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Flames of Competition! Italy, Spain, Croatia, and Albania at Euro 2024!

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Flames of Competition! Italy, Spain, Croatia, and Albania at Euro 2024!
Euro 2024 Group B preview: Italy, Spain, and Croatia face off in a fierce competition, with Albania as the wildcard.

Searing and intense, like the flames of the underworld—that’s the scene set for the colossal clash in Group B of Euro 2024. Italy, the current Euro champions, face a formidable challenge from Spain, the 2023 Nations League victors, and Croatia, the 2022 World Cup semifinalists. These three powerhouse teams are vying for glory and recognition. However, complacency is not an option, as Albania, the newcomer, stands poised to disrupt their ambitions. Who will emerge from this infernal group?
Wembley once bore witness to the fierce showdown between Italy and Spain in the Euro 2020 Semifinals. The match, evenly contested, was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout. Luis Enrique’s Spain had to bow to Roberto Mancini’s Italy, who advanced to the final and clinched the championship. Fast forward a few years to the 2023 Nations League Semifinals, where Spain managed to avenge their prior defeat. Under the guidance of their new coach, De La Fuente, La Furia Roja overcame Italy and proceeded to the final, emerging as champions. Though it was just the Nations League, this victory was a significant source of pride for Spain. In 2024, the stage is set for another clash between Italy and Spain. The Veltins Arena, home of Schalke 04, will witness their renewed rivalry. Can Spain defeat Italy once more? It's worth noting that Italy's previous loss to Spain in the Nations League occurred under Roberto Mancini's leadership. At Euro 2024, however, Gli Azzurri will be under the guidance of Luciano Spalletti, featuring several new faces. Spalletti's rejuvenation of the team includes young talents like Riccardo Calafiori, Samuele Ricci, and Andrea Cambiaso. With Spalletti at the helm, Italy is expected to adopt a more aggressive attacking style, reminiscent of his success with Napoli in Serie A. Utilizing a favored 4-3-3 formation, Spalletti relies on a dynamic offensive lineup. Players like Gianluca Scamacca, who has been impressive with Atalanta, will spearhead the attack, supported by Federico Chiesa, Riccardo Orsolini, Mattia Zaccagni, and Giacomo Raspadori. Italy's goal for this Euro, as stated by the federation, is to reach the final and ideally defend their title. However, in an interview with Football Italia, Spalletti expressed a different perspective, suggesting that Italy should not be seen as the top contender. He emphasized that he doesn't want his new squad to feel the overwhelming pressure of defending the championship. Following a draw with Turkey in a friendly match ahead of the Euros, Spalletti remarked that the current Italian team is still in the developmental stages and needs time to evolve.
Spalletti's observation holds weight. According to Opta, Italy is ranked only seventh among the contenders for the Euro 2024 title, with a mere 5% chance of winning. However, it's worth noting that Italy wasn't a top favorite when they won Euro 2020 either. Plus, Gli Azzurri have fond memories of Germany, having won the World Cup there in 2006. Italy's campaign will kick off against Albania, a match they must win at all costs, as they face formidable opponents Spain and Croatia next.

In contrast, Opta places Spain fourth among the Euro 2024 favorites, with a 9.6% chance of victory. Despite La Furia Roja being in a transitional phase under new coach De La Fuente, much like Italy, they are still seen as stronger contenders.
With their rejuvenation, Spain has introduced fresh faces to their squad, including Lamine Yamal, Zubimendi, and Le Normand. Under De La Fuente, Spain's style of play closely mirrors that of the Luis Enrique era, maintaining the 4-3-3 formation. The team continues to excel in short one-two passes, ball possession, and space utilization—trademarks of La Furia Roja. Rodri is set to be a pivotal player, orchestrating the tempo of the game from the midfield, both in attack and defense. The attacking lineup, featuring familiar names like Morata, Ferran Torres, and Dani Olmo from the 2022 World Cup, is anticipated to become even more cohesive.
Facing Croatia in the opening match will be crucial for La Furia Roja’s journey in Euro 2024. The second match pits Spain against Italy, adding to the challenge. Croatia, however, is no easy opponent. Vatreni poses a significant threat not only to Spain but also to Italy. Croatia is a team of tournament specialists with a proven track record. Under the steady leadership of Zlatko Dalic, who has guided them to the 2018 World Cup final and the 2022 World Cup semifinals, Croatia’s tested mentality makes them formidable contenders in this so-called "group of death."
Croatia's strength at the Euro will closely resemble their formidable presence at the 2022 World Cup. Veteran players like Modric, Perisic, Brozovic, and Kovacic remain key figures for Dalic. Additionally, Croatia boasts emerging stars such as Atalanta's dynamic attacking midfielder Mario Pasalic and Manchester City's prolific defender Josko Gvardiol. Adopting Dalic's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, Vatreni are prepared for battle. They approach matches against Italy and Spain with confidence and fearlessness, bolstered by a solid track record, particularly against Italy.
Head-to-head, Italy has never beaten Croatia. Their last encounter in 2015 ended in a draw, providing Dalic's team with a psychological edge. Vatreni’s first match is against Spain, and they are on a mission for revenge, still smarting from their defeat in the 2023 Nations League Final. The opening group match at the Berlin Olympics will be a grudge match for Luka Modric and his teammates.

While Croatia has the potential to challenge both Italy and Spain, Albania should not be underestimated. Despite being placed in a group with giants, Albania is not just there to make up the numbers. Reflecting on their qualifying performance, Albania has every reason to be confident. They topped their qualifying group, suffering only one loss and defeating teams like Poland and the Czech Republic. This impressive run suggests Albania could be a formidable opponent in this 'group of death'.
Albania's current strength stems from their coach, former Barcelona player Sylvinho. Since taking over from Edoardo Reja in 2023, the Brazilian coach has significantly enhanced Albania's performance. Adopting a more aggressive 4-3-3 formation, Albania poses a genuine threat to the defenses of Croatia, Spain, and Italy. Their squad features impressive talents like Chelsea striker Armando Broja and Inter midfielder Kristjan Asllani. On the defensive end, they boast players such as Berat Djimsiti, Marash Kumbulla, and goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.
The Albanian presence introduces an unpredictable element into this fierce group. Spain, Italy, and Croatia must remain on high alert. The question of which teams will advance remains wide open, making it challenging to predict the group winner. Upsets are always a possibility, as demonstrated by Germany's unexpected failure to advance from their group in the 2022 World Cup despite being seeded. Caution is advised; underestimating any opponent in this competitive group could lead to unexpected outcomes. Football enthusiasts ponder: which teams will ultimately qualify from this formidable group?


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