Croatia 2-2 Albania: Both teams mount comebacks in thrilling score-draw in Hamburg

Summary

The third match of Group B saw almost every twist imaginable as, having just conceded two goals in three minutes from Croatia, underdogs Albania staged a comeback of their own to secure a point in Hamburg.

Qazim Laçi scored an early opener for Albania as they ran rampant against a vulnerable-looking Croatia in the first half, but Zlatko Dalić’s halftime changes revitalised his team. Andrej Kramarić’s strike and Klaus Gjasula’s own goal in quick succession put Croatia 2-1 up, and it looked as though they would escape with all three points. It was Gjasula who secured the ultimate redemption with a late equaliser for Albania, keeping their qualification hopes alive.

As it happened

Albania might not have started the game quite as explosively as their opener against Italy, when Nedim Bajrami netted the fastest goal in the history of the Euros in just 23 seconds, but they still showed thee same clinical ability to take their chances. The game was cagey at first, both sides seemingly well aware of the possible ramifications of a loss, and Albania employed a compact low block to frustrate Croatia’s attackers as Zlatko Dalić’s side began to feel out the game.

However, Albania didn’t need sustained possession to make an impact – they opened the scoring with the first attempt of the match. A fantastic lofted ball in from Jasir Asani on the right found Qazim Laçi, who directed a glancing header under Dominik Livaković (who ought to have done better) to make it 1-0 to the Eagles.

After striking the first blow, Albania looked to open up their lead; Bajrami appeared menacing on the counter and with some tidy footwork on the edge of the box in the minutes after the goal, but it was to Croatia’s credit that they gathered themselves quickly. They looked to take advantage of Albania enthusiastically committing men forward in an effort to extend their lead, and almost got lucky on the break, but Marcelo Brozović sent his shot wide.

A pattern emerged of Croatia having the majority of possession but failing to create the final product from their midfield dominance, while Albania defended in their numbers and looked to burst forth on the counter. Croatia’s best chance of the match so far came after 25 minutes, when Bruno Petković rose to meet Lovro Majer’s cross but headed over the bar. Dalić’s defence still looked vulnerable, with a failure to properly clear the ball handing a free shot to Elseid Hysaj – they were lucky that he couldn’t keep his powerful effort down. Just moments later, Albania again found themselves with four attackers bearing down on Croatia’s three in defence and Kristjan Asllani was face-to-face with the goalkeeper. Fortunately for Croatia, Livaković was able to redeem his shortcomings from the opening goal slightly by saving his effort.

For all Croatia’s possession, Thomas Strakosha had very little to do in the Albanian net until a solid punch of the ball after 35 minutes. Luka Modrić unsurprisingly looked like their main playmaker, and Petković their biggest threat on goal, but Albania defended well and allowed Croatia no shots on target in the first half. The half came to a chaotic end with Rey Manaj almost doubling Albania’s lead, losing his marker and forcing Livaković to save his header. Croatia then showed as much promise as they had at any point so far at the other end, with excellent linkup play eventually resulting in a header from Andrej Kramarić – Strakosha did well to react with a save, though the referee’s whistle had blown anyway and the goal would not have counted.

Dalić, knowing his team’s qualification hopes were getting slimmer by the minute, introduced Mario Pašalić and Luka Sučić in place of Majer and Brozović for the second half. Croatia appeared more dangerous straight away, and had their first big chance just a few minutes after play resumed. Sučić finally recorded their first shot on target, which was well saved by Strakosha. Albania looked under more sustained pressure than at any point in the first half, with Mateo Kovačić also firing on goal a few minutes later – but Strakosha remained solid between the sticks. It took until the 55th minute for Albania to get a eral hold of the ball and it didn’t last long, with Petković and Josip Šutalo both heading off target from close range a few minutes later.

An equaliser looked almost inevitable, with the introduction of Sučić seemingly having revitalised Croatia’s midfield. Albania’s defenders put their bodies on the line to hold onto the lead, Ylber Ramadani bearing the brunt of a powerful Modrić effort and needing brief medical treatment. Jasir Asani made way for Taulant Seferi with 35 minutes to go, Sylvinho seeking to inject some energy into his team. Albania looked briefly revitalised, but Croatia continued to pile pressure on their goal. Ante Budimir replaced Petković as the target at the top as cross after cross flew into the box, but to no avail: the score remained 1-0 to Albania with 20 minutes remaining.

Croatia’s moment finally came in the 74th minute from birthday boy Andrej Kramarić. receiving the ball just inside the box, the Hoffenheim attacker managed to wrong-foot a tired Hysaj and Strakosha, and slid the ball through Hysaj’s legs to level the scores and break Albanian hearts. It went from bad to worse quickly, with over an hour’s hard graft almost instantly undone. Less than three minutes later, the ball was in the back of the net again: Budimir was at the centre of both goals and put in the cross that eventually ricocheted off Albanian defender Klaus Gjasula for an own goal.

Substitutes flooded onto the pitch throughout the last minutes; just as Dalić’s changes had turned the game around, Sylvinho brought on Mirlind Daku and Arbër Hoxha to drive Albania’s attack forward as they looked desperately to take something from the game. It looked an unlikely prospect though with so many of the Albanian team drained after a colossal effort and Croatia also piling on the fresh legs with Borna Sosa and Martin Baturina. Modrić sought a third for Croatia with a forceful effort that was out of Strakosha’s reach, but just drifted wide. He was made to rue that missed opportunity.

It was to Albania’s massive credit that they used their last dregs of energy to salvage what could be a critical point. They squandered a couple of chances – Mirlind Daku was caught offside as he followed up a rebound from Hoxha’s shot, and in any case Livaković dived on it – but urged on by a frantic Sylvinho on the touchline, it was Gjasula who would redeem himself and break Croatian hearts. Šutalo misjudged his block on Mario Mitaj’s cross and it deflected into the path of Gjasula, who found himself in plenty of space away from Gvardiol and Baturina. It was the ultimate redemption for the 34-year-old, who kept his composure to tuck a finish past Livaković in the 95th minute.

It was hardly certain that that would be the final goal of the match – at 2-2, Gjasula might well have saved his team’s skin a second time as well with a cynical trip on Modrić to stop the Croatian star breaking forth for a great chance in the last moments (he earned a yellow card for his troubles). He had a tired effort blocked at the other end too, while Kovacić nearly rescued the three points for Croatia but had his strike saved by Strakosha, who had a terrific game.

The result (just) stayed 2-2, meaning both teams have one point from their first two games before Italy and Spain face off in Group B’s other Matchday 2 clash tomorrow.

The lineups

ALB: Strakosha, Mitaj, Arlind Ajeti, Djimsiti, Hysaj, Laçi, Ramadani, Asllani, Bejrami, Manaj, Asani

CRO: Livaković, Juranović, Šutalo, Gvardiol, Perišić, Modrić, Brozović, Kovačić, Majer, Petković, Kramarić