The group stage of UEFA Euro 2024 is coming to an end as we approach the final set of fixtures before reaching the knockouts. There are still plenty of things to iron out in every single group, and given some of the chaos we’ve seen so far, we’re expecting a few more twists and turns along the way. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the intriguing clash between Croatia and Italy.
Croatia Form GuideThey may have only made it to the round of 16 at Euro 2021, but on the biggest stage of them all, Croatia have proven themselves to be the ultimate dark horse. They have finished in 2nd place and 3rd place at the last two World Cups and although it must be said that they have an ageing squad, we still think they’ve got enough gas left in the tank for one more big run.
Croatia just weren’t at the races against Spain and that’s especially true for how they played defensively. They kept the ball a good deal but fell to a 3-0 loss, and then against Albania, they couldn’t hold on to their lead as they played out a really entertaining 2-2 draw with the underdogs.
Italy Form GuideThey may be the reigning European champions, but the Italian national team have to focus on working hard to repair their image. They failed to qualify for the World Cup and as such, they need to remind fans that they are still an elite team within the continent. It’s not going to happen overnight, but they are the defending champs, which is always a big boost heading into this period.
The Italians went behind incredibly early against Albania and needed to fight their way back into contention, which they did, eventually securing a 2-1 win. From there, they played Spain, and although they only lost 1-0, we’d have to say that they were thoroughly outplayed.
Match PredictionCroatia will be eager to pick up a result here and while Italy won’t feel comfortable on three points, they know that a point will likely get them over the finish line. We think this is going to be an interesting clash between two old greats, and in our view, the most probable outcome is a draw.
