One of the most intriguing first quarters of Euro 2024 takes place in Group B, with two former winners – including those of the most recent European Championship – plus a nation that has reached the semi-finals of the last two World Cups.
Spain will be many’s favorites to progress given some of their star names, while Italy are still working on a new identity after a period of struggle since their victory at Wembley three years ago. Croatia has not yet really been able to shine at the European Championship, but has shown that it is capable of achieving results on the world stage, including in Qatar two years ago.
Finally, Albania will be participating in a domestic tournament for only the second time – the first since Euro 2016 – and although it will be fourth favorites to reach the knockouts, it will notably beat the Czech Republic and Poland in qualifying to top their group.
Spain and Italy are the fifth and sixth favorites to win the tournament outright, although in reality it is the Spaniards who are seen as one of the likely winners with then reigning champions Italy leading the next group of potential candidates by some distance. between their pre-tournament chances.
Here’s everything you need to know about Group B:
Selection for Euro 2024
Spain
Goalkeepers: Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), David Raya (Arsenal), Unai Simon (Athletics Club)
Defenders: Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Dani Vivian (Athletics Club), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Nacho (Real Madrid), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)
Forward: Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Joselu (Real Madrid), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ayoze Perez (Real Betis), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Nico Williams ( athletics club)
Italy
Goalkeepers: Gigi Donnarumma (PSG), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham), Alex Meret (Napoli)
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Matteo Darmian (Inter), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Federico Gatti (Juventus)
Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus), Jorginho (Arsenal), Michael Folorunsho (Hellas Verona)
Forward: Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma)
Croatia
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Fenerbahce), Ivica Ivusic (Pafos), Nediljko Labrovic (Rijeka)
Defenders: Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens), Josip Juranovic (Union Berlin), Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Borna Sosa (Ajax), Josip Stanisic (Bayer Leverkusen), Josip Sutalo (Ajax), Martin Erlic (Sassuolo), Marin Pongracic ( Lecce)
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Lovro Majer (Wolsfburg), Luka Ivanusec (Feyenoord), Luka Sucic (RB Salzburg), Martin Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb)
Forward: Ivan Perisic (Hajduk Split), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Marko Pjaca (Rijeka), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pasalic (Rijeka)
Albania
Goalkeepers: Etrit Berisha (Empoli), Thomas Strakosha (Brentford), Elhan Kastrati (Cittadella)
Defenders: Ivan Balliu (Rayo Vallecano), Mario Mitaj (Loko Moscow), Elseid Hysaj (Lazio), Arlind Ajeti (Cluj), Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta), Enea Mihaj (Famalicao), Ardian Ismajli (Empoli), Marash Kumbulla (Sassuolo) , Naser Aliji (Voluntari)
Midfielders: Medon Berisha (Lecce), Klaus Gjasula (Darmstadt), Nedim Bajrami (Sassuolo), Qazim Laci (Sparta Prague), Ernest Muci (Besiktas), Ylber Ramadani (Lecce), Kristjan Asllani (Inter Milan), Amir Abrashi (Locusts)
Forward: Jasir Asani (Gwangju), Rey Manaj (Sivasspor), Taulant Seferi (Baniyas), Armando Broja (Fulham), Mirlind Daku (Rubin Kazan), Arber Hoxha (Dinamo Zagreb)
Fixtures
June 15
17:00 Spain vs Croatia (Berlin)
20:00 Italy vs Albania (Dortmund)
June 19
14:00 Croatia vs Albania (Hamburg)
June 20
20:00 Spain vs Italy (Gelsenkirchen)
24th of June
20:00 Albania vs Spain (Dusseldorf)
20:00 Croatia vs Italy (Leipzig)
Four players to watch
Spain: Dani Olmo
Although the squad is not full of the match winners from previous years, a handful of players in the Spanish group are truly elite, and Dani Olmo is right there with them. The versatile attacker combines movement and technical quality with an eye for goal. He will likely be crucial if they want to go deep this summer, because even though the likes of Rodri and Pedri are close to perfect in midfield, Spain still need a reliable presence in midfield. the last third.
Italy: Alessandro Bastoni
Already one of the key members of the Italian squad, Bastoni’s prominence is now only heightened by injuries to two defenders from the initial announcement, including Bologna’s very impressive centre-back Giorgio Scalvini. That leaves 25-year-old Bastoni as the man who combines top physical qualities with reasonable international experience, while he is at the top of his game, fresh from another title at Inter. They will need his consistency and fierce, combative nature.
Croatia: Luka Modric
Who else? The oldest player of the entire group, and yet perhaps one of the best. Even if he doesn’t perform 90 minutes in all three group matches, he is likely to be a big difference maker for Croatia if they want to progress to the knockouts. Although he would have wanted more playing time at Real Madrid this season, that could prove to be a bonus for his national team in the summer. Almost 180 caps for the Vatreni.
Albania: Rey Manaj
If they want to have any hope of getting through this difficult group they will have to score goals, it’s as simple as that. A few draws power be good enough for one team to get through, with the best third-placed scenario in action, but after goal difference it’s the goals scored to determine which four third-placed teams will advance. Albania have only 15 players in their squad who have scored an international goal and none have more than Rey Manaj’s seven. He comes into the tournament after a fine domestic campaign with Sivasspor, where he scored eighteen. Will win free kicks, will shoot from anywhere, will be a battering ram when Albania need him.
Chances to win Group B
Spain 5/6
Italy 5/2
Croatia 4/1
Albania 30/1
Prediction
Spain look more than capable of progressing easily and topping the group. While this is not a surprising choice, Italy’s recent performances show that they should also go through it without fuss. Croatia or Albania securing a win against each other will be crucial to any third party’s hopes of progression – it would be a surprise if Croatia fail to do so.