Both Croatia and Italy could progress into the Euro 2024 knockout stages today.
The Azzurri just need to avoid defeat in order to go through as runners-up behind dominant Spain, who have already won the group after Riccardo Calafiori’s unfortunate second-half own goal secured a fully deserved 1-0 victory over the defending champions in Gelsenkirchen on Thursday night.
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Italy already had three points on the board after bouncing back from conceding the fastest goal in European Championship history after only 23 seconds against Albania on opening weekend, hitting back quickly to triumph 2-1 courtesy of goals from Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella.
Head coach Luciano Spalletti has named unchanged teams in back-to-back games, though has made vast changes for the Group B finale. Key among them is Mateo Retegui replacing Gianluca Scamacca up front. Federico Dimarco shakes off an injury to start.
Croatia were surprisingly swept aside 3-0 by Spain in their opener in Berlin and then trailed at half-time against Albania in Hamburg, turning things around thanks to Andrej Kramaric and an own goal from Klaus Gjasula, who later atoned for his error with a dramatic last-gasp equaliser.
Zlatko Dalic’s men were far better after the break in that game thanks to Osasuna striker Ante Budimir’s key role in both goals after coming off the bench in place of Bruno Petkovic, but does not get a start.
Mario Pasalic and Luka Sucic also shone after replacing Marcelo Brozovic and Lovro Majer at half-time, so do get the nod. Ivan Perisic is back on the bench.
Confirmed team news
Croatia XI: Livakovic; Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Sucic, Kramaric, Pasalic
Subs: Erlic, Majer, Labrovic, Perisic, Budimir, Petkovic, Ivanusec, Sosa, Pjaca, Vida, Juranovic, Ivusic, Marco Pasalic, Baturina
Italy XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Darmian; Barella, Jorginho; Raspadori, Pellegrini, Dimarco; Retegui
Subs: Buongiorno, Gatti, Frattesi, Scamacca, Vicario, Chiesa, Bellanova, Cristante, Mancini, Zaccagni, Fagioli, El Shaarawy, Cambiaso, Folorunsho, Meret
Time and date: 8pm BST on Monday June 24, 2024
Venue: Leipzig Stadium
TV channel: BBC One
