Key events
That has huge ramifications for the final group table. This is how things finish after the three group games.
Spain top the group. Italy squeeze into second place at the last. Had Croatia held onto their 1-0 lead, they would have finished second with four points. Now they are third with two points and will almost certainly go home. Albania finish fourth and definitely are out.
Wooooooooow! Italy have scored a 98th-minute goal against Croatia. It’s full-time there now! Croatia 1-1 Italy!
Full-time: Albania 0-1 Spain. Albania are out!
Albania are out of the Euros. Spain top the group with nine points. And this result also confirms England’s passage to the knockout stage! England’s four points mean they will at least finish as one of the best third-placed teams.
90+4 min: Spain have not conceded a goal in any of their three games. Job done. Nine points if they have hang on here.
90+2 min: From a free-kick, Broja pounces on a loose ball, actually taking it off the toes of Djimsiti, but the Chelsea striker can only scoop his finish into the hands of Raya, who dives to his right to save.
90 min: Four minutes added on. Four minutes for Albania to save their tournament.
88 min: The game has become bitty, which suits Spain just fine at this stage. Berisha gets a yellow card for a stray arms on Fermin Lopez, before Vivian is similarly cautioned for bringing Broja down.
86 min: So, so disappointing for Albania. They earn a promising free-kick in a wide area. Asllani stands over the ball, and boots it straight out for a goal kick. Albania’s defender retreat back to their own half sheepishly.
84 min: An absolutely ridiculous touch from Lamine, who turns on a sixpence and beats two Albanian markers with one swish of the boot. But the Barcelona youngster chooses a pass when he might have gone for goal.
Spain make another change: Baena on for Olmo, who has been Spain’s best player.
83 min: Hoxha has made a real difference for Albania since coming on. He’s giving Navas all sorts of trouble but can’t find the final pass or shot.
81 min: Albania make one more change: Asani on for Muci.
79 min: A neat move from Spain, as Morata cleverly chests a lofted pass straight into the path of Grimaldo. The Bayer Leverkusen full back finds Olmo but his shot is blocked. From the resulting corner, Morata heads over.
77 min: Asllani again tries his luck from range and this effort whistles just past Raya’s left-hand post! The Internazionale midfielder is getting closer for Albania. You feel they need just one goal and this stadium will erupt, perhaps then Spain’s penalty area will be under siege.
75 min: Olmo has been been wonderful with the ball at his feet tonight but has also made two absolutely crucial interceptions on the edge of his own box. He’s operating as a No 10 for Spain but also doing his defensive work.
73 min: It will shock nobody that Spain have improved since the introduction of Lamine and Morata.
71 min: Further changes, as the two managers, Sylvinho and De La Fuente, try to wrestle for tactical control of this match.
Spain bring on their 16-year-old, Lamine Yamal, for the goalscorer Ferran Torres, while Joselu is also hooked for Morata. Laporte is off for Robin Le Normand, yet another Real Sociedad player to get some minutes in this squad.
Albania bring on Berisha and Hoxha for Laci and the booked Bajrami.
69 min: Should mention that Bajrami was booked for simulation after a challenge from Navas. The Albania man was perhaps a little unlucky to be cautioned, but probably didn’t deserve a free-kick either.
68 min: Not sure if it is those changes, or just a bit of fatigue, but Spain have definitely dropped off. Asani, Albania’s right winger, tries his luck from range, but the shot takes a deflection and trickles into Raya’s hands.
64 min: Huge chance for Albania! From a quick Albania free kick, Raya makes a brilliant block from Broja, who had wiggled free from Joselu. Broja swivelled and hit a sort-of lob shot, but Raya was wise and showed excellent reflexes! Albania have really found some rhythm here. They realistically need two goals and a victory if they are to avoid an early Euros exit.
61 min: Both teams make changes. Chelsea and Albania striker Broja comes on for Manaj, while Spain’s Fermin Lopez replaces Oyarzabal, who looks extremely fed up to be taken off.
59 min: Albania fans have got wind of that Croatia goal and are now loudly urging their team forward. Spain, as they have for most of this game, have the ball.
GOAL FOR CROATIA AGAINST ITALY!
57 min: There’s been a goal in the other game in this group, and it’s gone to Croatia! Modric had a penalty saved just minutes earlier but the Madrid man has pounced to give his country the lead, which means Croatia leapfrog Italy into second place!
This is the group, as things stand. The holders, Italy, are in real danger of going out.
55 min: Merino is probably the worst performer out there for Spain, and gives the ball away cheaply, before crashing into Ramadani in an attempt to get the ball back. Not sure the former Newcastle midfielder will be troubling Pedri, Rodri and Fabian for a starting berth in the knockout stage.
53 min: Better from Albania, breaking forward in numbers, although Asllani is guilty of overplaying when he had good options outside.
51 min: Bajrami is penalised for a foul, and Sylvinho is incensed on the sidelines. The Albania manager gets a yellow card, I think for dissent.
49 min: Asllani shoots on goal – blocked – but Spain pick up the pieces and break quickly. Olmo shakes off a marker, gets his head up, and shoots from his own half! But the RB Leipzig gets it all wrong and his shot dribbles wide.
47 min: So nearly one of the goals of the tournament! Grimaldo, who is doing a fantastic job of convincing De la Fuente to start him in the knockout stage, whips another dangerous cross to the edge of the six-yard box. Joselu, like a seam bowler in a phonebox, barely has any room to operate but contorts his body and somehow sticks out a leg, volleying the cross – Zlatan-style – just wide of Albania’s near post.
Peeeeeeep! And we’re underway again in Düsseldorf.
The teams are back out but the restart is delayed while we wait for Croatia v Italy to also be ready. The games must kick-off at exactly the same time.
This is how Group B stands at the half-way stage, assuming the games finish as they are. Not great reading for Albania or Croatia, but the latter only need one goal to leapfrog Italy into second place.
You can follow Croatia v Italy, currently 0-0, with Scott Murray here.
Half-time reading/viewing: this excellent photo-essay from Tom Jenkins, our resident sport photographer in Germany.
A dominant half from Spain. Olmo and Navas have particularly caught the eye.
Half-time: Albania 0-1 Spain
The 2012 winners are in total control. Albania need at least two goals if they are to avoid going out of the tournament. Remember, if Albania fail to win, England’s qualification to the knockouts will be confirmed.
45 min: Asllani lets fly from range for Albania! Raya dives to his left and palms the ball away but that was travelling! The first time Albania have tested the former Blackburn goalkeeper.
44 min: Grimaldo finds more space out wide and drills a low cross to Merino just inside the Albania box but the former Newcastle midfielder curls his shot high and wide. Should have done better.
43 min: Albania are really struggling to deal with Spain’s full backs. Spain’s wingers, Oyarzabal and Torres, tend to tuck inside which leaves room for Grimaldo and Navas on the outside. They are two of the best crossers in the world.
40 min: Grimaldo whips a trademark cross to the back post, but Torres heads over when he might have done better.
37 min: Raya is rather lucky to see his clearance smash straight into the back of Laporte and fall kindly back into the goalkeeper’s arms. The Arsenal loanee has had a good season with the Gunners but definitely has a clanger in him. Remember this from the NLD back in April?
34 min: Navas wins the ball on Albania’s byline! The Sevilla man crosses fierce and low to Olmo on the penalty spot, but a crunching tackle from Djimsiti prevents Spain from getting another shot on goal.
