Euro 2024: Croatia Share Spoils With Albania In Second Group Stage Game

Albania shared spoils with Croatia in 2-2 draw in stoppage time comeback from Klaus Gjasula's equaliser in the second game of Group B. 

Croatia trailed from the first half from Qazim Laci's header when Jasir Asani picked him up with a cross from the right. The score sheet was later leveled in the latter stages of the game as Andrej Kramaric smacked into bottom left of the net Ante Budimir's cross from the left. 

Albania dropped behind their opponents two minutes later in a set of moments leading to Luka Sucic's shot from the six-yard box being blocked and ultimately deflected hom by Gjasula for an own goal. The scores was later leveled in the stoppage in a fast break leading to Gjasula slamming home Mario Mitaj's cross deflected into his path. 

With the points earned from the game, both sides have a difficult fate of making it past the group stages as they sit at the bottom of Group B with a point apiece. 

Overview 

Exciting game from the start. Albania maintained a well composed and compacted defense, counting on fast break to get past the Croatians into their box for a stunner. Even at the deficit, Modric was effective throughout only that they have not been able to wane out the Albanian defence to get an equalizer. 

Important saves from the goalkeeper also kept the Croatians from conceding even more goals when Asllani latched onto a through ball but for Livakovic to save his attempt. 

Interestingly, the Albanian side remained committed even when Croatia took the lead within a short space of time. They exploited their opponents loose defense  on a counter for leaving Gjasula on marked in the build up to the goal. It could be said that Mitaj's cross was deflected to Gjasula's path in shooting range. It was a disappointing draw for both sides for a game that was meant to go either way.