Three Points Crucial for Both Croatia and Albania
Balkan Sides Look to Shake Off Opening Game Losses
First-Ever Meeting Between Croatia and Albania
Despite both hailing from the Balkan region of Europe, Croatia and Albania have never played against each other in an international soccer match. Now, they’ll face off in their second Group Stage match on Wednesday. Both sides desperately need points, as Croatia lost 3-0 to Spain on Saturday and Albania fell 2-1 to Italy.
Croatia know this is their best remaining chance to pick up points and coach Zlatko Dalic has already highlighted that they need to win this match. Ahead of an important match, we’ll cover the Croatia vs Albania Euro odds.
Croatia vs Albania
Date & Time: Wednesday, June 19th, 9:00 a.m. ET
Location: Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany
Croatia vs Albania Head-to-Head
This is the first-ever chance to bet on the Croatia vs Albania Euro odds and first meeting between Croatia and Albania overall. Croatia was a part of Yugoslavia before it broke up in 1991. Albania were 0-3-5 all-time vs. the Yugoslavia national football team.
Croatia End Spain’s Possession Streak, Still Fall 3-0
Croatia ended a long Spain streak on Saturday but it didn’t translate to three points. It was the first time in 136 competitive games that Spain failed to keep more possession of the ball than their opponents. Croatia had 54 percent of the ball but still fell 3-0 to goals from Spain’s Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal. Croatia has an impressive midfield, with Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic.
However, they’ve had issues up top ever since Mario Mandzukic retired. Croatia did put five shots on target on Saturday but Zlatko Dalic may need to switch his lineup around a bit. The stakes are high on Wednesday, as this could be Modric’s last chance for major international silverware.
Modric’s stats for the national team are impressive: he’s played 149 games and scored 23 goals and provided 15 assists. However, he’s more of a deep lying playmaker than a number 10 and Dalic will need one of his attacking players to step up. Ante Budimir and Andrej Kramaric both had good seasons at the club level but their performances for Croatia have frequently been unconvincing.
Dalic could call upon big Bruno Petkovic to start up top or throw 35-year old Ivan Perisic in at winger. Croatia were also poor defensively on Saturday and Marin Pongracic might not get another opportunity at center back. With games remaining vs. Albania and Italy, the time for Croatia to grab all three points is now. This is an experienced Croatia side and they’ll learn from the defeat to Spain.
Albania Fall Short vs Defending Champions
Albania are expected to finish in last place in the Group B Euro 2024 standings. Still, the Red and Blacks put up a fight in their opening match vs. defending champions Italy. Nedim Bajrami pounced on an errant throw-in to score the quickest goal in Euro history, just 23 seconds in, vs. Italy. Italy then dominated possession and got goals from Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella to complete the 2-1 comeback win.
While the Albanians weren’t at the technical level of Italy, their effort was admirable. Almost no one has them going to the Knockout Stage on the UEFA Euro bracket, but they are capable of springing a surprise. Albania will have to absorb pressure from all of their Group Stage opponents and hit them on the counterattack. Armando Broja has had a rough few seasons out on loan from Chelsea but he did look like a threat on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Bajrami and Kristjan Asllani are Albania’s key guys in midfield. Plus, Saturday was the first major tournament match for most of Albania’s players. There will undoubtedly be a learning curve, as coach Sylvinho stated, and they could improve as the tournament goes on.
Croatia vs Albania Match Analysis & Odds
Croatia have advanced to the Knockout Stage on each of their last four appearances at major tournaments. A loss here would make elimination likely and this is a must-win match for the Vatreni. The Croatia vs Albania Euro odds currently list Modric and Croatia as -195 favorites.
Albania are 1-3 in major tournament matches all-time and most books list them as +600 underdogs for this one. Croatia are likely to dominate possession even more here and that should lead to a fair few opportunities. Whether they’ll convert them is another story.
According to the oddsmakers, it’s probable that this ends up as a low scoring match. Under 2.5 goals are priced at -125 odds. Croatia -1 shows -110 odds but it’s hard to have too much confidence in Croatia to blow Albania out given the Vatreni’s opening game showing. Albania +1 stands at even odds, at the moment, while a draw is at +310.
