EURO 2024: Spain win again as Italy snatch draw with Croatia

Spain beat Albania 1-0 on Monday, becoming the first team to win all three games in the group stage of EURO 2024.

Despite resting several key names, Luis de la Fuente’s side put on a dominant performance, scoring the only goal of the match in the 13th minute through Barcelona’s Ferran Torres.

The result saw La Furia Roja finish top of Group B with nine points, while Albania — only making their second appearance in the European Championship — were eliminated having finished bottom of the group with one point.

Through Spain’s win, England, France and the Netherlands have all qualified for the last 16 after picking four points from two games.

Online bookmakers have Spain, three-time European champions, as +500 favourites to win the title.

Meanwhile, defending champions Italy avoided a second defeat in the groups when they forced a 1-1 draw with Croatia on Monday.

Real Madrid’s Luka Modric found the breakthrough in the 55th minute, seemingly putting Croatia on course to the last 16, only for their hearts to be shattered by an Italy goal from Mattia Zaccagni in the 98th minute.

The Azzurri leapfrogged Croatia to finish second in Group B with four points, thereby advancing into the last 16.

Croatia, now third with two points, have a slight chance of advancing into the knockout stages, but only if England beat Slovenia by at least three goals on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Italy have an edge against their opponents in the last 16, pegged at +129 with Bovada to beat Switzerland (+376).

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