Euro 2024: Group B - Analysis of Member Teams

Group B Members: Analysis of Teams

In Group B of Euro 2024, we have a mix of teams with impressive histories and varying rankings. Let's delve into the details of each team:

Spain: Spain has an illustrious football history, having won the World Cup twice and the European Championship three times. They have also claimed victory in the Nations League. Currently, they hold the 8th position in the FIFA world rankings, indicating their strong standing among international teams.

Italy: Italy boasts a remarkable record, being four-time World Cup champions and two-time European Champions. They have also achieved success as Olympic football champions. The team is currently ranked 9th in the FIFA world rankings, reflecting their competitive position.

Croatia: Croatia's football accomplishments include a World Cup runner-up finish and two third-place finishes. They have also been runners-up in the Nations League. Presently, they hold the 10th position in the FIFA world rankings, showcasing their strength in the global football landscape.

Albania: Making its debut appearance in the European Championship, Albania is a team on the rise. Although they are currently ranked 66th in the FIFA world rankings, their participation in the tournament signifies a significant milestone for Albanian football.

Group B is known as the "Group of Death" not only because Spain, Italy, and Croatia are ranked 8th, 9th, and 10th in the world, but also because this group stage is filled with a sense of revenge. Except for the weaker Albania on paper, the other three teams all have the potential to compete for the championship. It is possible that the group stage is a preview of the subsequent semi-finals or finals. As can be imagined, the "Group of Death" lives up to its name.

Strength Analysis of Group B at the 2024 European Cup

Spain

Most of the Spanish squad is composed of players from the La Liga, ranking first in overall value in Group A. The current Spanish team is ranked 8th in the world.

Formationally, Spain's starting lineup is likely to adopt a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation. Spain's defense line is composed of experienced main defenders and goalkeepers from various clubs, which will greatly reduce the possibility of Spain conceding goals on the field.

Coach Luis Enrique de la Fuente opted for veterans like Carvajal instead of the impressive Boro from Tottenham, showing that stability is the priority for the defense line in his mind.

The midfield is primarily led by Rodri and Pedri, complemented by Ruiz or Merino. This midfield's offensive power will create numerous attacking opportunities, and its strength should not be underestimated.
Upfront, the trio will be composed of Yamal, Morata, and Nico Williams. Compared to the defense line, coach Luis Enrique de la Fuente does not have many options upfront.

It can even be said that this trio's explosive power is not that strong, lacking the single-point explosive power of other luxurious teams. This is an issue that the Spanish team must face at this European Cup. It can be speculated that the likelihood of high-scoring matches against Spain is not high.

Overall, this team's lower limit is stable, but the upper limit is uncertain, which will largely depend on their own state and understanding of the opponents.

Coach Luis Enrique de la Fuente took office at the end of 2022. Before that, he had led the U-18, U-19, and U-21 teams to numerous championships, demonstrating his rich coaching experience. After taking over as the national team's coach at the end of 2022, he led the national team to win the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League title. The strength of the Spanish team coached by him will be maximized.

Italy

Most of the players selected for the Italian national team are currently playing in Serie A clubs, especially Inter Milan. It can be inferred that the Italian national team will definitely implement the playing style of Italian clubs, with coordination, teamwork, and counter-attacking being the main themes.

Formationally, Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain is definitely a starter. PSG only conceded 33 goals in 34 league matches this season, and Donnarumma contributed significantly. Italy's defense line and midfield will mainly be composed of main players from Inter Milan and Napoli.

These two teams were champions in Serie A and the Bundesliga this season. The winners of a match don't always reveal much, but consistent winners must have many strengths, and Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen are such teams (Leverkusen set a record of 51 unbeaten matches in the Bundesliga, while Inter Milan only conceded 22 goals in 38 matches).

Upfront, Italy relies mainly on Chiesa from Juventus and Rashica from Genoa. Both are main players in their respective clubs with strong single-point breakthrough abilities, often able to give opponents unexpected blows. The characteristic of Italy's formation is that it relies mainly on attacking through the left side, carrying out counter-attacks to the fullest extent.

Croatia

The Croatian national team ranks 10th in the world. As for the lineup, Croatia should mainly choose the 4-3-3 formation. Being in the group of death, Croatia will inevitably face fierce attacks from Spain and Italy. It will take a lot of effort to qualify for the knockout stage. Therefore, they must go all out in the group stage, of course, Spain and Italy are also the same.

The starting goalkeeper is Limakovich from Fenerbahçe. His performance in the 2022 Qatar World Cup was remarkable, saving Croatia from the brink of defeat several times. This time, he will undoubtedly be the first choice.

In the defense line, there are Gvardiol and Stanišić from the prestigious clubs Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen, as well as the double defenders Shutalo and Sousa who play for Ajax. The Croatian defense does not have obvious weaknesses, but they still need to cooperate perfectly.

In the midfield, the team's core Modrić leads the team. The 38-year-old Modrić is still in good shape, performing well at Real Madrid and the national team. The other two midfielders are Kovačić from Manchester City and Brozović, who is Ronaldo's teammate. Kramarić and Petković lead the attack line, and their performance in this season's league and the 2022 World Cup is brilliant.

Albania

Albania ranks last in the comprehensive strength ranking of the group. The Albanian national team currently ranks 66th in the world.

Regarding the lineup, Albania is likely to adopt the 4-3-3 formation. The starting goalkeeper is Berisha from Empoli of the Italian Serie A. The defense line is led by Jimshiti from Atalanta, with the other three being Cissai from Lazio, Ismaili from Empoli, and Mitaev from Lokomotiv Moscow. The defense line is the core position of Albania's defense.

The midfield is led by Asllani from Inter Milan, and Asani, who plays for Gwangju, will be the most threatening scoring point for the team.
With a limited number of key players, how Albania can achieve an extraordinary performance depends on how coach Silvinho deploys his troops. Although everyone considers Albania as a supporting role, we cannot doubt its determination and ability to create difficulties for its opponents.

Of course, according to the rules of the European Cup, the top 2 teams in each group will directly enter the knockout stage, and another 4 teams will be selected from the third-placed teams. The qualification for the third-placed team in Group B is also very competitive.

 

Euro 2024: Group A - Analysis of Member Teams