Albania vs Spain Preview & Prediction | UEFA EURO 2024 | Group Stage
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Albania have an excellent opportunity to reach the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time ever as they take on a Spain team already through and having already confirmed top spot in Group B.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Monday 24th June, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US EST – 3:00pm / US PST – 1:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – BBC / US – FOX
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – VIX
ALBANIA PREVIEW: LOOKING TO CREATE HISTORY
Albania would have been concerned about being drawn into the so-called ‘group of death’ but no matter what happens they will leave this tournament with some pride. The Albanians scored the fastest goal in UEFA European Championships history in their 2-1 loss to Italy in their opener before another fast start against Croatia last Wednesday.
Sylvinho’s side took an early lead via Qazim Laci but a topsy-turvy game saw them manage to claim a late point via Klaus Gjasula. That means a victory in this final game against three-time European champions Spain would likely send them through to the knockouts with four points likely to be enough to get them at least one of the four best third placed finishes.
SPAIN PREVIEW: IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCES SO FAR
Spain have been sublime at the start of this tournament and they come into this on the back of one of the more comprehensive 1-0 thrashings you’re likely to see. Riccardo Calafiori’s own goal split the two sides against Italy on Thursday but the likes of Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Pedri were magnificent throughout.
La Roja will have a couple of concerns as they gear up for the knockout stages and that is both boxes. Between the boxes they are remarkable but profligacy in attack, as shown in that Italy game, and then openings and sloppiness at the back, as majorly shown in a 3-0 defeat of Croatia despite the clean sheet, will be a concern.
ALBANIA TEAM NEWS: STRONG STARTERS
Albania have been excellent from the start in their two matches so far and that means they will likely keep a similar line-up to this one. There will be a debate between Rey Manaj and Armando Broja up-front with Klaus Gjasula also likely to want a start but the expectation is that Sylvinho keeps things unchanged.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Strakosha; Hysaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Ramadani, Asllani; Asani, Laci, Bajrami; Manaj
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
SPAIN TEAM NEWS: RODRI AND ROTATION
Spain have absolutely nothing to play for bar keeping fitness up and momentum going, as well as pride, so there could be quite a few changes for this one. Rodri is out suspended anyway but the likes of Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand have also picked up a booking in the groups, too. We could see as many as eight changes by Luis de la Fuente.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): David Raya; Jesus Navas, Nacho, Laporte, Alex Grimaldo; Fermin Lopez, Martin Zubimendi, Fabian Ruiz; Ferran Torres, Alvaro Morata, Dani Olmo
UNAVAILABLE: Rodri (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
KEY STATS
- Spain have won all eight of the previous meetings between these teams, scoring 31 goals and conceding only three.
- Albania have won one of their previous five EURO matches (D1 L3).
- Albania have lost only three of their last 14 international matches (W7 D4).
- Albania have scored the first goal in their last three EURO matches.
- Albania have scored in the first half of their last three EURO matches.
- Albania have kept one clean sheet in their previous five EURO matches.
- Albania have been winning at half-time in two of their last three EURO matches.
- Albania are aiming to qualify from a EURO group for the first time having missed out in 2016 when they finished third in their group with three points.
- Elseid Hysaj is the only player to have made an appearance in each of Albania’s previous five EURO matches.
- Spain have won their group in a EURO final tournament for the 5th time (1984, 2000, 2008, 2012, 2024).
- Spain have lost only one of their last 14 EURO group stage matches (W10 D3).
- Excluding penalty shoot-outs, Spain have lost only two of their last 24 EURO matches (W15 D7).
- Spain have won nine and drawn one of their last ten competitive matches.
- Spain have kept eight clean sheets in their last ten EURO group stage matches.
- Spain have conceded only one first half goal in their last 11 EURO group stage matches.
- Spain have only failed to score in one of their last 14 EURO group stage matches.
- Spain are aiming to win all three matches in a EURO group for the second time having previously achieved the feat in 2008.
- Spain have not conceded a goal in their opening two matches at EURO 2024 and could complete a EURO group without conceding for the first time.
- Spain have been losing at half-time in only one of their last 23 EURO group stage matches.
- Pedri could become the first player to play three group matches in two successive EURO final tournaments before the age of 22.
- Spain have scored a total of 49 goals in EURO final tournament group stage matches.
ALBANIA VS SPAIN PREDICTION
There is the potential for a real upset here. Albania have shown really good signs and spells in their opening two matches, albeit both Italy and Croatia do appear much weaker than this Spanish side. That said, Spain showed quite a few defensive fragilities against the Croats before not being remotely tested against Italy but with the expectation being that the Spaniards make quite a few changes, a double chance bet in favour of Albania looks like it could be good value.
ALBANIA VS SPAIN TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – ALBANIA TO WIN OR DRAW
