CROA-ING PAINS
Croatia 2 Albania 2: Plucky underdogs score dramatic late equaliser after calamity own-goal to leave Croats on the brink
Scroll down to see the goals and stats from the game
ALBANIA salvaged a stunning last-minute point in a Euros epic against Croatia in Hamburg.
Qazim Laci had given the Albanians a shock 11th minute lead to boost their chances of advancing from the group stages for the first time in their 94-year history.
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Yet with the Croats close to croaking, two goals in the 74th and 76th minute acted as a much-needed lifeline after a hellish performance.
But it did not end there as this ballsy Albania outfit pushed for a leveller and got their rewards thanks to Klaus Gjasula’s 95th minute strike.
Gjasula had initially handed Croatia the lead with a bizarre own goal two minutes after ex-Leicester man Andrej Kramaric’s equaliser.
This topsy-turvy game had everything, but agonisingly for both nations, not the three points they needed as they sit with one a piece.
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With Group B now tightly poised, a final day miracle from either side is required to reach the last 16.
Croatia face Italy in Leipzig and Albania take on Spain in Dusseldorf on June 24.
Albania will be heartbroken, and rightly so, having also taken the lead against Italy only to crumble in a similarly painful way. For large periods, they had Croatia on the ropes.
And make no mistake, Croatia were woeful at times and should consider themselves lucky to still have a pulse in Germany.
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They are a shadow of the team that reached the World Cup final in 2018 and semi-finals in Qatar in 2022.
Their starting XI average age of 30 years and one day points to the fact that their Golden Generation of talent looks to be at an end.
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And skipper Luca Modric – who turns 39 in September – may well be retiring off the back of this miserable Euros campaign, perhaps sooner than expected.
Before this one, the greatest Euros upset in terms of world rankings came on Monday, as Slovakia in 48th beat Belgium in third.
Albania – the second lowest ranked in the competition in 66th – came agonisingly close to smashing that record out of the water against tenth-placed Croatia.
What a job former Arsenal full-back Sylvinho has done since taking charge of Albania in January 2023. Guiding them here was success in itself, but taking Italy and Croatia all the way in the toughest of groups? Ludicrous.
The Albanians were ahead against the Italians after just 23 seconds before losing 2-1.
They could not replicate that speed against Croatia, but it was still a fast start via Laci – one of two changes Sylvinho made alongside Armando Broja dropping out for Rey Manaj.
Laci drifted into the box unmarked and glanced Jasir Asani’s superb cross towards goal. Domink Livakovic was behind it but unable to stop it dribbling through his hands.
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Croatia simply were not at the races, bizarre considering the magnitude of this result. Dalic had tried to spice things with three changes from the Spain disappointment.
Ivan Perisic returned at left-back with Josko Gvardiol shifting to a more familiar centre back role while Bruno Petkovic led the line in place of Ante Budimir.
There was experience and nous all over the park, but Albania were covering the grass like their lives depended on it, hitting Croatia on the counter and defending valiantly.
While Croatia were toothless and lacking ideas, Albania should have doubled their lead in the 30th minute as Kristjan Asllani raced through but Livakovic stood firm.
Remarkably, another chance went begging as Gvardiol clumsily lost the ball but Manaj’s subsequent header lacked power.
Dalic responded at half time with two changes – Mario Pasalic and Luka Sucic on for Marcelo Brozovic and Lovro Majer.
Croatia began to dominate proceedings with Albania dropping deep and defending their lead. Petkovic and Mateo Kovacic were denied by Thomas Strakosha.
And then, the comeback. Kramaric was fed by another sub in Budimir, cutting inside before finding the bottom corner – a first Euros goal to celebrate his 33rd birthday.
Gjasula’s own goal has to be seen to be believed, Budimir’s cut-back cleared by Berat Djimsiti but into his own man as it ballooned into his own net.
Albania found a second wind, however, and Gjasula responded in the best possible way, belting past Livakovic with seconds remaining.
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Dalic demanded the same amount of respect that England get before this game. Respectfully, this Croatian lot are no where near the Three Lions.
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