FLORENCE, ITALY - JUNE 08: Mateo Retegui of Italy poses for a portrait during the Italy portrait session ahead of the UEFA EURO 2024 Germany at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on June 08, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
FLORENCE, ITALY - JUNE 08: Mateo Retegui of Italy poses for a portrait during the Italy portrait session ahead of the UEFA EURO 2024 Germany at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on June 08, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Italy bring in Mateo Retegui, Giacomo Raspadori and Matteo Darmian, but above all change to 3-5-2, as they must avoid defeat to Luka Modric and Marcelo Brozovic’s Croatia.

It kicks off in Leipzig at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

At the same time, Albania and Spain face off in Dusseldorf to complete Group B.

If Italy earn at least a point, they will finish runners-up to Spain and face Switzerland in the Round of 16.

Even defeat might keep them in as one of the best-placed teams in third, but a loss here and Albanian victory would push the Azzurri down to fourth and immediate elimination.

Federico Dimarco was a major doubt with a bruised calf, but in a shock move he starts anyway in a more advanced role for the 3-5-2, more similar to his Inter approach.

Genoa striker Retegui replaces Gianluca Scamacca upfront, with Raspadori in for Federico Chiesa.

It remains to be seen if Matteo Darmian or Giovanni Di Lorenzo go into the back three.

Croatia have one point from two games so far at EURO 2024, having lost the opener 3-0 to Spain despite dominating possession and held to a last-gasp 2-2 draw by Albania.

Despite suggestions to the contrary, the veteran midfield trio remains intact with Modric and ex-Inter pair Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic.

Ivan Perisic does drop to the bench with Josko Gvardiol shifted to left-back from central defence and Lecce defender Marin Pongracic.

Atalanta midfielder Mario Pasalic gets the nod with RB Leipzig talent Luka Sucic as support for Hoffenheim striker Andrej Kramaric.

Croatia vs. Italy official line-ups

Croatia: Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Modric, Brozovic; Mario Pasalic, Sucic; Kramaric

Italy: Donnarumma; Darmian, Calafiori, Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Jorginho, Barella, Pellegrini, Dimarco; Raspadori, Retegui

Ref: Makkelie (NED)

24-06-2024 20:00
3rd Round

Player statistic

1st half
Luka Sucic Yellow card 24'    
2nd half
Luka Modric Missed penalty 53'    
Luka Modric Goal 55'    
Luka Modric Yellow card 60'    
Luka Ivanusec Yellow card 73'    
Marin Pongracic Yellow card 78'    
Josip Stanisic Yellow card 83'    
Marcelo Brozovic Yellow card 90+1'    
    90+3' Yellow card Riccardo Calafiori
    90+7' Yellow card Nicolò Fagioli
    90+8' Goal Mattia Zaccagni
(Assist: Riccardo Calafiori)

Match statistic

51
Possession %
49
6
Total shots
13
4
Shots on target
3
0
Shots off target
2
2
Blocked shots
8
2
Corners
11
0
Offsides
2
18
Fouls
6
Croatia
Italy

Starting lineups

1
Goalkeeper
2
Defender
6
Defender
4
Defender
3
Defender
10
Midfielder
80'
25
Midfielder
70'
11
Midfielder
15
Midfielder
46'
8
Midfielder
70'
9
Attacker
90'
1
23
3
Defender
57'
2
13
Defender
81'
15
8
Midfielder
81'
10
Midfielder
46'
6
Midfielder
11
75'
9
Attacker

Substitutes

20
Attacker
5
Defender
17
Attacker
26
Midfielder
21
Defender
19
Defender
23
Goalkeeper
12
Goalkeeper
24
Attacker
16
Attacker
46'
14
Attacker
70'
18
Midfielder
70'
7
Midfielder
80'
22
Defender
90'
16
Midfielder
22
5
Defender
24
Defender
12
Goalkeeper
19
Defender
21
Goalkeeper
26
Midfielder
25
Defender
7
Midfielder
46'
14
Attacker
57'
17
75'
20
Attacker
81'
18
Midfielder
81'

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *