Euro’s 24 teams, fields players like Broja, Jimshi, Hysaj, and Asllani, all seasoned in Serie A, known for their tactical discipline and strength. They are by no means an easy opponent.

Notably, Croatia and Albania have never met before, making their first encounter a decisive Euro battle. Who will seize the crucial three points to set the stage for qualification? We’ll have to wait and see.

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