Key occasions
5 min: Nothing comes of the ensuing nook, however that’s a really assured begin by Croatia, who wasted no time in imposing themselves on Italy.
4 min: A protracted go down the inside-right channel for Kramarić to chase. Bastoni ushers it out for a aim kick. However the ball’s quickly coming again at Italy, and Sučić pearls a rising shot that Donnarumma is pressured to tip over else it sneak into the top-left nook.
3 min: Croatia nonetheless have it.
2 min 03 sec: Italy contact the ball! Bastoni with a clearing header. Croatia regain possession and set about their enterprise once more.
2 min: Croatia spend the primary couple of minutes pinging the ball across the again. Italy press however to no avail; they’ve not had a contact but!
Croatia get the ball rolling. An enormous roar. Extra Croatian followers than Italian within the floor tonight.
The groups are out! Croatia put on their well-known purple and white checks, whereas Italy sport their storied blue. Nationwide songs are sung: paeans to the Drava, Sava and Danube, hosannas sung from the Alps to Sicily. Each are nape-of-neck-bothering bangers. Amid an exquisite environment on the Zentralstadion, fingers are being shaken, fists bumped, cash tossed, and pennants swapped. We’ll be off in a few minutes!
Given the style by which Italy have didn’t qualify for the final two World Cups, but gained the European Championship in between, you’d assume the present squad can be effectively versed within the skinny line between glory and abject failure. Nevertheless, on the off-chance they’re not, the group Spain have put out in opposition to Albania tonight ought to have snapped them out of any residual complacency. The Crimson Fury are already by means of to the knockouts as group winners and, because the extra cynical amongst us would have anticipated, have taken the chance of resting a few of their high expertise. Ten adjustments! So ought to Albania pull off a win and Croatia register one other victory in opposition to a rustic they’ve received the signal over … effectively … addio, Italia, we hardly knew ye. Michael Butler has all the main points of Luis de la Fuente’s Selección, and his MBM can be required studying tonight. Get toggling these tabs, children.
Zlatko Dalic makes 4 adjustments to the Croatia XI that began the 2-2 draw with Albania. Josip Stanišić and Marin Pongračić change Josip Juranović and Ivan Perišić in defence, whereas Mario Pašalić and Luka Sučić are available in for Bruno Petković and Lovro Majer up high.
Italy coach Luciano Spalletti makes three adjustments to his aspect within the wake of the more-comprehensive-than-it-sounds 1-0 defeat by Spain, they usually’re all in assault. Out go Davide Frattesi, Gianluca Scamacca and Federico Chiesa; in come Giacomo Raspadori and Mateo Retegui up entrance, with Matteo Darmain including some ballast to the again line.
The groups
Croatia: Livakovic, Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Mario Pasalic, Kramaric, Sucic.
Subs: Erlic, Majer, Labrovic, Perisic, Budimir, Petkovic, Ivanusec, Sosa, Pjaca, Vida, Juranovic, Ivusic, Marco Pasalic, Baturina.
Italy: Donnarumma, Darmian, Bastoni, Calafiori, Di Lorenzo, Barella, Jorginho, Dimarco, Pellegrini, Retegui, Raspadori.
Subs: Buongiorno, Gatti, Frattesi, Scamacca, Vicario, Chiesa, Bellanova, Cristante, Mancini, Zaccagni, Fagioli, El Shaarawy, Cambiaso, Folorunsho, Meret.
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands).
Preamble
Neither of those groups have notably impressed to date. Italy conceded a aim after 23 seconds in opposition to Albania, then have been thrashed 1-0 by Spain; Croatia put up a barely higher present in opposition to the Spanish in a 3-0 defeat (humorous previous scoring system, soccer) however shipped a late, late, late equaliser in opposition to the Albanians. All of which suggests this …
… which in flip means Croatia virtually definitely must win tonight in the event that they’re to make it by means of to the knockout stage. That is most probably the final hurrah for his or her golden era, who’ve come second and third on the final two World Cups, and have been runners-up in final 12 months’s Nations League. However Croatia have by no means fairly made it on the European Championships: their deepest run, to the quarter-finals in 2008, is greatest remembered for the wild celebration of a 119th-minute “winner” in opposition to Turkey that was equalised in stoppage time earlier than the following inevitable penalty loss. So maybe the Euros owe them a bit of one thing.
The reigning champions Italy face loads of jeopardy of their very own. A draw can be sufficient to see them by means of to the knockouts, but when they lose tonight they’d exit ought to Albania shock Spain – who’ve already certified as group winners and may very well be forgiven for relieving off the fuel, so nothing’s off the desk. Worryingly for the Azzurri, their file in opposition to Croatia isn’t nice: in 9 matches they’ve solely gained as soon as, dropping three. They’ll achieve succour from the truth that the final three conferences between the nations have ended 1-1, which might be greater than sufficient tonight. So with either side in obscure states of desperation, that is poised deliciously. The enjoyable in Leipzig begins at 8pm BST. It’s on!
