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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 12:49:31 GMT
It's imperative for Croatia to turn in a goal-laden performance here. They are one of two teams with -3 goal difference, the other being Ukraine. Only Scotland have worse (-4). Croatia have yet to play champions Italy so will need a good platform before that game. 3rd place qualification (four slots) at this stage is too much of a headache to contemplate but all we need to know is that you must secure as many points and goals as you can in your second and third games if you have lost your first. It's insultingly obvious when you put it like that but who needs complications? Just get out there and score, worry about the fortunes of other teams afterwards. The same goes for Albania, yes? They've yet to play Spain and you'd think Croatia were more likely to get something out of Italy than Albania from Spain. But let's just enjoy the football for now.
Croatia came undone in brutal fashion against Spain albeit with a scoreline (0-3) that didn't paint the whole picture. Croatia responded well each time Spain scored but not quite well enough. They completed more passes than the Spanish (the first time in well over 100 games that Spain has not outdone their opponents in pass completion) The, what do you call it? tikka-takki football that had been so heavily associated with Spain had taken a vacation of sorts versus Croatia, and we witnessed a noticeably more direct style, using possession as a means of pointed attack more than a steady sometimes fancy tactical advance, to my eyes at least.
Albania took a shock lead over Italy and only went down by the odd goal of three. No pushovers. I think we're in for a feisty encounter here, although you would expect Croatia to put this one to bed.
CROATIA 4/9 ALBANIA 13/2 DRAW 7/2
Overall betting is not too different to before the tournament began. France and England remain 4/1 joint favourites. Germany move into 5/1, as do Portugal at 6/1 with Spain and Netherlands behind them. Belgium go out to 22/1. Champions Italy are unmoved at a big 16/1.
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Post by MrFurious on Jun 19, 2024 12:59:56 GMT
Croatia win is part 2/7 bet builder
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 13:16:12 GMT
GOAL ALBANIA
They've done it again. They've done it again. They've taken an early lead against the match favourites. Over on the right flank in the midst of a gradual build-up, Asani sends a cross into the area where Laci diverts the ball cleanly into the Croatia goal by way of a deftly angled header. Somewhat against the run of play after 12 minutes but it's goals that count and Albania have one. Can they keep the lead this time round?
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 13:18:01 GMT
Croatia look rocked at the moment. Albania are riding on momentum which they will hope to keep going.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 13:24:18 GMT
Well, Croatia have now played two hours of football in this tournament without a goal. This must begin to be a concern. They're playing a high line with the full-backs so it's not for want of trying but you feel Albania can at any moment attack that space in the Croatia defence. Here comes Modric on the right flank trying to feed Petkovic but the Albanians are hovering around him like fruit-flies and the attempt comes to nothing.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 13:28:46 GMT
CROATIA CHANCE GOES A-BEGGING
Majer has time to send a decent cross into the area where Petkovic gets his head to it first. His effort, though, goes a foot over the bar and Albania's lead remains.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 13:31:10 GMT
Asani for Albania latches onto the ball as it floats into the area; he fires from 12 yards but it goes just high over the Croatia bar. They seem to be enjoying this, Albania.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 13:35:39 GMT
SAVED BY LIVAKOVIC
Asani streams forward after a mistake by Modric and Albania attack once more. He slides a grasscutter through to his near-namesake Asllani in the area. He's got a decent distance between himself and the keeper but his shot is saved brilliantly by Livakovic who has saved Croatia from a two goal deficit with 10 minutes to the interval.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 13:39:34 GMT
You've got to admire Albania. Their mettle and confidence is way up there without being at all cocky. They're not taking their eyes off the ball out of possession and are seizing the chances for attack when they wait patiently to come into possession.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 13:54:13 GMT
Manej with a great chance before the break. He has time for a close-range header but it is weak and keeper saves. Straight down the other end for more drama as the opposing keeper Thomas Strakosha pulls off the save of the tournament so far, surely. It's not quite Gordon Banks v Pele but my word he got down like an acrobat with St Vitus Dance to deny Majer. It was offside but the save was remarkable whatever. And the 35 year old French referee Francois Letexier, who is also a court bailiff away from the pitch, has blown up near the halfway line. Croatia, frustrated by a well set-up Albania, go in a goal down and will receive instructions to get their finger out in the second portion.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 14:15:14 GMT
I mean, there were a couple of shaky results in qualifying, with late-on defeats to Wales and Turkey (made better by the final two group wins v Armenia and Latvia) but Croatia have to do something here. There was very little to suggest they'd be firing blanks at this stage. Surely more was expected. Coach Dalic stated that he wouldn't tolerate anything less than 100%, but it isn't as if the players aren't out there giving exactly that. Something is not right and Dalic had the chance to sort it out at half time. "If they don't run, they don't get it the team." No, you're not on, pal. They are running. But they're lacking a compass. It needs sorting, surely.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 14:22:53 GMT
It's all Croatia. Albania are forced to soak up the pressure. There is less than half an hour for Croatia to get something out of this. They are pushing.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 14:29:46 GMT
Peresic works his way into sending over a cross from the left flank but Pasalic' header goes over the Albania bar with 20 minutes remaining. It's just not to be. Is it?
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 14:31:57 GMT
The goal scorer Laci is subbed off for fresh legs as Albania seek to hang on to three precious points.
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Post by MrFurious on Jun 19, 2024 14:35:24 GMT
Phew!! Those Albanians are great but they gotta stop with their acting
Another own goal. Great tipping from Mac over yonder
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 14:37:35 GMT
GOAL
Croatia score. Kovocic outside the area feeds Pasalic who dinks it to Kramaric who slides it past Strakosha for 1-1 on '75.
Now another attack moments after the re-start. The ball was pla
GOAL!! BUDIMIR!!! BUDIMIR!!! 2-1 Croatia. The ball is fed into the area, there's a bit of a tussle between keeper and Budimir and the substitute somehow scrambles it in. Or does he? It might be an own goal by the Albanian keeper.
At any rate, Croatia, remarkably, lead.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 14:40:21 GMT
Oh Albania. You just couldn't hang on. It's not over yet, though. But Croatia have come good, at last. What is it, 9, 10 minutes left?
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 14:42:47 GMT
It was an own goal not by the keeper as I suggested but by Gjasula, which is unfortunate for him as he only came on four minutes ago.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 14:53:50 GMT
Shot by Hoxha. Saved by Livakovic but he spills it. Daku races towards the spill and misses the follow-up by inches! Easily could have been 2-2 but for a square foot of fresh air. But wait, Daku was offside. Wouldn't have counted. Another chance for Daku!!! Over the bar. But his upswinging boot fouled the keeper. We're into the 4th of 6 minutes added.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 19, 2024 14:56:49 GMT
GOAL!
Albania level it up in dramatic fashion on '95. The low cross comes in, it falls to Gjasulu, the player who scored the own goal! He slots it under the legs of a defender and it flies into the Croatia net, keeper no chance!
The clock rolls on. 98th minute.
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