Croatia vs Italy

Red Bull Arena in Leipzig forms the backdrop for a ‘make or break’ Euro 2024 Group B showdown between Croatia and Italy.

Not since the 2014 World Cup have Croatia failed to make it out of the group stages of a major tournament, an ominous feat that looks likely ahead of this must-win clash. After suffering a humiliating 3-0 loss to Spain on matchday one, the Blazers conceded a 95th-minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Albania last time out and now must beat Italy to progress into their third consecutive Euros round of 16. Zlatko Dalic’s men, who have finished in the top three of the last two FIFA World Cups, can draw confidence from their superb H2H record against Italy. Since gaining independence from Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, the Croats have avoided defeat in all eight matches against the reigning European champions (W3, D5).

On the other hand, Italy conceded the quickest goal at the Euro finals against Albania but fought back to win 2-1 before succumbing to a 1-0 defeat to Spain in round two. That result knocked them down from a seven-game unbeaten streak (W5, D2). Simply avoiding defeat against Croatia would catapult ‘Gli Azzurri’ into the knockout stages for the fifth tournament on the trot. Given their dreadful H2H record, it’s good they don’t have to win, with three successive draws against the Croats suggesting they’re well-positioned to hold up their end of the bargain. However, Luciano Spalletti’s men are without a clean sheet in six consecutive matches at a Euro finals since incidentally shutting out Wales on matchday three of Euro 2024.