The second matchday of Group B in the 2024 European Championship sees Croatia facing Albania in Hamburg. Both teams are under immense pressure after suffering defeats in their opening matches. Croatia, a co-favorite, experienced a heavy 0-3 loss against Spain, putting their progression in the tournament at risk. A win over Albania is essential for Luka Modrić and his team to avoid an early exit.
Croatia's situation worsened with the injury of Nikola Vlašić, who is out of the tournament due to a muscle injury sustained during training. Coach Zlatko Dalić expressed his disappointment, emphasizing Vlašić's efforts for the team. The Croatian squad is also dealing with internal tensions, as Dalić publicly criticized Bruno Petković for not scoring a crucial goal against Spain.
Albania, on the other hand, started strong against Italy but eventually lost 2-1. Despite the defeat, the Albanian team, led by coach Sylvinho, showed resilience and nearly equalized in the last minute. They need a win against Croatia to keep their hopes of reaching the round of 16 alive.
The match in Hamburg will see Albania as the underdog, but the support from their fans could play a crucial role. However, UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Albania due to several incidents involving their fans during the match against Italy. The charges include throwing objects, setting off pyrotechnics, and entering the pitch without permission.
The French referee François Letexier will officiate the match, assisted by Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni, with Willy Delajod and Jérôme Brisard handling VAR duties. Both teams are aware that anything less than a victory could jeopardize their chances of advancing in the tournament.
- Croatia must win against Albania to keep their European Championship hopes alive after a heavy defeat to Spain. The team is also dealing with the loss of Nikola Vlašić due to injury and internal tensions following coach Zlatko Dalić's criticism of Bruno Petković.
- Albania, despite their loss to Italy, showed resilience and need a victory against Croatia to stay in contention for the round of 16. The support from their fans in Hamburg could be significant, although UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against them for incidents during the Italy match.
- The match will be officiated by French referee François Letexier, with assistance from Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni, and VAR duties handled by Willy Delajod and Jérôme Brisard.
