UEFA EURO 2024: Italy Face Croatia

Defending Champions Battle for Early Advantage

Match Preview and Updates

Defending champions Italy will face off against Croatia in Leipzig on Monday in a crucial Group D encounter. Both teams will be eager to avoid an early exit from the tournament.

Updates will be posted here as the match progresses, including a game summary, line-ups, squad lists, and statistics.

Group Stage Standings

Italy currently sits atop Group D with three points, while Croatia has one point after a draw in their opening match. A win for either side would put them in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages.

History Between the Teams

This will be the third meeting between Croatia and Italy at a major tournament, with all previous encounters occurring in the group stages. Croatia won 2-1 in the 2002 World Cup, while Italy triumphed 2-0 in the 2016 European Championship.

Emotional Stakes

The heartbreakingly fine margins between success and failure were evident on the face of Luka Modric, Croatia's captain, after their match against the Czech Republic. With the tournament quickly approaching its halfway point, both Italy and Croatia know that a positive result on Monday is crucial for their hopes of progressing further in the competition.