Group B of the 2024 European Championship brings together four strong teams: Spain, Croatia, Italy, and Albania. This group promises extremely exciting matches and a tough fight for advancement to the next stage. In this article, we present each of these teams.
Spain
Embed from Getty ImagesLuis de la Fuente deserves enormous praise for the way he led Spain’s qualifying campaign. After a shocking 2-0 loss to Scotland, many doubted his abilities. However, after winning the Nations League in June, Spain recorded six wins in Group A, avenged the Scots, and triumphed over Norway 1-0. This restored confidence in De la Fuente.
Although Spain is not flawless, as seen in friendly losses to Colombia 1-0 and a 3-3 draw with Brazil, the team has great potential. The challenges ahead of the European Championship are significant as they face the reigning champion Italy, always dangerous Croatia, and the surprise of the qualifiers, Albania.
The loss of Gavi due to injury is a serious blow, but the team still has exceptional players like Pedri and Lamine Yamal, as well as the incomparable Rodri. Mikel Oyarzabal is in good form, and captain Alvaro Morata is going through one of the most productive periods of his career. With the right strategy and a bit of luck, Spain has the potential to shine at the upcoming European Championship and return to the top of European football.
Croatia
Embed from Getty ImagesThings looked bleak for Croatia after consecutive losses to Turkey and Wales in October, prompting captain Luka Modrić to admit, “We haven’t been this bad in a long time.” However, Zlatko Dalić’s team is known for its resilience and managed to win the last two matches against Latvia and Armenia, securing second place in Group D.
Although they managed to qualify, doubts still linger, mainly due to the age of key players. Many of Croatia’s most influential players are now on the wrong side of thirty, including Modrić, Marcelo Brozović, who currently plays in Saudi Arabia, and Andrej Kramarić, Croatia’s top scorer in the qualifiers with four goals.
Despite this, Modrić, Brozović, and Mateo Kovačić will form one of the best midfields at the European Championship in Germany. Additionally, Joško Gvardiol has become a key player in the second half of his first season at Manchester City. A friendly victory over Portugal in Oeiras further boosted the team’s morale.
The 2024 European Championship could mark the end of a golden era for this generation of Croatian footballers, who have achieved great success. Croatia is in a tough group with Spain and Italy, two of the top ten teams in the world.
Croatia will rely on its experienced players and newer talents to compete against the strongest teams in Europe. The key to success will lie in the veterans’ ability to maintain a high level of play and the contributions of younger players like Gvardiol. If they manage to find the right balance, Croatia could deliver another memorable tournament for their fans.
Italy
Embed from Getty ImagesThe reigning champions earned the right to defend their title – but just barely. Italy needed a point from their final match against Ukraine to advance as runners-up in Group C, and they got it thanks to a 0-0 draw in Leverkusen. However, the Azzurri were extremely fortunate that VAR inexplicably refused to intervene after what seemed like a clear foul by Bryan Cristante on Mykhailo Mudryk in the penalty area.
Luciano Spalletti didn’t mind, of course. As he rightly pointed out, qualifying was all that mattered to Italy after missing last year’s World Cup in Qatar. He also took over under difficult circumstances, with Roberto Mancini, the man who led the nation to glory at Euro 2020, sensationally stepping down during the summer of 2023 to take over Saudi Arabia.
Spalletti is aware that Italy is not considered one of the favorites – especially after being drawn in a group with Spain and Croatia – but he has excellent players in Nicolò Barella, Federico Chiesa, Federico Dimarco, and Alessandro Bastoni, while hoping that Gianluca Scamacca can enjoy a breakout similar to Toto Schillaci on the international stage after finishing the season strongly for Atalanta.
Most importantly, Spalletti has shown with his historic triumph at Napoli that he is capable of performing miracles with underrated teams – but injuries like that of Francesco Acerbi have hampered the Italian cause, and there is growing fear that this tournament has come too soon for the new coach to imprint his identity on a side lacking any stars playing at the peak of their powers.
Albania
Embed from Getty ImagesA revelation of the qualifiers, Albania secured the necessary point last November in Moldova to reach the European Championship finals for only the second time in their history.
Significantly, the Eagles, coached by former Arsenal player and Barcelona defender Silvinho, suffered an initial setback in qualifying, losing 1-0 to Poland. However, they then gathered 15 points from a possible 21, including a sensational 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic, marking an undeniable peak in their historic unbeaten run of seven matches in Group E.
Nevertheless, while Albania also defeated Poland at home in qualifiers and can boast some talented players like Berat Gjimshiti, Kristjan Asllani, and Armando Broja, it would be a major surprise to see them in the knockout stages in Germany, given the challenging draw with Spain, Italy, and Croatia in Group B.
Consecutive losses in March international matches against Chile and Sweden slightly tempered expectations, while Silvinho’s squad selection has sparked controversy, having omitted some previously key players including Sokol Cikalleshi. Nonetheless, Albania at least won their last two friendly matches before the Euros, against Liechtenstein and Azerbaijan.
Conclusion
Group B at the 2024 European Championship brings thrilling matches between Spain, Croatia, Italy, and Albania. Each team has its strengths and challenges, promising a battle to the last breath for progression. Spain relies on its young talents, while Croatia counts on experienced players like Modrić. Italy defends its title but faces injuries, while Albania, though a surprise, has a tough task in this tough group. It’s exciting to see how these four teams will tackle the challenges and who will ultimately secure advancement to the next stage.