Croatia 0-1 Albania – Euro 2024: Live score and latest updates as the Albanian crowd goes WILD with Qazim Laci heading in to set up what could be ANOTHER big upset
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Ramadani goes down winded after a thunderous effort by Modric fires against his stomach.
Modric isn’t best pleased as the referee stops the game even though it wasn’t a head injury.
When play is resumed Perisic has acres of space outside the box but his effort is deflected into the hands of Strakosha.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Some more dangerous crosses into the Albanian box as Petkovic’s header is deflected over for a corner.
Modric then has his head in his hands as his corner is headed over by Sutalo – when the defender was left free in the box.
Kovacic drives forward and finds Kramaric who gives the ball away.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Finally a bit of possession for Albania. Bajrami who caused all sorts of problems in the first-half and has a new threat to contend with in the form of Pasalic who is marking him closely.
Albania’s fans in Hamburg are bouncing – they are about 40 minutes away from a famous victory.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Another chance for Croatia as Perisic puts in a cracking ball for Kramaric but the forward can’t make good enough contact and it floats behind him rather than on goal.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Pasalic should go for goal!
Croatia are putting many men forward at the start of this half and a cross is put in but Pasalic decides to try and lay it off instead of go for goal himself, but his header down is not good enough and Albania clear.
Not long after Kovacic fires away a wicked shot from the outside of the box which is deflected and into the hands of Strakosha.
Croatia coming closer…
Save by Strakosha!
Bright start to the half by Croatia and they force a save out of Strakosha!
It is substitute Sucic who tries to bend it inside the far post but can’t get it wide enough and the keeper parries it away.
Moments later Perisic puts in a dangerous looking ball which is headed away.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
It will be interesting to see what Pasalic – who was once on Chelsea’s books – and Sucic can do to turn this around for Croatia.
Croatia begin the half dominating possession again as they pass the ball around Albania’s box but can’t find a way to break through the defence.
Second half gets underway
Luka Modric gets us back underway for the second-half.
No change for Albania, understandably, after their excellent first 45.
Two changes for Croatia
Sucic and Mario Pasalic have come on for Majer and Brozovic.
Albania have another 45 minutes to make history
Just a reminder that Albania would pull off the biggest shock victory, in terms of the FIFA world rankings, in Euros history if it stays like this.
Could this be the end of Croatia’s ‘Golden Generation’ or can they turn things around?
We are about to get back underway
Deserved lead for Albania
Albania have a deserved lead thanks to the goals from Qazim Laci.
They are constantly posing problems on the counter-attack with Nedim Bajrami – who scored against Italy – causing all sorts of issues down Croatia’s right-hand side.
Rey Manaj is getting closer to scoring a goal as well, and Croatia will have to change something up tactically to deal with this in the second 45.
Frustration for Croatia
Not the half that Croatia would have wanted.
Four goals conceded in two games so far and they are looking particularly vulnerable at the back.
One stat which won’t ease minds of Croatia fans is that they have won just one out of their last 10 games at the Euros when conceding the first goal.
HALF-TIME – Croatia 0-1 Albania
It is half-time but not before there is huge chances at both ends!
Again Albania hit Croatia on the counter attack and a cross is headed by Manaj but saved by Livakovic.
At the other end Croatia have their best move of the match after some nice intricate play but the offside flag goes up as a header is saved by Strakosha.
Albania lead at the break, but can they hang on?
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Chance for Croatia as Juranovic who has been one of their more dangerous players whips in a cross for Majer, but the latter’s effort is headed wide.
Not much complaint from Majer but replays show that he should have got a corner as the ball deflected wide.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
No foul awarded to the dismay of Manaj who is taken down in the Croatia half.
At the other end Kramaric tries to work his way into the Albania box only to lose the box and Manaj gets a foul this time as he is clipped at the heels.
This time the Albanian forward is not happy to get a foul as he felt they could have broken away.
Tough to please some people!
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Dangerous ball over the top into the Croatian box but Manaj can’t quite get control as he stretches out a leg in his attempts to reach it.
At the other end of the pitch Brozovic takes a shot from long-range but it’s a rather weak one and it bobbles into the hands of Strakosha.
A sign that Croatia are struggling for ideas in this first half.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Modric is the one tasked with whipping the ball in but Strakosha is a commanding figure in the box and he punches the ball away from danger.
Free-kick in dangerous position for Croatia
Asani looks stunned as he gives away a free-kick in a dangerous position for clipping the ankles of Kramaric.
Correct decision by the referee and this is a huge chance for Croatia.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
For all of Croatia’s possession – 66 per cent to date – it is Albania who look the more dangerous team anytime they look to break on their opponents.
Lot of side-to-side passing in midfield but it appears their best chance will be to play the ball out wide and put in a cross for Petkovic.
Albania’s threat on the counter-attack will have Dalic thinking about how he can cope with that in the second-half.
Huge chance for Albania!
Huge chance for Albania!
It should be 2-0 as Luka Modric gives the ball away in midfield and they are away 2 v 2.
A beautifully threaded ball finds Asllani who tries to trick the goalkeeper with his eyes but Livakovic dives low and tips the ball away.
Albania stun Croatia
This was the goal that rocked the Croatians, with Albania 1-0 up after 27 minutes.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
What a chance for Croatia!
Petkovic slumps down to the ground as Majer puts in an excellent whipped cross through to the striker who can’t get the contact he wants and heads well over the bar.
He looks over to the linesman but the flag didn’t go up.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Majer and Petkovic link up but there is no way through for the latter who tries to burst through into the box.
Kovacic and Kramaric then play a one-two but the Man City star is then blocked off.
Albania have dropped deep and Croatia will need to make the most out of their midfield creativity if they are to break down their opponents.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Modric tries to play Juranovic down the line on the right flank but Albania stop a route through.
Not long after Kovacic gives the ball away. Croatia bit sloppy with their possesion despite all of their quality in midfield.
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Perisic puts in a cross which is deflected into the path of Petkovic but Albania defender Ajeti is able to beat him to the ball.
Bajrami again attempts to break but he is blocked.
Kovacic has a shot blocked at the other end, before Brozovic has an effort of his own roll wide of the far post.
Frenetic end-to-end action!
Croatia 0-1 Albania
Croatia look vulnerable now and Albania come close again as Bajrami forces a corner with a shot which is tipped wide.
GOAL! Croatia 0-1 Albania (Laci 11)
What a ball this is from Asani!
The ball is worked out to the right and Perisic can’t get close to the Albanian wide player and it is Qazim Laci – the man who came into the team today – who is able to head home.
Another early goal for Albania, can they hold on this time?
Croatia 0-0 Albania
Modric’s free-kick is headed away and Bajrami is definitely an outlet on the left flank for Albania as he bursts forward, but Croatia defend well.
Not long later Modric attempts to put another ball into the box with the outside of his foot but Albania have a body that gets in the way.
Croatia 0-0 Albania
Juranovic is causing problems down the right flank and he puts in a cross which is cleared by Ajeti.
An opportunity springs up for Majer but he can’t quite find his feet after Kovacic won the ball and found him inside the box.
Free-kick for Croatia as Ajeti fouls Petkovic.
Croatia 0-0 Albania
Juranovic wins the corner after he is found by Modric.
The corner is played short though and they are unable to do anything with the opportunity.
Croatia dominating possession already though.
Incredible atmosphere in Hamburg
Croatia 0-0 Albania
Croatia get hold of the ball and are already starting to get into a passing rhythm – something you would expect given the level of quality they have in midfield.
Mateo Kovacic will have to improve his long-range passes though as he blasts one forward with no Croatian team-mate in sight.
KICK-OFF: Croatia 0-0 Albania
Albania, dressed in black, get us underway against Croatia – the first time these nations have met in their history.
23 seconds in and Albania have not scored like they did against Italy.
Though it is a fast start as Bajrami attempts to put in a cross which is cleared.
A reminder of the starting line-ups
Croatia XI: Livakovic; Juranovic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Perisic; Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic; Majer, Kramaric, Petkovic
Albania XI: Strakosha; Hysaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Ramadani, Asllani; Asani, Bajrami, Laci; Manaj
The teams are out
Just five minutes to go until kick-off and here come the two teams.
Luka Modric leads out the Croatian side, while Berat Djimsiti leads out their opponents.
And it is time for the national anthems.
Some competitive pre-match warm-ups
Croatia and Albania both seem to be very up for today’s game going off the competitiveness of their pre-match warm-ups.
Luka Modric and Marcelo Brozovic both lunging in on a 50/50 attempt to get the ball might have had the Croatia manager wincing.
Less than 15 minutes to go!
The former Arsenal star in charge of Albania
Sylvinho has gone from the first Brazilian player to sign for Arsenal in 1999, to manager of Albania a quarter of a century later.
He was the left-back of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal before an injury led to him being displaced by Ashley Cole – only one of the greatest players of that position.
There was plenty of positives for Sylvinho in their opening game, something which he is eager to take into this match.
In his pre-match press conference, he said;
Except for the first 15 minutes against Italy, we did really well. We are talking about Italy, one of the best teams in the competition.Croatia gave a good performance (against Spain), even in losing 3-0. If you see the stats from this match without seeing the result, you wouldn’t believe Croatia lost. But at this level of football, anything can happen.’
Croatia and Albania fans take over Hamburg
Dalic expects more from Croatia
Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic has urged his side to ‘be even better’ against Albania – after losing 3-0 in their opening game.
In his pre-match press conference, he said;
Albania may not be of the same quality as Spain but they deserve a lot of respect.They are motivated and organised, so we need to be patient and cautious. We know our goal is to win and we will be more offensive. We want to improve. Even against Spain, we had possession and created more chances, but now we need to be even better.’
Albania could set new benchmark
If Albania beat Croatia today it would be the biggest shock in Euros history – going off their respective FIFA world rankings.
Albania are only ranked 66th in the world, while Croatia are in a lofty 10th.
The current record was only set on Monday, when Slovakia (48th) beat Belgium (3rd).
Head-to-head record
For those interested in the head-to-head record… well there is no previous meeting!
It is the first time that these two nations are facing in any competition.
Albania have won just one of their last 10 matches when facing a nation for the very first time – beating Faroe Islands in June 2023.
However, more positive stats for Albania is that they have not lost back-to-back games since September 2022, while Croatia have lost their last three.
Atmosphere building in Hamburg
Inside the dressing rooms
The final preparations are well underway with kick-off in around 45 minutes.
Here is a peek inside the dressing rooms with the match shirts lined up for the players.
Which of these names will be the key man this afternoon?
Players arriving at the stadium
Players from both nations have been arriving at the Volskparkstadion.
Croatia’s major stars including Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric had stern looks on their faces – they know the importance of today’s game.
Armando Broja meanwhile looked far from pleased, perhaps already knowing his place on the bench. Just one international goal since 2022 might just play a huge part in his manager Sylvinho’s thinking.
Albania’s starting XI
Armando Broja is on the bench for Albania – a very interesting decision by their manager.
Rey Manaj and Qazim Laci step in for Broja and Taulant Seferi.
Croatia’s starting XI
Croatia have made three changes to the side that lost to Spain with Ivan Perisic, Bruno Petkovic and Josip Juranovic coming in for Marin Pongracic, Josip Stanisic and Ante Budimir.
Croatia boss aims dig at England
Ahead of their must-win game against Albania you would have thought Croatian manager Zlatko Dalic would be fully concentrating on his opponents.
However, he aimed a dig at England during his pre-match press conference – as part of his defence of his own side after their heavy 3-0 loss to Spain.
He pointed out England’s lack of medals and insisted that Croatia deserve ‘greater respect’ for what they have achieved.
Click below to read more…
Croatia boss aims thinly veiled dig at England in passionate defence
Fans soak up the pre-match atmosphere
Looks like a glorious day in Hamburg with fans making their way to the Volksparkstadion in the sunshine.
Fans have been enjoying some pre-match drinks, getting thei
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