It’s the turn of the group of death to come to a head at Euro 2024 in Germany on Monday night, as the next set of knockout qualifiers are determined.
Spain are already home and hosed thanks to a duo of fine performances, which could play into the hands of plucky Albania.
Croatia and Italy, meanwhile, both have work to do to make it through to the Round of 16, despite the impressive recent track record of both on the continental stage.
*All kick off times in local time.
Group B: Croatia vs Italy – 21.00
Euro 2024 could lose a big beast at the first hurdle on Monday night, as Croatia and Italy battle it out for a place in the knockout phase in Germany.
The pair meet in Leipzig with progression from Group B yet to be confirmed for either.
Winners of the delayed Euro 2020, the Italians could be forgiven for feeling punch-drunk following their encounter with Spain on Thursday evening.
The overriding positive for coach Luciano Spalletti and Co was that they came away from Gelsenkirchen having only lost 1-0, as Riccardo Calafiori became the latest poor soul to register an own goal in the competition.
But the Azzurri were way off the pace against their electrifying rivals and were thankful to talismanic keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for keeping them in the contest.
Coupled with a nervy comeback victory over underdogs Albania in their opening game, they need at least a point to have any confidence in staying in the race to defend their title.
The maths are simple enough: a Croatian win takes them above the Italians, while a draw is useless to the former and will leave the latter sweating on the Spanish not slipping up against the Albanians in Dusseldorf.
But the Croats – Luka Modric and all – have endured a grim campaign so far.
A late comeback against Albania looked to have kickstarted their efforts at the second attempt, only for Klaus Gjasula to pop up with a potentially critical 95th-minute equalizer.
Not the tonic Zlatko Dalic was looking for after his side were played off the park by Spain in their opening fixture.
And it means the stakes are high, with at least one of these knockout regulars hovering over the trapdoor.
Group B: Albania vs Spain – 21.00
David meets Goliath at the Merkur Spiel-Arena on Monday night, as eye-catching Spain meet fearless Albania.
With the Spanish having already booked their safe passage to the Round of 16 – and in fine style at that – does it leave the door ajar for their underdog opponents to successfully crank up the intensity one more time?
It’ll be fun finding out, but the odds are firmly in the favour of the nation with six points from six.
Blazing into a 3-0 first half lead against sorry Croatia in their Group B opener should have been warning enough, as Alvaro Morata, Fabian and Dani Carvajal were all on target.
But their imposing, utterly dominant effort against reigning Euros champions Italy on Thursday compounded the idea that Luis de la Fuente’s men are serious tournament contenders.
That they only secured a 1-0 win will be a source of minor frustration, as a Riccardo Calafiori own goal proved the only material difference.
Anyone watching will know that there is plenty more in the tank, though, from a bright, reimagined side brimming not only with talent but with a plan to match it.
So no big ask for their lowly opponents, then.
Klaus Gjasula will have something to say about keeping the dream alive, having popped up in the nick of time to snatch a 2-2 draw with faltering Croatia when he netted in the 95th minute.
Having pushed Italy all the way, even taking the lead with the quickest goal in European Championship history, it was just reward for their never-say-die approach in an imposing pool.
They now have one last swing at glory, knowing a win, however unlikely, will almost certainly take them through to the knockout phase.
That notional four-point total should be enough were they to remain in third place, while any slip-up from Italy against Croatia could also see the Albanians go second and straight through.
What a position to be in, then – and an invigorating new challenge for the Spanish on the road to what could be a glorious finish for them in Berlin.
Croatia v Italy
| Result prediction | Croatia to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Croatia to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Albania v Spain
| Result prediction | Spain to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Spain to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | K. Gjasula( Albania), Q. Laçi( Albania), N. Bajrami(Albania), Álvaro Morata(Spain) |
Netherlands v Austria
| Result prediction | Netherlands to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Netherlands to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
France v Poland
| Result prediction | France to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / France to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | R. Lewandowski(Poland) |