📰 Table Of Contents
Team news
Croatia and Italy have named their starting line-ups for their third and final Group B games at Euro 2024.
Zlatko Dalic has made four changes to the XI that drew 2-2 with Albania in their last game with Josip Stanisic, Marin Pongracic, Luka Sucic and Marco Pasalic.
Ivan Perisic is one of the players who drops out, with experienced trio Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic picked once again to marshal the midfield.
Here is #Croatia starting lineup tonight in Leipzig! 🤩 #CROITA #EURO2024 #PokažiSrce #Family #Vatreni❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/S8cp6jAEgY
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) June 24, 2024
Italy have made a number of changes following their disappointing performance in their 1-0 defeat by Spain.
Luciano Spaletti has switched to a system three centre-backs, with Matteo Darmian joining Alessandro Bastoni and Riccardo Calfiori in defence.
Forwards Federico Chiesa and Gianluca Scamacca drop to the bench with Genoa striker Mateo Retegui handed a start. Giacomo Raspadori also joins the attack.
🚨 Team news 🚨#CROITA #EURO2024 #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/cCuG9UxDE0
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 24, 2024
The state of the group
For Italy, the task is simple – avoid defeat in Leipzig and second place is theirs. Pioli’s men have beaten Albania and lost to Spain so far, placing them on three points.
Those head-to-head records against both means a draw would see them finish above Albania even if they beat Spain. Likewise, a win against Croatia would not be enough for them to leapfrog the Spanish. Lose, however, and they will face a nervous wait to qualify as a third-placed side – while they will be out altogether if they are beaten and Albania win.
Croatia currently sit bottom but a win would see them dramatically climb as high as second second providing Spain beat Albania. If both Croatia and Albania win, Dalic’s men will finish third on four points – which should be enough for the last 16.
A draw against the Azzurri would leave them on two points and needing several results to go their way – not least Spain to beat Albania in their own group – to reach the knockout stage as one of the top third-placed sides.
