In a thrilling battle for the second spot, Croatia face holders Italy in their final Group B game of Euro 2024 at Leipzig.
CRO vs ITA Match Details
Date: Monday, 24 June 2024, Tuesday, 25 June 2024
Time: 21:00 (CET), 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
CRO vs ITA Match Preview
Croatia faced another huge setback in Euro 2024 after they managed only a draw against Albania, leaving them all to do in the final group game to have a chance to move into the last 16 stage. Hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 loss to Spain, the team went behind early but managed to turn the game around with 14 minutes to go. However, Austria kept pushing and got their reward deep into extra-time to make it 2-2 at the end. A point from two games means the Checkered ones need to win against Italy and hope Albania do not upset Spain to stay in the competition. If both finish on equal points, the goal difference will come into play but a defeat will send them packing. Croatia faces the prospect of going winless in a major competition for the first time since 2006 and missing out on the knockout stage of the Euros for the third time. Still, their eight-game unbeaten record against the Azzurri since gaining independence might motivate them to come up with a big result on Monday.
Italy’s plan to absorb the pressure of a flamboyant Spanish attack to play out at least a draw to make their place in the knockouts failed miserably as they lost 1-0. Riccardo Calafiori’s own goal decided the game but La Roja deserved the victory being head and shoulders above the Azzurri in the match. The metric of 20 shots on target compared to just four, the fewest recorded in the tournament’s history, proves the dominance as Italy lost for the first time in the Euros in normal time since a 1-0 defeat to Ireland in 2016. Luciano Spalleti’s side are left to save their Euro title defence in the final group game with another Croatia posing a stiff challenge despite their owes. A draw will be enough for the holders to continue to march in the tournament while a defeat will not be catastrophic if Albania don’t do the unthinkable against group winners Spain. However, Italy wishes to determine their faith by themselves having not lost consecutive matches at the Euros.
Recent Form (all competitions)
CRO: WWWLD
ITA: WDWWL
Recent Form (Euro 2024)
CRO: DL
ITA: WL
CRO vs ITA Predicted Lineups
Croatia
Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Perisic; Modric, Sucic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Budimir, Kramaric
Italy
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Cristante, Barella; Chiesa, Pellegrini, Zaccagni; Retegui
CRO vs ITA Head-to-head (all competitions)
Played - 9
CRO won - 3
Drawn - 5
ITA won - 1
CRO vs ITA Dream11 Match Prediction
Croatia and Italy are struggling with a clinical finisher and fragile defence indicating a draw as the possible outcome of the match. We predict a low-scoring 1-1 draw which will send the holders through.
CRO vs ITA Dream11 Team Top picks
Captain Pick: Nicolo Barella
Vice-captain Pick: Andrej Kramaric
CRO vs ITA Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Donnarumma (Cr - 7.5)
DEF: Di Lorenzo (Cr - 8.5), Gvardiol (Cr - 8.5), Bastoni (Cr - 8)
MID: Modric (Cr - 9), Barella (Cr - 8.5), Kovacic (8), Perisic (8.5)
FW: Chiesa (Cr - 9), Budimir (7.5), Kramaric (8.5)
Vice-captain: Andrej Kramaric
Captain: Nicolo Barella
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