Croatia face Italy in their crunch final Group B clash at UEFA Euro 2024 with knockout qualification at stake.
Victory would see Croatia qualify for the knockouts as Group B runners-up, whilst Italy will qualify as runner-up if they avoid defeat here.
Team News
Nikola Vlasic is ruled out for Croatia after he missed their 2-2 draw against Albania with a muscle injury, which forced him to withdraw from the squad.
Italy have no fresh injury concerns to report but manager – Luciano Spalletti is set to rotate his squad.
When is Kick-Off?
Croatia face Italy at Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, on Monday 24 June at 9pm CEST (8pm UK Time), live on BBC1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Croatia drew 1-1 against Italy in their only previous meeting at the European Championship Finals, which came in June 2012 at UEFA Euro 2012.
- Including Euro Qualifiers, Italy have drawn each of their last four clashes against Croatia by a 1-1 result in this competition.
- Anything less than victory would see Croatia fail to win a single group stage fixture at any major tournament for the first time since Euro 2004.
- Italy are looking to avoid suffering consecutive losses for the first time since November 2022 – March 2023.
Prediction
Having produced lethargic performances against Spain and Albania – of which they were lucky to draw against Albania through two clinical goals amidst some wobbly defending, Croatia now must turn up and deliver a clinical display with more spark and fight in attack or they are out surely.
Italy meanwhile have their fate in their own hands because it would take a defeat and an unlikely Albania win to eliminate them, but they must show more quality than their sluggish effort against Spain where excellent defending kept the loss to just one goal.
Neither team though look strong so I wouldn’t be shocked if this turns into a scrappy contest with a draw being a fair outcome, even if it sends Croatia crashing out.
Prediction: Croatia 1-1 Italy
Result: Croatia 1-1 Italy
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