Sports
Results, highlights, standings of Euro 2024: Spain demolish Croatia; Italy wins, but Albania writes history
On the first full day of action at Euro 2024, Switzerland started well with a 3-1 win over Hungary, while Spain had no problems with Croatia, beating them 3-0. In the final match of the day, reigning champions Italy dominated in every statistical category except goals, securing a 2–1 victory over Albania.
Find out everything you need to know:
Euro 2024 results for Saturday
- Switzerland 3, Hungary 1
- Spain 3, Croatia 0
- Italy 2, Albania 1
Italy 2, Albania 1
The score indicates a game that was close, but it really shouldn’t have been that way. Italy should have conceded a third goal after two goals in the first fifteen minutes, but in the end it was enough to hold on against an Albania that did not put enough pressure on them in the closing moments.
Albanian Nedim Bajrami scored after just 23 seconds, taking advantage of a poor throw-in from Italy, to set the milestone for the fastest goal in a men’s European Championship.
From there it was all Italy. Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella both scored soon afterwards, with Italy also hitting the post and wasting a few other quality chances. Italy had 69% possession and 17 shots to Albania’s eight in a match that highlighted the winners’ replenished backline.
Alongside Bastoni, Genoa’s 22-year-old centre-back Riccardo Calafiori stole the show with an exceptional display of strength, timing and cleverness, keeping the underdogs at bay for almost the entire match. Apart from an error in the final moments when he was saved by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the former AS Roma man was almost perfect as Bastoni’s partner to replace the retired Leonardi Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
Here is Barella’s winning goal:
Spain 3, Croatia 0
All that experience has done them good. Veteran-filled Croatia, finalists at the 2018 World Cup and semi-finalists in 2022, were thoroughly handled by Spain, 3-0. The young Spanish side, with Barcelona’s 16-year-old star Lamine Yamal leading the way, were clinical and scored all their goals in the first half, throwing away 60% of their shots on target in the match.
Alvaro Moratez, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal scored the goals for the Spanish side, while Croatia, despite 16 shots, lacked precision when it mattered most, making the tournament start in the worst possible way. The result now puts so much pressure on Croatia as one more defeat in the group stage could mean the end of their run.
Ruiz, who assisted the first goal with a beautiful through ball, stole the show with this incredible effort at the top of the penalty area:
Spain went into the tournament with many question marks thanks to a young and experienced team, but after this performance they immediately seem to be contenders. Rodri was a rock centrally as expected, Yamal received a standing ovation for his dazzling performance and there was an inspiring cohesion in the middle of the park that will keep them going through every game.
Keep an eye on Morata, as he seemed to hint at an injury that would force him off in the second half.
Switzerland 3, Hungary 1
It was not a convincing victory for Switzerland, despite taking the lead at 2-0 through the first international goals from Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer. A fine header from Barnabas Varga in the 66th minute got Hungary back into the match, but a mistake in defense gave Breel Embolo the chance he needed to lift the ball over Peter Gulasci to secure all three points set.
The opening goal, twelve minutes later, had to be confirmed by the VAR, but it was Duah’s beautiful finish in the penalty area that gave Switzerland all the strength:
Aebischer would make it 2-0 with this effort just before half time. It looked like he made a mistake by not getting his shot off early, but he made sure this beautiful shot curled into the other side of the goal:
Embolo then added style points, capturing this poor backpass to make it 3-1:
The win is huge for the Swiss as it likely means that even a draw against lowly Scotland could be enough to reach the knockout stages. At Euro 2020, all teams with four points advanced to the last 16.
How things are going
group A
- Germany, 3 points (+4)
- Switzerland, 3 points (+3)
- Hungary, 0 points (-3)
- Scotland, 0 points (-4)
Group B
- Spain, 3 points (+3)
- Italy, 3 points (+1)
- Albania, 0 points (-1)
- Croatia, 0 points, (-3)
Sunday’s program
Always oriental
- Poland vs. Netherlands, 9am on FS1 (example)
- Slovenia vs. Denmark, 12:00 on FS1 (example)
- Serbia vs England, 3pm on Fox (example)
What happened yesterday?
Host country Germany kicked off the tournament in style with a 5-1 victory over Scotland. Five different players, including Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, found the back of the net in a one-sided match. After 19 minutes it was 2-0 and a red card from Ryan Porteous for a terrible challenge in the penalty area resulted in a penalty and opened the floodgates as Germany scored a third before half-time and two more in the second half. an opening statement that they may support.
Numerous continental and global failures since winning the 2014 World Cup have seen Germany take a hit when it comes to ranking among the world’s best, but this is the perfect chance to prove they are contenders again . So far, so good.
