Croatia 2-2 Albania

Euro 2024/Group B/Round 2

MOTM: Mateo Kovacic

Other standout performances include: Luka Modric, Thomas Strakosha & Andrej Kramaric

Notable Stats:

• 17 shots on target between Croatia and Albania is the most seen in one UEFA European Championship group stage game since Croatia vs England in 2024.

• 94 minutes and 23 seconds is the latest equalizing goal scored in UEFA European Championship history (excluding extra time) and it was scored by Albania’s Klaus Gjasula.

• Luka Modric is now the oldest player on record to complete 100+ passes in a EUROs match (108 vs Albania) and the oldest player on record to complete 100+ passes in a world cup match (105 vs Brazil).

Match Stats:

• xG: 2.65 - 2.4

• xThreat: 2.83 - 1.33

• Possession: 66.8% - 33.2%

• Field Tilt: 80.9% - 19.1%

• Penalty Box Shots: 14 - 9

• Deep Completions: 19 - 8

• PPDA: 6.3 - 12.5

• High Turnovers: 6 - 5

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 28 - 8

Croatia In Decline?

One thing that’s been noticeable in this tournament is age catching up with the Croatian midfielders. It’s been key to them grinding teams down along with having more dynamic options in the final third in past tournaments. If there was one team that was crying out for a 1v1 threat out wide it’s Croatia.

A big problem for them in the match against Spain was leaving space in behind their FBs to be attacked and a 2v2 at the back. Croatia brought their wingers into midfield to gain more control of possession against Spain but in turn stifled their attack.

Croatia made some changes to the starting line up by introducing Perisic at LB (Gvardiol to LCB) and Juranovic at RB.

Albania scored early into the match with a brilliant move of pulling Gvardiol out wide and leaving the space in the box for Laci to attack. Brozovic failed to pick up his run.

Albania setup in a 4-4-2 out of possession and were incredibly well organized. Something they showed against Italy in the last round. Stifling central progression by Croatia and they were in great positions to launch counter attacks. Combining that with poor first touches and positioning by Brozovic as he dropped deep on the ball, Albania capitalized with several waves of attack in transition.

No surprise that at half-time Croatia swapped out Brozovic and Majer for Sucic and Pasalic. Look at the passing network from the first 47 minutes and you’ll see Brozovic dropping in deep in possession but not being reliable on the ball. Majer struggling to provide them with any width or threat in-behind.

Modric and Kovacic became the base Croatia built on and they became much more stable in the buildup. Helping to protect the two central defenders. Pushing the back four of Albania with a 4v4 and by allowing Perisic to get higher up they outnumbered them.

Kovacic was excellent in this match and in the second half driving the ball into the final third as the attackers moved into the box eventually led to the first goal by Kramaric.

Second goal came Gvardiol passing between the lines to his team mate as several attackers moved into the box. Both goals wouldn’t have happened if Croatia did not commit players into the penalty box.

Albania find a way into the box down the right side of Croatia after a run between the FB and RCB, pass across the box is fortunately deflected right into the path of Gjasula to finish.

In the second half it seemed like Croatia, despite the goal from Albania, managed to find the balance they were looking for. Not exposing their defense, control of the ball centrally and enough threats in-behind to trouble the opposition back line. If they want to have any chance of progressing out the group they will need to setup right for 90 minutes.

Germany 2-0 Hungary

Euro 2024/Group A/Round 2

MOTM: Ikay Gundogan

Other standout performances include: Joshua Kimmich, Toni Kroos & Jamal Musiala

Notable Stats:

• Toni Kroos has had the two highest game totals for line-breaking passes at Euro 2024. 47 against Hungary and 30 against Scotland.

• Toni Kroos completed 124 passes in Germany’s win against Hungary, the second most on record by a midfielder in a UEFA European Championship game. Behind only Xavi who had 127 successful passes for Spain against Republic of Ireland (2012).

• Germany have won every game Toni Kroos has played since making his return to international football.

Match Stats:

• xG: 2.4 - 1.87

• xThreat: 2.13 - 0.67

• Possession: 68.9% - 31.1%

• Field Tilt: 81.9% - 18.1%

• Penalty Box Shots: 10 - 7

• Deep Completions: 18 - 4

• PPDA: 7.8 - 22

• High Turnovers: 4 - 1

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 30 - 12

Germany Continue to Impress

Germany picked up where they left off against Scotland with the same eleven and brilliant movement from their front four. Ilkay Gundogan in particular pulled the Hungary CBs all over the place which opened up passes between the lines from Kroos.

They also created opportunities on the other side inside through Rudigar and Musiala to find Havertz.

The first goal coming from Kroos playing a pass into Musiala. He finds Mittelstadt inside the box and cuts it back to Ilkay Gundogan for a first time finish. Brilliant movement around the box as well as his runs into the box.

Here is the passing network from the first 60-70 minutes of the match. Narrow approach from Germany to find the passes between the lines and Mittelstadt always providing width on the left.

Hungary aimed to circulate the ball across the back line safely until they can push up their left side. Szoboszlai given a free role to link up with players. That’s where Hungary had success, against the full backs of Germany in transition. Creating 2v1s with a third man run down the flank. Had a few chances that could have changed the game and showed Germany have not quite figured out how to plug those gaps.

That’s something to watch out for in future games against Germany, I’m confident a better side can expose them in transition and that flank of France with Theo Hernandez and Mbappe can do exactly that.

Pass map from Toni Kroos against Hungary.

The variety of combinations from Germany impressed me in this match, they have a clear starting eleven and a setup that get’s the best out of Kroos (and the rest!). What you don’t want is to become stale and instead keep the opposition guessing. Yet to see a big impact from Sane off the bench and they’ll need his threat 1v1 in a future game.

That aside, Germany are the most balanced side in the tournament and have the tactical framework that get’s the best out of their players. Favorites for now and through to the knockout stages.

Scotland 1-1 Switzerland

Euro 2024/Group A/Round 2

MOTM: Manuel Akanji

Other standout performances include: Billy Gilmour, Scott McTominay and Xherdan Shaqiri

Notable Stats:

• Xherdan Shaqiri is the first player to score in a match in the UEFA European Championship while playing for a club team in either North or South America.

• Xherdan Shaqiri is the only European to score at each of the last six major international tournaments.

• Scotland have not won a game at the men’s European Championship since 1996.

Match Stats:

• xG: 1.11 - 1.01

• xThreat: 1.25 - 0.8

• Possession: 47.6% - 52.4%

• Field Tilt: 49.1% - 50.9%

Scotland were poor against Germany despite how well the like of Kroos and Gundogan performed on the night. Changes were required on the pitch and with personal. Billy Gilmour coming into midfield. Hanley into defense.

You saw a Scotland team far more aggressive out of possession in this match, the big change that was needed if they were going to have a chance in this game. To save any hope of escaping the group.

You’ll notice in the passing map how much of an outlet Robertson was for them down their left side. The goal comes from Gilmour having the composure in midfield to take the ball and pick out Robertson charging down the the left side and into the middle. McTominay arriving for a cut back to shoot, deflected in.

For Switzerland it was about getting the ball more directly through to Shaqiri on their right side or progressing down the left side with short combinations. All of which was being built from Akanji. Who made a number of brilliant defensive interceptions and one huge one towards the end of the game to save Switzerland the point.

The willingness of Shaqiri to get in-behind and chase down loose passes is what got Switzerland the goal. Poor pass back to the keeper intercepted and a brilliant finish from him outside the box.

Not the best of matches from a potential dark horse in Switzerland but a noticeable step up from Scotland who might just get themselves out the group with a win against Hungary.

LAST WORD👋

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