June 19 – After losing their opening matches in the Group of Death (Group B) to Romania and Italy respectively, Croatia and Albania knew that a win at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg would reignite their Euro2024 dreams.
A loss by either side and the taxi to the airport would be waiting at the stadium when they play their respective final group matches on Monday. The 2-2 draw keeps both sides alive.
Conventional tournament wisdom says you cannot lose your first game and expect to advance except when there is a 24-team tournament. This means four teams have the chance to sneak through to the knockout phase as a best 3rd place team and in this group one win with goal difference might just be enough.
After smashing the Euro record for scoring the fastest ever goal in the competition’s history (23 seconds against Italy), Albania started with the same kind of intensity.
Modric majestic in second half
They pinned Croatia back in their defensive third of the field and that pressure paid off in the 10th minute. Jasir Asani lofted a beautiful cross from the right side onto the head of Qazim Laci who had ghosted into the box like the invisible man as the Croatian backline stood around and watched. Dominik Livakovic the Croatian goalkeeper will look back on his effort to keep the ball out and not be a happy man.
You had to wonder whether Zlatko Dalic’s men were still shellshocked from the waxing inflicted on them by Spain or perhaps father time has finally caught up with this magnificent but aging team.
Croatia though are dogged, and they have taken body blows from the best. Ivan Perisic is the epitome of that mentality and he looked to put his team on his back working tirelessly down the left-hand side trying to carve open opportunities.
Luka Sucic gave Croatia the lead
As Croatia pushed forward though, Albania started looking increasingly dangerous on the counterattack.
In the 31st minute Luka Modric did the unthinkable and gave the ball away initiating a…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/06/19/albania-squander-lead-claw-way-back-dramatic-draw/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-06-19 17:47:41
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