Euro 2024 Group B: Much to savour in group of death

On paper, this group contains three teams who will look to go deep in the tournament. Three-times winners Spain, defending champions Italy, and Croatia, who know what life at the business end of recent major tournaments is all about, will face off knowing that all three could all qualify for the round of 16. Four of the six groups will see the team in third go through.

Albania round out the quartet here. The whipping boys? Maybe. That said, they did top a qualifying group containing Poland and Czechia, and will look to make life uncomfortable for the Italians in the opening group.

Spain will be favoured to top the section and a form guide of sorts to go on points to them beating Italy and Croatia in last summer's Nations League finals.

Country: Albania

Manager: Sylvinho

Captain: Berat Djimsiti

Player to watch: Armando Broja

Best Euros performance: Group stage (2016)

Fixtures

Saturday, 15 June: Italy (Dortmund), 8pm

Wednesday, 19 June: Croatia, (Hamburg), 2pm

Monday, 24 June: Spain, (Dusseldorf), 8pm

After their participation at Euro 2016, Albania are back in the big time after topping qualification on goal difference from Czechia in Group E.

The appointment of former Arsenal and Barcelona defender Sylvinho in January 2023 brought about an upturn in fortunes, as evidenced by notable home wins against Poland (2-0) and the Czechs (3-0 in qualifying.

Chelsea's Armando Broja, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Fulham is the player that most in these part would be familiar with. The 22-year-old attacker is expected to leave Chelsea permanently this summer, with Wolves, Monaco and Bologna amongst the clubs vying for his signature.

Broja, however, did not see much game time at Craven Cottage; hardly ideal preparation for the