Assessment of Group B Euro 2024 between Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Albania: Who will win the death group?

Group B of the 17th European Football Championship 2024 promises high-class matches as the strong teams of Spain, reigning champions Italy, and Croatia compete with Albania for a ticket to the next round.

Spain, with coach Luis de la Fuente, won the UEFA Nations League in 2023. This team is expected to have a successful season based on their strong force, including the presence of young wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. However, they need to find a reliable striker, as Alvaro Morata from Atletico Madrid has seen a serious decline in form.

Reigning Euro champions Italy, led by former Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti. Italy boasts several players from Serie A champions Inter Milan, led by architect midfielder Nicolo Barella. However, they are also struggling with the lack of a top center-back, although Juventus’ Federico Chiesa will be a formidable threat from outside.

Croatia, with coach Zlatko Dalic, were runners-up in the 2018 World Cup and took third place in Qatar two years later. This team is trying to give 38-year-old veteran midfielder Luka Modric a splendid swan song. Croatia has top talents scattered across the team, including Osasuna striker Ante Budimir in good form in Spain, and Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic in midfield.

Albania is the weakest team in the group. However, they are not inferior and will try to surprise in the upcoming matches. Draws against smaller teams like the Faroe Islands and Moldova last year explain Albania’s underdog status in one of the most exciting groups to watch in Germany.

⚽️ Euro 2024 Group B match schedule:

June 15: Spain vs. Croatia (5pm | Olympiastadion, Berlin)

June 15: Italy vs. Albania (8pm | BVB Stadion Dortmund, Dortmund)

June 19: Croatia vs. Albania (2pm | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg)

June 20: Spain vs. Italy (8pm | Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen)

June 24: Croatia vs. Italy (8pm | Dusseldorf Arena, Dusseldorf)

June 24: Albania vs. Spain (8pm | Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig)

⚽️ Predicting Group B Euro 2024 to the last 16 teams:

It’s hard to overtake Spain at the top of Group B, and it would be a big surprise if La Roja didn’t take the top spot.

The second place is open, with both Italy and Croatia believing they are good enough to secure a spot in the top two, but we just favor Italy here, for a talented squad will come to Germany.

Albania is rated much lower and it’s hard to imagine they will make an impression.

Spain and Italy will proactively move into the last 16 teams, and Croatia also has a chance to score enough points to become one of the best third-placed teams, if they miss the top two spots.

⚽️ UEFA Euro 1960 to 2021 with 16 tournaments and 10 national champions

⏩ Germany won the Euro 3 times (1972 – 1980 – 1996)

⏩ Spain won the Euro 3 times (1964 – 2008 – 2012)

⏩ France won the Euro 2 times (1984 – 2000)

⏩ Italy won the Euro 2 times (1968 – 2020)

⏩ Soviet Union won the Euro once in 1960

⏩ Czechoslovakia won the Euro once in 1976

⏩ Netherlands won the Euro once in 1988

⏩ Denmark won the Euro once in 1992

⏩ Greece won the Euro once in 2004

⏩ Portugal won the Euro once in 2016

With the participation of the strongest European teams according to the FIFA ranking on February 15, 2024 such as France (2nd) – England (3rd) – Belgium (4th) – Netherlands (6th) – Portugal (7th) – Spain (8th) – Italy (9th) – Croatia (10th) and bright stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku to promising young talents, Euro 2024 promises to deliver top-level and dramatic matches.

EURO 2024 will take place in Germany from June 14 to July 14, 2024 in 10 cities in Germany with 24 participating teams. The teams are divided into 6 groups to select the first and second teams in each group, and the 4 third-placed teams with the best performance to get a ticket to the knock-out round. The opening match is scheduled for June 14 between host Germany and Scotland.

⚽️ Detailed EURO 2024 match groups:

⚽️ Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland

⚽️ Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania

⚽️ Group C: England, Denmark, Serbia, Slovenia

⚽️ Group D: Poland, France, Netherlands, Austria

⚽️ Group E: Slovakia, Romania, Belgium, Ukraine

⚽️ Group F: Portugal, Turkey, Czech Republic, Georgia