Croatia vs Albania prediction: EUROPE: Euro betting tips on match 2024-06-18 13:00.
[p]Following a heavy 3-0 defeat to Spain in their opening group game, Croatia (FIFA rank: #10) have now lost three of their last five competitive matches (W2), which is as many defeats as they’d suffered in their previous 29 such games (W16, D10). The wider picture though is that the defeat against Spain was a first in seven outings overall for Zlatko Dalić’s side (90 mins: W5, D1), and the first time they’d conceded 3+ goals since the World Cup semi-final in 2022.[/p]
[p]If Croatia need any source of hope moving forward, they can take inspiration from the positive omen that they haven’t lost consecutive games at the same major tournament since Euro 1996! That seemingly stands them in good stead ahead of what feels like a must win game against Albania, and having only once come from behind to win a game in 90 minutes since their second group game at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a fast start seems imperative.[/p]
[p]Albania got off to the perfect start in their group opener, scoring the quickest-ever goal at a Euro finals when taking a 23 second lead against Italy, but they were ultimately beaten 2-1 by the holders. Defeat to the Italians brought an end to a seven-game unbeaten run in competitive fixtures (W4, D3), with Kuqezinjtë not losing back-to-back games in competitive action since September 2022.[/p]
[p]Hope isn’t lost just yet that they can get some points on the board in Group B, as Albania (#66) twice beat nations ranked higher than them by FIFA in qualifying for the tournament, though they have not beaten anyone in the top ten since a victory against France in June 2015 – something they’ll have to change in what is perhaps surprisingly a first-ever meeting with Croatia.[/p]
[p]Key battle: Veteran Luka Modrić has three goal involvements in his last three international appearances (G1, A2) and has netted at least once in three of the four Euro tournaments he’s been involved in previously. Nedim Bajrami is a man in form for Albania with four goal involvements (G2, A2) in his last three appearances, including the opening goal in their last two.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Albania have won just one of their last ten matches when facing an opponent for the very first time (D5, L4).[/p]