bluesfan94
Registered User
Match Schedule
The Teams
Spain
GK - Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao); David Raya (Arsenal); Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad)
DEF - Jesus Navas (Sevilla); Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid); Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr); Nacho (Real Madrid); Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad); Marc Cucurella (Chelsea); Alex Grimaldo (Leverkusen); Daniel Vivian (Athletic Bilbao)
MID - Rodri (Man City); Fabian Ruiz (PSG); Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad); Pedri (Barcelona); Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad); Alex Baena (Villarreal); Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)
FWD - Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid); Ferran Torres (Barcelona); Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig); Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad); Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao); Joselu (Real Madrid); Lamine Yamal (Barcelona); Ayoze Perez (Real Betis)
Croatia
GK - Dominik Livakovic (Fenerbahce); Nediljko Labrovic (Rijeka); Ivica Ivusic (Pafos)
DEF - Josip Stanisic (Leverkusen); Marin Pongracic (Lecce); Josko Gvardiol (Man City); Martin Erlic (Sassuolo); Josip Sutalo (Ajax); Borna Sosa (Ajax); Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens); Josip Juranovic (Union Berlin)
MID - Lovro Majer (Wolfsburg); Mateo Kovacic (Man City); Luka Modric (Real Madrid); Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr); Nikola Vlasic (Torino); Mario Pasalic (Atalanta); Luka Ivanusec (Feyenoord); Luka Sucic (RB Salzburg); Martin Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb)
FWD - Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim); Ivan Perisic (Hajduk Split); Ante Budimir (Osasuna); Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb); Marko Pjaca (Rijeka); Marco Pasalic (Rijeka)
Italy
GK - Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG); Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham); Alex Meret (Napoli)
DEF - Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli); Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan); Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino); Gianluca Mancini (Roma); Matteo Darmian (Inter Milan); Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna); Raoul Bellanova (Torino); Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan); Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus); Federico Gatti (Juventus)
MID - Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan); Jorginho (Arsenal); Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma); Bryan Cristante (Roma); Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus); Micahel Folorunsho (Hellas Verona); Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)
FWD - Mateo Retegui (Genoa); Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli); Federico Chiesa (Juventus); Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio); Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma); Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta)
Albania
GK - Etrit Berisha (Empoli); Thomas Strakosha (Brentford); Elhan Kastrati (Cittadella)
DEF - Elseid Hysaj (Lazio); Berat Gjimshiti (Atalanta); Ardian Ismajli (Empoli); Arlind Ajeti (CFR Cluj); Marash Kumbulla (Sassuolo); Enea Mihaj (Famalicao); Naser Aliji (Voluntari); Ivan Balliu (Rayo Vallecano); Mario Mitaj (Lokomotiv Moscow)
MID - Amir Abrashi (Grasshoppers); Ylber Ramadani (Lecce); Klaus Gjasula (Darmstadt); Qazim Laci (Sparta Prague); Nedim Bajrami (Sassuolo); Kristjan Asllani (Inter Milan); Ernest Muci (Besiktas); Medon Berisha (Lecce)
FWD - Rey Manaj (Sivasspor); Armando Broja (Fulham); Taulant Seferi (Baniyas); Jasir Asani (Gwangju); Mirlind Daku (Rubin Kazan); Arber Hoxha (Dinamo Zagreb)
The Storyline
Spain enters Euros 2024 looking to get back to its back-to-back winning ways from the late 00s and early 10s. They will do so with a squad that has been critiqued by many, but that offers an intriguing mix of experience with youth, with multiple teenagers, including 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, being named to the squad. In qualifying, Spain stumbled early, losing 2-0 to Scotland, but won out otherwise, conceding only 5 goals across 8 matches. They also will be looking to keep Rodri's streak of not losing going, as he hasn't lost in like, a long time or something.
Croatia is perhaps unlucky to be drawn into this group of death. As is the Croatian way, they will be looking on their strong depth and experience in midfield, led, as always, by geriatric yet effective Luka Modric, who led Croatia to a surprising runners-up performance in the 2018 World Cup. In the Euros, however, they have never made it past the quarterfinals, having done so last in 2008. Their age also may be showing, having finished runners up to Turkey in qualifying.
Italy, too, will be unhappy to be in a group of death. The squad is perhaps underwhelming compared to some of the all star Italian groups of years past. But, the same could likely have been said about the 2020 Euros squad and, well, that didn't go too bad for Italy, although we mustn't forget their failure to qualify for the last two World Cups (and their failure to depart the group stage in the two prior).
Albania, it must be said, is not expected to do much in this group. That said, underestimate Albania at your own peril. They did win their qualifying group, albeit one that could be described generously as weak. Still, Albania showed a stout defense, conceding only 4 goals in those matches, and if they can eke out a few draws and/or steal a goal here and there, they could surprise. This is Albania's second time in a major tournament, having previously made the 2016 Euros, where they went out in the group stages.
The Standings
| Home | Away | Time and Date (CT) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Croatia | Sat., Jun. 15, 11:00 AM | Olympiastadion, Berlin |
| Italy | Albania | Sat., Jun. 15, 2:00 PM | Westfalenstadion, Dortmund |
| Croatia | Albania | Wed., Jun. 19, 8:00 AM | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg |
| Spain | Italy | Thu., Jun. 20, 2:00 PM | Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen |
| Albania | Spain | Mon., Jun. 24, 2:00 PM | Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf |
| Croatia | Italy | Mon., Jun. 24, 2:00 PM | Red Bull Arena, Leipzig |
The Teams
Spain
GK - Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao); David Raya (Arsenal); Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad)
DEF - Jesus Navas (Sevilla); Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid); Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr); Nacho (Real Madrid); Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad); Marc Cucurella (Chelsea); Alex Grimaldo (Leverkusen); Daniel Vivian (Athletic Bilbao)
MID - Rodri (Man City); Fabian Ruiz (PSG); Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad); Pedri (Barcelona); Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad); Alex Baena (Villarreal); Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)
FWD - Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid); Ferran Torres (Barcelona); Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig); Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad); Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao); Joselu (Real Madrid); Lamine Yamal (Barcelona); Ayoze Perez (Real Betis)
Croatia
GK - Dominik Livakovic (Fenerbahce); Nediljko Labrovic (Rijeka); Ivica Ivusic (Pafos)
DEF - Josip Stanisic (Leverkusen); Marin Pongracic (Lecce); Josko Gvardiol (Man City); Martin Erlic (Sassuolo); Josip Sutalo (Ajax); Borna Sosa (Ajax); Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens); Josip Juranovic (Union Berlin)
MID - Lovro Majer (Wolfsburg); Mateo Kovacic (Man City); Luka Modric (Real Madrid); Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr); Nikola Vlasic (Torino); Mario Pasalic (Atalanta); Luka Ivanusec (Feyenoord); Luka Sucic (RB Salzburg); Martin Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb)
FWD - Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim); Ivan Perisic (Hajduk Split); Ante Budimir (Osasuna); Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb); Marko Pjaca (Rijeka); Marco Pasalic (Rijeka)
Italy
GK - Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG); Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham); Alex Meret (Napoli)
DEF - Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli); Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan); Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino); Gianluca Mancini (Roma); Matteo Darmian (Inter Milan); Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna); Raoul Bellanova (Torino); Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan); Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus); Federico Gatti (Juventus)
MID - Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan); Jorginho (Arsenal); Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma); Bryan Cristante (Roma); Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus); Micahel Folorunsho (Hellas Verona); Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)
FWD - Mateo Retegui (Genoa); Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli); Federico Chiesa (Juventus); Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio); Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma); Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta)
Albania
GK - Etrit Berisha (Empoli); Thomas Strakosha (Brentford); Elhan Kastrati (Cittadella)
DEF - Elseid Hysaj (Lazio); Berat Gjimshiti (Atalanta); Ardian Ismajli (Empoli); Arlind Ajeti (CFR Cluj); Marash Kumbulla (Sassuolo); Enea Mihaj (Famalicao); Naser Aliji (Voluntari); Ivan Balliu (Rayo Vallecano); Mario Mitaj (Lokomotiv Moscow)
MID - Amir Abrashi (Grasshoppers); Ylber Ramadani (Lecce); Klaus Gjasula (Darmstadt); Qazim Laci (Sparta Prague); Nedim Bajrami (Sassuolo); Kristjan Asllani (Inter Milan); Ernest Muci (Besiktas); Medon Berisha (Lecce)
FWD - Rey Manaj (Sivasspor); Armando Broja (Fulham); Taulant Seferi (Baniyas); Jasir Asani (Gwangju); Mirlind Daku (Rubin Kazan); Arber Hoxha (Dinamo Zagreb)
The Storyline
Spain enters Euros 2024 looking to get back to its back-to-back winning ways from the late 00s and early 10s. They will do so with a squad that has been critiqued by many, but that offers an intriguing mix of experience with youth, with multiple teenagers, including 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, being named to the squad. In qualifying, Spain stumbled early, losing 2-0 to Scotland, but won out otherwise, conceding only 5 goals across 8 matches. They also will be looking to keep Rodri's streak of not losing going, as he hasn't lost in like, a long time or something.
Croatia is perhaps unlucky to be drawn into this group of death. As is the Croatian way, they will be looking on their strong depth and experience in midfield, led, as always, by geriatric yet effective Luka Modric, who led Croatia to a surprising runners-up performance in the 2018 World Cup. In the Euros, however, they have never made it past the quarterfinals, having done so last in 2008. Their age also may be showing, having finished runners up to Turkey in qualifying.
Italy, too, will be unhappy to be in a group of death. The squad is perhaps underwhelming compared to some of the all star Italian groups of years past. But, the same could likely have been said about the 2020 Euros squad and, well, that didn't go too bad for Italy, although we mustn't forget their failure to qualify for the last two World Cups (and their failure to depart the group stage in the two prior).
Albania, it must be said, is not expected to do much in this group. That said, underestimate Albania at your own peril. They did win their qualifying group, albeit one that could be described generously as weak. Still, Albania showed a stout defense, conceding only 4 goals in those matches, and if they can eke out a few draws and/or steal a goal here and there, they could surprise. This is Albania's second time in a major tournament, having previously made the 2016 Euros, where they went out in the group stages.
The Standings
| Team | MP | Wins | Draws | Losses | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Croatia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Italy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Albania | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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