Key events
“Even though it is a team game, you inevitably associate countries/teams with individuals,” writes krishnamoorthy v. “Pele to Brazil, Maradona to Argentina, Milla to Cameroon, Cruyff to Holland, and Modric it is to Croatia. He has outshone even Suker from their debut 1998 dream team.”
Still blows my mind that he played in this game:
Excuse the self-promotion.
“Why would you call this group a group of Death?” asks Deborah Smee. “I care very much for the Croatian team, which all in all over the last few years have well outperformed the British team (remember Russia?). A tiny country of 3,8 million people that has far above average number of world players.”
Group of Death – not my invention, I should add – serves to highlight how good Croatia have been in recent years, implying that a major footballing nation is at risk of elimination in Group B.
So Ivan Perisic is in for Croatia, as are Josip Juranovic and Bruno Petkovic. Looks like Gvardiol moves over to centre-half. Albania have two changes, switching it up going forward, with Armando Broja and Taulant Seferi out, Rey Manaj and Qazim Laci in.
The teams
So here’s how they line up …
Croatia: Livakovic, Juranovic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Perisic, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Majer, Petkovic, Kramaric
Subs: Stanisic, Pongracic, Erlic, Labrovic, Mario Pasalic, Budimir, Ivanusec, Sosa, Pjaca, Vida, Ivusic, Marco Pasalic, Sucic, Baturina
Albania: Strakosha, Hysaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj, Ramadani, Asllani, Asani, Bajrami, Laci, Manaj
Subs: Etrit Berisha, Balliu, Gjasula, Broja, Kastrati, Mihaj, Seferi, Medon Berisha, Muci, Ismajli, Daku, Abrashi, Kumbulla, Aliji, Hoxha
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome back to the Group of Death. Croatia had an unhappy start to the tournament, conceding three against Spain and failing to take advantage of a consolation penalty. Albania, on the other hand, had the happiest of beginnings, shocking Italy with the fastest goal in Euros history … but the defending champions hit back with two and took the three points. So who gets their campaign properly underway here? Luka Modric and his mates are the obvious favourites, but – as entertaining as this whole thing has been so far – we’re due a couple more upsets. Kick-off at Hamburg is at 2pm BST.
