Euro 2024 Group B: Spain - Croatia - Italy - Albania

[Dragonite]

[Dragonite]

Estimated squads:

[Michael S Collins]

Since the last time they made the Euros, Albania now have a number of players playing regular football in the major leagues, which could turn this into the proper Group of Death.

Spain - on their day, unstoppable. On other days, the most charitable of all major nations.
Italy - Where's the attackers? Good at the Euros, but missed 2 World Cups in a row.
Albania - Rank outsiders
Croatia - one of the best midfields in Europe, though key parts have aged.

Spain v Italy is an old rivalry but one in which Spain have held the upper hand this century, and yet despite this, Italy have knocked Spain out of the last two Euros. Italy have also never beaten Croatia in a competitive match. Italy do however have an 100% record against Albania, from admittedly fewer matches.

Croatia have history against Spain too, as in Euro 2012, three of these teams met, and Croatia missed an absolute sitter to knock Spain out of the tournament, only to concede late on and go out in a very tough group.

I have the niggling gut feeling that Albania are going to throw a spanner into this. But against who? I don't know!

1. Spain
2. Croatia
3. Italy
4. Albania

This is my least confident prediction though. This group could go down to goal difference, or we could see one of the bigger three self-destruct entirely.

[Kamtedrejt]

Italy are currently better than Croatia.

Croatia will not finish higher than third in this group.