Croatia vs Italy: Euro 2024 Group Stage Clash Preview

History Between the Two Sides

Croatia and Italy will face off for the third time at a major tournament when they meet in the group stage of Euro 2024. Their previous two encounters came in the group stages of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 European Championship, with Croatia winning 2-1 on both occasions.

Croatia's Dominance in Previous Meetings

In both of their previous meetings, Croatia has outperformed Italy in terms of expected goals (xG) and shots on target. However, Italy's ability to score crucial goals, as evidenced by their late equalizer in their 2012 encounter, has been a key factor in their success against Croatia.

Italy's Title Defense on the Line

Italy will be looking to defend their European Championship title in 2024, and a positive result against Croatia would be a significant step towards achieving that goal. The Italians have a strong squad with plenty of experience, and they will be confident of their chances against Croatia.

Croatia's Rising Stars

Croatia, on the other hand, has a number of exciting young players who will be looking to make their mark on the international stage. The likes of Josko Gvardiol, Lovro Majer, and Nikola Vlasic will be hoping to play key roles in Croatia's campaign.

Crucial Group Stage Match

The match between Croatia and Italy is likely to be a crucial one in the group stage of Euro 2024. Both teams will be looking to start their campaign with a positive result, and a win for either side could give them a significant advantage in the race for qualification to the knockout stages.