Opening Doorz

By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | June 21, 2024

Euro 2024 is coming to the business end of the league matches. For teams who have to win, and for others who have to win by a bigger goal margin, this is make-or-break time. A win by a huge goal margin is only possible when the opposition crumbles under a marauding team. In the recent past, it was Germany who handed out a 7-1 hammering to hosts Brazil in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup.

Four years later in Russia, it was Korea who humiliated Germany with a 2-0 win in the final group stage game, sending them (the holders) out of the competition. Korea was already eliminated!

Euro 2024: Croatia and Their Final Group Game

Croatia is coming to the final Group Stage game of their Euro 2024 campaign. Their first two matches have been ‘not-so-impressive’. Nay, lackluster. Against Spain, even though they had possession, they were not able to convert. Their strikers ran out of ideas once inside the Spanish box. Their defense was in tatters.

Against their neighbors, Albania, in the second Group B League game, after drawing level and taking the lead, they squandered an opportunity to gain three points, settling for one solitary point, after a last-gasp equalizer had the Albanians roaring in Hamburg.

With just one point and a game with the reigning Champions Italy pending, the Checkered Ones look check-mated… Well almost…

For a die-hard Croatian fan, who has been hoping against hope since the Luka Modric-led side won the hearts of soccer lovers in 2018, wanting them to win a major title, this one too looks possible, although impossible!

On current form, the way the defense has crumbled, and how the front line has failed to fire, a win against Italy looks improbable. But then again, what is hope without a glimmer of hope? Croatia is hanging by a thread, and if they can climb this huge mountain, clinging on to that ray of hope, beat Italy, and get 4 points, then who knows what might happen? Luka Modric might just have his dream of lifting a major Cup as Croatian skipper and player realized. At Real Madrid, he has won enough silverware. At 38, he is not giving up. But for that, he needs all 11 players to fire.

Euro 2024: Problems in the Defense

The defense this time has been suspect. In the 2018 World Cup (runners-up), the 2020 Euro Cup (Knock-outs), and the 2022 World Cup (third place), the Croatian defense was the talking point. Domagog Vida who was the pillar of defence in Russia, needs to be involved in this game final group game if Croatia are to set up a wall. He has been warming the bench for far too long. Borna Sosa, too, needs to take his position as a left back. You can’t have a live-wire like Ivan Perisic playing left-back when he is fleet-footed and effective on the left flank, upfront. His crosses are measured, and spirited runs are vital for Croatia to create an opening.

Josko Gvardiol is not exactly in the form he was in Doha, Qatar, at the World Cup. Klaus Gjasula who scored the equaliser for Albania deep into extra time, knocked the ball between his legs! The Croatian defense has been in complete disarray.

Against Spain, too, the defense was in tatters. Croatia had the lion’s share of the ball, but Spain was the boss. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, however, has stood his ground in the last line of defense, effecting brilliant saves. However, he will need the defenders to stand firm like Franco Baresi, Guiseppe Bergomi, and Paolo Maldini.

Time is running out for Luka Modric. Time is running out for coach Zlatko Dalic. Bruno Petkovic needs to show the form he showed against Brazil in the last World Cup. He has come close to scoring in Germany. But he needs to swoop down and capitalize on half-chances. Croatia will now have to engage in the long ball and attempt shots from the top of the box, something that Modric is familiar with. Alternatively, Dalic will have to pull out a Salvatore Schillaci from among his reserves to turn the tables on the Azzurri.

Euro 2024: Italy and Problems of Their Own

Italy, on the other hand, too, are desperate for a win if they have to make it to the next round. A draw may suffice too. Against Albania, the reigning Champions suffered the ignominy of letting in the fastest goal in the history of the Euro Cup—Nedim Bajrami from Albania scoring in just 23 seconds! Bajrami was gifted in a throw-in by Italy’s Federico Dimarco! Italy recovered quickly to equalize and then scored the winner to save themselves the blushes.

Against Spain, they crumbled to pressure and let in an own goal through Riccardo Calafiori in the second half. With just three points, Luciano Spalletti’s boys will be looking for a win. So will Dalic’s boys. It’s going to be an interesting contest on June 25, 2024, at the Red Bull Arena (Leipzig).

Euro 2024: Croatia and Euro 2020

If one looks at the performance of Croatia at the last Euro Cup, their entry into the knock-out stages has had a similar pattern.

They began with a 0-1 loss to England in their opening Group D fixture. Drew with the Czech Republic 1-1 in the second game to collect a solitary point. In their final group game, in a must-win situation, they beat Scotland 3-1 with Vlasic, Modric, and Perisic stepping up.

In that sense, Croatia is familiar with a situation like this.

But what if Albania turns the tables on Spain, a match they play in Merkur Spiel-Arena, Düsseldorf, on the same day, same time? That will leave, both Croatia and Albania with four points, Spain with six points and Italy with three points.

Well, that’s a probability. Like I said, I am a Croatian fan and hoping Croatia beats Italy and Albania draw with Spain!

[Moody Marty: Sometimes funny, sometimes informative, always downright forthright!]

Also Read: Euro 2020: Modrić and Dalic have set the bar higher for Croatia

Also Read: Croatia-Argentina: Humility precedes honour!

Also Read: Autumn in Spain…