UEFA EURO Group Stage: All the Latest Match Information

Albanien Holds Croatia to a Surprising Draw

Match Recap:

In a stunning upset, Albania held Croatia to a 2-2 draw in their UEFA EURO Group Stage match on June 19, 2024. Croatia, the tournament favorites, came under immense pressure after their opening match loss to Spain. Despite dominating possession, Croatia found it difficult to break down Albania's resilient defense. Albania's goalkeeper, Thomas Strakosha, made several key saves to keep his team in the game. In the 45th minute, Croatia finally found the breakthrough. Superstar striker Ante Rebic latched onto a through ball and fired a low shot into the net. However, Albania responded in stunning fashion just minutes into the second half. A misjudged backpass from Croatian defender Domagoj Vida deflected into his own net, leveling the score at 1-1. Croatia continued to press for a winner, but Albania showed great determination and resilience. In the 77th minute, Rey Manaj put Albania ahead against the run of play, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Croatia. Desperate for a point, Croatia threw everything forward in the dying minutes. Their relentless pressure paid off in the 89th minute when substitute Andrej Kramaric equalized with a header.

Historical Context:

This was the first-ever competitive match between Albania and Croatia. Albania has now drawn four of its last five matches at the EUROs. Meanwhile, Croatia has extended its unbeaten streak in the group stage to four matches.

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