Dramatic Late Goal Earns Albania Draw with Croatia in Euro 2024 Clash
EURO 2024

Dramatic Late Goal Earns Albania Draw with Croatia in Euro 2024 Clash

Following the 95th-minute equaliser against Albania on the second matchday, Croatia’s Euro 2024 campaign is on the brink of collapse.

This threatens to end what will probably be legendary midfielder Luka Modric’s last international tournament in the group stage.

Zlatko Dalic’s side looked to have done enough to secure a comeback win after their defeat to Spain four days earlier when Andrej Kramaric cancelled out Albania’s early opener, followed by a quick second goal from an inadvertent Klaus Gjasula rebound.

But it was Gjasula who became the Albanian hero in stoppage time when he burst into the penalty area to break Croatian hearts and put them under considerable pressure ahead of their matchday three clash with Italy early next week. With just one point from two games, a win in this match will be enough to see them through to the knockout stages. Albania could even progress if they can shock Spain.

Croatia came to life in the second half after Qazim Laci put Albania ahead with a header after just 11 minutes. The Croatians even missed several chances to extend their lead before the break.

By this point, Modric was already struggling to control the game, despite his impressive passing statistics. Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic was a little better during a brief spell of pressure, but he too was not involved enough to guarantee his side more.

Both midfielders for the Champions League winners made a better start to the second half as Croatia finally registered a shot on goal from Luka Sucic. Kovacic was denied by a deflected shot and Modric headed narrowly wide from a corner by centre-back Josip Sutalo.

It was Kovacic who created the space Croatia needed to equalise again with his attempt to break through the Albanian lines. He fed Ante Budimir, who in turn set up former Leicester City striker Andrej Kramaric to finish.

Leicester City’s Josko Gvardiol had already been winning the ball in Croatia’s midfield with increasing frequency, which contributed to the quick second goal being made possible by a pass in the build-up. However, it was thanks to Budimir that the attack did not stall and he was very lucky when Sucic’s shot was first blocked and then rebounded into the net by Gjasula.

A late Albanian attack seemed to fizzle out until Gjasula converted a backpass from the left near the penalty spot with a shot on goal.

Croatia finished third at the World Cup almost two years ago and also reached the final in 2018, but their record at the European Championship is patchy compared to those global appearances.

Since the European Championship was converted to a 24-team format, Croatia have not progressed beyond the round of 16, while in both 2004 and 2012 they failed to get past the group stage at all.

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