Croatia vs. Albania: Preview, Prediction & Betting Tips

While the 3-0 scoreline flattered Spain, Croatia's impressive performance and scoring opportunities highlight their attacking potential. With their experience and newfound confidence, Croatia enters this crucial match against Albania as the clear favorites. Andrej Kramarić's inventiveness and the midfield dominance of Modrić, Kovačić, and Brozović pose a significant challenge for the Albanian defense.

Albania's offensive struggles against Italy raise concerns about their ability to penetrate a well-organized Croatian backline. Ylber Ramadani faces a daunting task in containing Croatia's midfield trio, and neutralizing their influence will be crucial for Albania to have any chance of success.

Our prediction is a 2-0 victory for Croatia as their superior firepower and defensive solidity should prove decisive.

As the second round of matches in Group B of Euro 2024 approaches, Croatia and Albania find themselves in precarious positions. Both teams suffered defeats in their opening fixtures, making their upcoming clash a crucial one for their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages. This match, scheduled for Tuesday, is not just a contest for three points but a battle for survival in the tournament.

• Date: 19/06/2024
• Kick-off time: 14:00
• Location: Volksparkstadion, Hamburg

Croatia, currently sitting fourth in Group B with zero points, endured a tough start to their Euro 2024 campaign. Their opening match saw them suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of Spain. Despite the scoreline, Croatia's performance was not entirely poor. They showed glimpses of their potential, particularly in midfield, but were ultimately undone by their inability to convert chances into goals.

Croatia's midfield is their strongest asset, boasting the likes of Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, and Marcelo Brozović. Modrić, the team's captain, continues to be a vital presence on the pitch, orchestrating play with his vision and experience. Kovačić and Brozović complement him well, providing both defensive solidity and attacking impetus. However, the problem for Croatia lies in their forward line. Players such as Andrej Kramarić, Lovro Majer, and Ante Budimir are technically gifted but lack the athleticism and physical presence that might trouble top defences. They prefer the ball to their feet, which can make Croatia's attack predictable and less dynamic.

Manager Zlatko Dalić faces the challenge of balancing this talented but somewhat one-dimensional forward line. Against Spain, Croatia were wasteful with their chances, a luxury they cannot afford against Albania. To have a realistic chance of qualifying for the last 16, Croatia need not only to win this game but to do so convincingly, improving their goal difference in the process.

Albania, like Croatia, started their campaign with a loss, going down to Italy. However, their performance against the reigning champions was commendable. Despite the defeat, they showed resilience and organisation, suggesting that they could be a tricky opponent for any team in the group.

Currently third in Group B, Albania are managed by Sylvinho, whose tactical acumen has been under scrutiny. Sylvinho, the former Brazil international, has a wealth of experience as a player but is still proving himself as a manager on the international stage. His task is to extract the best from a squad that includes some high-quality players, most notably Kristjan Asllani. The 22-year-old midfielder from Inter Milan is one of Albania's standout talents, and his performance will be crucial to their hopes against Croatia.

For Albania, like Croatia, this match is a must-win. A victory would keep their hopes of reaching the last 16 alive, and a few goals would be highly beneficial given the importance of goal difference in determining the best third-place finishers. This adds an extra layer of pressure on Sylvinho and his team, who need to find the right balance between defence and attack.

As Croatia and Albania prepare to face off, the tension and stakes are palpable. Both teams have shown glimpses of potential but must now deliver when it matters most. For Croatia, the challenge is to convert their midfield dominance into goals, while Albania need to capitalise on their underdog status and exploit any weaknesses in their opponent's defence.

The outcome of this match will likely have a significant impact on the dynamics of Group D and the tournament as a whole. Fans can expect a hard-fought contest with both teams leaving everything on the pitch in pursuit of victory. As Euro 2024 unfolds, matches like these serve as a reminder of the unpredictable and thrilling nature of football, where every game can be a turning point in a team's respective campaign.

Croatia Team News:

Zlatko Dalić will likely make a few changes for this game following Croatia's opener, likely up top where he hopes to address their issue of subpar finishing.

The two main contenders to enter the fray are forward Bruno Petković, a man with big game history for the national team, Feyenoord winger Luka Ivanušec and RB Salzburg midfielder Luka Sučić.

Albania Team News:

Like their opponents, Albania will consider changes for this game with Qazim Laçi and Rey Manaj both knocking on the door for a start.

Don't expect any changes at the back or in the centre of midfield.

As previously alluded to, Croatia suffered a heavy defeat in their tournament opener as Spain bested them 3-0 in Berlin. A gap in the Croatian back four allowed Fabián Ruiz to play Morata clean through on goal, who made no mistake with his 1v1. After that, a fine solo goal from the aforementioned Ruiz made the scoreline 2-0 before Dani Carvajal netted a third on the stroke of half-time to effectively wrap up the game.

Croatia had a myriad of chances and actually accumulated a higher xG the Spaniards, even missing a second-half penalty. They won't, then, be too disappointed despite a 3-0 loss, and they'll be confident of turning this around in their next two games.

Croatia didn't have a great run in qualifying, finishing 2nd to Turkey in their group, so there may be some concern amongst fans that this generation has simply run its course.

Albania's tournament nearly got off to a dream start as they opened the scoring in their first game of the tournament through Nedim Bajrami after just 23 seconds had elapsed, the fastest goal in the history of the tournament. Bajrami latched onto a dreadful Italian throw-in to guide an impressive near post finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Italy soon turned the game on its head through an Alessandro Bastoni header from a corner and a screamer from Nicolò Barella. Ultimately, the better team won, but Albania showed enough in this game to suggest they can be plenty competitive here.

Albania were strong, finishing their qualifying group top of the table with just one defeat.

This game will be aired live to U.K. viewers on ITV1 and the ITVX website.

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