The group stage of the European Championship is full of upsets
The Euro 2024 tournament in Germany continues, with the second round of the group stage in full swing. In the first round, there were many upsets, especially the heavy defeat of Croatia, the third place in the World Cup. Croatia take on Albania in a crucial match in the second round of Group B, where Croatia lost 3-0 to Spain in the opening round and desperately needed a win to turn things around. Albania, on the other hand, were beaten by Italy by a goal in the first round and failed to get off to a good start. The match was crucial for both sides, and in the end, Croatia vs Al
Bania drew 2-2, and after two rounds, Croatia only has one point, and the qualification situation is grim.
Croatia's world ranking and recent developments
Croatia are currently ranked 10th in the world and are worth a whopping 327 million euros. Croatia have had a stellar World Cup in recent years, finishing runners-up in the 2018 World Cup and finishing third in the 2022 World Cup. However, the record at the European Championships has been relatively poor, reaching the quarter-finals only once in its history. Albania are ranked 66th in the world and second from bottom among the 24 teams competing in the Euros, having only played in two European Championships and won just one.
Croatia have a luxurious squad, with coach Dalic fielding a starting lineup worth a total of 190 million euros. Majer, Petkovic and Kramaric up front, Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic in midfield, Juranovic, Sutalo, Gvardiol and Perisic in defence, Livakovic in goal. As for Albania, the total value of the starting lineup is only 53.5 million euros, and the difference in strength is huge.
The course of the game: counter-attack and tenacity
From the start of the game, Albania showed a strong desire to win. Just 10 minutes into the game, Albania got off to a dream start when Albania got off to a 1-0 lead over Croatia after breaking down the left flank and sending a diagonal cross from across the box from Razzi to head into the net. Croatia tried to step up their attack in the ensuing games, but Albania defended very solidly and constantly created a threat with quick counter-attacks. In the 14th minute, Bayrami's powerful shot was saved by Croatian goalkeeper Livakovic. Croatia tried to attack several times in the first half, but they couldn't change the scoreline, and they were still 1-0 down at half-time.
Reversal and regret in the second half
At the beginning of the second half, Croatia made personnel changes, Dalic replaced Susic and Zapalic, and the team's attacking tempo increased significantly. In the 59th minute, Modric's burst from the edge of the box was blocked by a defender. In the 73rd minute, Kramaric burst into the penalty area, shook off the defender and scored in the near corner, and Croatia finally equalized. Just three minutes later, Croatia launched another onslaught, Kovacic sent a through ball, Budimir cut forward and reversed the triangle back, Susic's powerful shot bounced off Jasula and into the net, Croatia scored two goals in just three minutes to take a 2-1 lead.
However, there was drama in the final stages of the game. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Albania seized a counter-attacking opportunity, broke through on the left and crossed, and the Croatian defense went out
Now the mistake, Sutalo unsuccessfully, Jasula shot through the middle, Albania miraculously equalized, and the two sides finally drew 2-2. The draw complicates Croatia's promotion situation.
The performance and shortcomings of key players
In this game, Croatia's veterans still showed tenacious fighting spirit and superb technical and tactical level. Luka Modric's playmaking and organisation in midfield remains a mainstay of the team, with his experience and vision creating a number of chances. However, Croatia's defence showed a number of problems, not least in the face of quick counter-attacks, with several key mistakes leading directly to the goal conceded.
Albania, despite not being as strong as Croatia overall, showed great fighting power and resilience in the game. Asani and Razi were particularly prominent in attack, constantly tearing Crow apart through speed and technique
Dia's line of defense. A number of crucial saves from goalkeeper Strakosha also saved a valuable point.
Looking ahead: Croatia's path to qualification
Looking ahead, Croatia will have to go all out to win their final round against Italy to keep their qualification hopes alive. Italy are strong, but Croatia are not without a win. Coach Dalic needs to be more precise in his tactical set-up, especially on the defensive end, to avoid mistakes at key moments. At the same time, the team needs to further unleash the potential of the attacking end, using the creativity and experience of key players such as Luka Modric to create more scoring opportunities in the game.
Conclusion: Controversy and hope coexist
Croatia's performance at this European Championship has been full of drama and uncertainty. The team has a glorious past and great players, but it also faces many challenges in the process of changing from old to new. The match against Albania once again highlighted Croatia's defensive deficiencies and mistakes at crucial moments, but also showed the team's tenacious fighting spirit and strong ability to turn around.
The next game will decide the fate of Croatia, and the team will need to show the best quality and best form in the final game. Regardless of the final result, the team's performance at the Euros will be the talk of the town. Will Croatia be able to overcome the odds and continue to shine on the international stage? Let's wait and see.
The match also reminded us that football is always full of variables and possibilities. Regardless of strength, every team has the potential to change the course of the game at a crucial moment. This uncertainty is the beauty of football, and it makes every game full of anticipation and passion. The European Championship continues, and more wonders and miracles are waiting for us to witness.
In-depth summary: Croatia's European Championship road and future prospects
Group Stage 2nd Round Recap
In the second round of the group stage of the Euro 2024 in Germany, Croatia's match against Albania is in the spotlight. Croatia suffered a 3-0 defeat to Spain in the opening round and desperately need a win to turn things around. Albania, on the other hand, were beaten by Italy with a goal in the first round and failed to get off to a good start. In the end, Croatia drew 2-2 with Albania, and after two rounds, only one point was accumulated, and the qualification situation was very tough.
Croatia's current strength and performance
Croatia are currently ranked 10th in the world and are worth €327 million. Croatia have been outstanding at the World Cup in recent years, finishing runners-up in 2018 and finishing third in 2022. However, the results at the European Championships have been relatively poor, reaching the quarter-finals only once in history. Croatia have a luxurious squad but have not performed well in this tournament, especially with frequent mistakes in defense and lack of sufficient threat in attack.
Against Albania, Croatia's performance was full of twists and turns. In the 10th minute of the first half, Albania scored on a counter-attack, but Croatian goalkeeper Livakovic couldn't make a save. Although Croatia stepped up their attack in the second half and equalised in the 73rd minute through Kramaric, Susic's shot resulted in an own goal to put Croatia in the lead, but in stoppage time, Croatia's defence made another mistake and Albania equalised.
The team's tactics and execution
From a tactical point of view, Croatia's performance in the game reflected their problems in switching between attack and defence. Despite having midfield greats such as Luka Modric, Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic, the team lacked organisation and consistency in key moments. Coach Dalic needs to strengthen his players' coordination and positional sense on the defensive end to avoid similar mistakes from happening again. At the same time, the offensive side needs to be more efficient and more capable of making a shot to ensure that they can take advantage of opportunities when it matters most.
The performance of the players and their future development
Luka Modric remains a mainstay of the team, with impeccable vision and passing ability, but as a veteran, he needs more support from younger players. Kramaric proved his attacking threat in the game, but he needs to be more calm and precise against strong teams. Young players such as Susic need to gain more experience in the game and improve their on-the-spot adaptability and tactical execution.
Croatia's prospects of qualifying
Looking ahead, Croatia will have to go all out to win their final round against Italy to keep their qualification hopes alive. Italy are strong, but Croatia are not without a win. Coach Dalic needs to be more precise in his tactics, especially on the defensive end, to be more solid and avoid mistakes at key moments. At the same time, the team needs to further unleash the potential of the attacking end, using the creativity and experience of key players such as Luka Modric to create more scoring opportunities in the game.
The team's long-term plan and strategy
In the long term, Croatia needs to improve and upgrade in the following areas:
- Strengthen the youth training system: cultivate more young players through a systematic youth training program to inject fresh blood into the national team.
- Optimize the tactical system: formulate a more flexible tactical system according to the characteristics of the players, and improve the overall tactical literacy and execution of the team.
- Improve mental quality: Strengthen the mental training of players in key games and improve their performance stability in high-pressure environments.
- Increase international match experience: Gain experience and improve the overall level of the team through more international friendlies and high-level matches.
Conclusion: Hopes and Challenges for the Future
Croatia's performance in this tournament may not be as good as it could be, but the team still has potential and quality. The key is how to make full use of the strengths of the players in the next games and make up for the shortcomings. For the fans, no matter what the result is, they want to see a tenacious and indomitable Croatian team.
The future matches will decide the fate of Croatia, and the team will need to show their strongest quality and best form in the final game. Regardless of the final result, the team's performance at the Euros will be something that fans will talk about
Title. Will Croatia be able to overcome the odds and continue to shine on the international stage? Let's wait and see.
Football is always full of variables and possibilities. Regardless of strength, every team has the potential to change the course of the game at a crucial moment. This uncertainty is the beauty of football, and it makes every game full of anticipation and passion. The European Championship continues, and more wonders and miracles are waiting for us to witness.