Red Bull Arena in Leipzig
Follow the crucial Group B match where defending champions Italy face dark horse Croatia. This is their first encounter in 9 years since the Euro 2006 qualifiers, where both matches ended in a 1-1 draw. What will be the outcome this time? Read the comprehensive analysis with V9Bet.
The final Group B game pits the "Checkered Ones" against the "Azzurri." Italy holds the advantage after a narrow 2-1 win over Albania, while Croatia was held to a 2-2 draw by an underdog in injury time. Both teams lost to group leaders Spain, leaving Luciano Spalletti’s Italy with 3 points, needing only a draw to advance. Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia, with just one point, must win to secure their spot in the next round.
Red Bull Arena in Leipzig
Red Bull Arena in Leipzig will host this encounter. Originally built in 1956 as Zentralstadion, it was the largest stadium in Europe at the time, accommodating up to 100,000 people. Now modernized and supported by Red Bull, the capacity has been reduced to 47,069 for safety reasons, with the remaining space converted into various facilities.
Croatia prepared for Euro 2024 with 4 warm-up games, winning all of them. However, their form faltered in the tournament, starting with a 0-3 defeat to Spain despite creating more chances. This was followed by a 2-2 draw with Albania, where they conceded in injury time.
Last 5 matches:
Italy also played 4 warm-up games before Euro 2024, winning 3 and drawing 1, showcasing strong defense by conceding only one goal. Despite a shaky start against Albania, they managed a 2-1 win. However, they struggled against Spain, losing 0-1, leaving their progression chances still open.
Last 5 matches:
Croatia's coach, Zlatko Dalic, will miss Nikola Vlasic due to a severe knee injury. Andrej Kramaric is expected to lead the attack, replacing Bruno Petkovic and Ante Budimir. Defensive changes are anticipated, reverting to the lineup from their first game.
Luka Modric - The legend of Croatia
Expected lineup:
Italy's coach, Luciano Spalletti, has no injury or suspension concerns and will field a strong lineup to secure progression. Federico Chiesa might be replaced by Federico Dimarco, with Matteo Darmian moving to defense. Giacomo Raspadori and Mateo Retegui could get a chance to prove themselves.
Gianluigi Donnarumma - The best goalkeeper of Italy recently
Expected lineup:
IM Sports or Inplay Matrix offers odds favoring Croatia over Italy with a slight margin. Considering the tight nature of the game, V9Bet recommends betting on a score under 2.5 goals, guaranteeing a safer return. Alternatively, a draw in a 1X2 bet offers a substantial return.
Croatia vs Italy's odds
Both teams have shown inefficiencies in their attack. Croatia’s 2 goals against Albania came from 5 shots on target out of 20 attempts, with one being an own goal. Italy also struggled offensively, with Federico Chiesa being neutralized. Expect a cautious game with a high chance of a draw.
Read more >> The whole of Europe is aspiring to be like Southgate
The Croatia vs Italy match has become the most anticipated game in Group B, given Italy’s traditionally slow starts and Croatia's efforts to help Luka Modric win a national title. Italy has never beaten Croatia, adding more intrigue to this encounter. For detailed Euro 2024 analysis and live match viewing, visit V9Bet.