Featuring in this group are a pair of marquee footballing nations who have won this tournament in three of its last four editions. Additionally there is Croatia, the perpetual ‘dark horses’ of any major competition who have consecutively reached the last four in the World Cup.
Lastly, there is Albania, supposedly the minnows and absolutely the outsiders according to their Euro odds. But the Eagles didn’t sneak their way in via a Nations League success but instead topped their qualifying group convincingly, bettering Czech Republic and Poland along the way.
This then, unquestionably, is Euro 2024’s Group of Death.
Yet, on closer inspection, we find Group B’s two A-listers very much in transition, with Italy adjusting to their post-Mancini era and bidding arrivederci to the well-established spine of the team who broke England’s hearts at Wembley three years ago.
Out goes Bonucci, Chiellini and Insigne, while Marco Verratti effectively retired from the international arena when he left PSG to play in Qatar.
In their place are a batch of twenty-somethings, many of whom are unfamiliar names except to keen followers of Serie A.
It’s a similar story with Spain too, who head to Germany this summer with a first XI largely unrecognisable to the side that exited Euro 2020 in trademark fashion on pens.
Intriguingly that was to Italy.
Rebirth therefore is a far more appropriate theme for this group than death.
But what about Croatia, you say? With a midfield still patrolled by Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic, and with Perisic an immovable fixture on the left, the Chequered Ones are more seasoned than a salt-baked seabass.
With the time for transition long since passed surely this will be one tournament too many for a once great collective.
Italy
“I set no limits. It all depends on how much we can improve.”
So said Italian boss Luciano Spalletti recently and what a complicated 13 words that is, alluding that another final is a possibility while candidly suggesting that presently the Azzurri are nowhere close to replicating their 2021 triumph.
It’s the latter sentiment that seems the most relevant, the man who guided Napoli to their famous Scudetto crown last May admitting that in moving on from Chiellini and company and bringing through a core of Inter talent Italy have in effect taken a big step back to start over.
Which they have, because even if Francesco Acerbi is consistently solid at the back, and Davide Frattesi and Nicolo Barella can make things happen centrally, Italy are still a whole level below who they recently were.
They lack leaders and they sorely lack firepower, relying on strikers who score too sporadically in Serie A. Moreover they are devoid of a single superstar though keeper Donnarumma is in that stratosphere.
A change to three at the back has so far worked out well for the Azzurri but there is no getting past their struggles in qualifying, that saw them squeak through, and no denying that this is a team rediscovering itself.
A learning curve awaits.
Star Man
Nicolo Barella makes Italy tick and now approaching his prime the Ballon d’Or nominee needs to have a big tournament for his nation to have any hope of going deep.
Compared in the past to Steven Gerrard, he has all the attributes to haul Italy out of Group B, most probably on Spain’s coattails.
Who is Italy’s Manager
It could be said that Spalletti is Italy’s greatest weapon, a globally-renowned coach admired for his tactical flexibility and in-game cunning.
The former Napoli gaffer has laid down the law since being appointed national coach. It will be interesting to see how the players respond to that when the pressure is really on.
Spain
Before we get carried away and suggest that Spain are a shadow of their former selves it should be remembered that La Roja won the Nations League last year.
They still possess a multitude of very talented players, it’s just that all – bar Rodri – are not at the extraordinary level of their predecessors.
As with his club, the Manchester City midfielder is pivotal to everything Spain do, negating counters and starting attacks from deep and how these attacks manifest themselves will come as no surprise. Spain will set up in their usual 4-3-3 and seek to kill the opposition with a thousand passes.
Masters of patiently probing for positional errors, in the cleverness of Olmo and the pace of Nico Williams they have the players to capitalise while 16-year-old megastar-in the-making Lamine Yamal intrigues.
The Barcelona wonderkid has been fast-tracked onto the international scene and conceivably could be given a starting berth.
Elsewhere, the semi-finalists of 2021 are reliant on captain Alvaro Morata and Real Madrid’s peripheral star Joselu for finishing their abundance of chances and though neither inspire too much confidence, each are capable of having a good tournament.
Spain started slowly in qualifying before going on to blitz all-comers. But June is their true litmus test.
Star Man
It has to be Rodri, a player who sets the bar and furthermore epitomises who Spain are striving to be again.
The 27-year-old is the best player of his kind in the world and there is quite a distance before we get to second best.
Who is Spain’s Manager
Luis de la Fuente made some significant tweaks to Spain’s long-standing formula on taking charge in 2022, prioritising an old-fashioned centre-forward and ensuring he is regularly serviced by crosses.
That aside, a company man having come through the ranks at the Spanish FA, this is a coach who believes in the tiki-taka process as much as anyone.
Can count himself unfortunate to be deprived of Barcelona’s brilliant young duo Pedri and Gavi, both succumbing to injury.
Croatia
This summer the centre-circles of Olympiastadion, Volksparkstadion, and the Leipzig Stadium will bring to mind a retirement home for superbly gifted technicians as Modric, Kovacic and Brozovic keep possession effortlessly but with minimum impact.
The average age of this trio is 33.
That no player has managed to usurp this tried-and-trusted triumvirate in the last few years is a reflection not only on their immense quality but of Croatia’s limited resources.
Indeed, it could be reasoned that in the last decade the only outstanding new talents who have revealed themselves has been Josip Stanisic and Josko Gvardiol, both defenders.
Elsewhere, it’s an overly familiar line-up, one that is past its peak. Ivan Perisic will be hard to pin down on the left. In the box Andrej Kramaric will flatter to deceive.
Croatia are in dire need of a difference-maker, a player who can change the live betting with an improvised moment of magic, while it’s difficult to see who gets their goals.
Minus these precious types, their predictability – not to mention wearied, aging legs after taxing seasons at club level – will ultimately cost them.
Star Man
The World Cup finalists of 2022 tend to craft chances, rather than simply create them, and because of this they are fewer in number.
Clean sheets therefore are a must at the back, which brings us to Josko Gvardiol, a defender tipped to soon be the best at his trade in world football.
If the Chequered Ones can keep Spain and Italy at bay, they can eke their way to the knock-outs via draws at a push.
Who is Croatia’s Manager
Expected to depart post-tournament, Zlatko Dalic has enjoyed enormous success in his role, guiding Croatia to a World Cup final, then a semi.
He will be a tough act to follow, especially as the Euros will likely be a swansong too for so many of his finest players.
Albania
Albania are not going to Germany merely to make up the numbers.
A highly impressive qualifying campaign saw the Eagles lose just one in eight, a cluster of results that included home victories over Poland and Czech Republic, both to nil.
Neither were smash-and-grab incidentally. The Poles and Czechs were out-fought and out-thought, made to be second best throughout.
That’s not to say that this is a team that values possession. Instead, they’re happy to cede the ball, defend deep and well, and commit men forward in the right moments.
The Czechs had 66% of the possession in Tirana yet were thumped 3-0.
Not often enough is it pointed out that to succeed with this strategy you need intelligent players as much as talented ones, and Albania have such individuals, namely Elseid Hysaj, their star defender at Lazio, and Inter’s Kristjan Asllani.
All told, six of the Eagles play in Serie A, an environment that rewards nous.
Up front they have forwards in Sokol Cikalleshi and Chelsea’s Armando Broja who know their way to goal and in only their second every major tournament, the outsiders will be relishing the challenge of taking on three of Europe’s aristocracy and upending the odds.
They should not be ruled out from doing so either. Just don’t expect it to be spectacular.
Star Man
The former Napoli star Elseid Hysaj may not be loved by Lazio’s ultras for his openly left-wing affiliations but the right-back has proven his worth at the Stadio Olimpico many times over, scampering in support down the flank while being defensively solid.
As captain of the Eagles, and their best player to boot, it falls on Hysaj to inspire, especially if results go against them.
Who is Albania’s Manager
Ex-Arsenal left-back Sylvinho was a surprise appointment, when taking charge early last year. Prior to doing so, the Brazilian only had two brief, failed stints at Lyon and Corinthians on his CV.
With Pablo Zabaleta alongside him however the 50-year-old has been a revelation, getting the Albanians to work as a unit, and maximising output from the less heralded members of his squad.
Key Matches In Group B
It would be nice to think that Albania can spring a surprise, and who knows, perhaps Croatia have one last hoorah in them, but all sensible reasoning leads us to Spain v Italy, in the small city of Gelsenkirchen, determining who comes out on top.
Only one of their last 16 encounters have produced more than three goals so don’t expect a basketball-style classic. Full of tension and quality though, it’s the must-see game of the group.
Croatia’s meeting with Italy also catches the eye. There is every chance that will be a shoot-out to decide second spot.
Euro 2024 Group B Fixtures
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15th June, 5pm – Spain v Croatia
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15th June, 8pm – Italy v Albania
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19th June, 2pm – Croatia v Albania
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20th June, 8pm – Spain v Italy
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24th June, 8pm – Albania v Spain
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24th June, 8pm – Croatia v Italy
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*
