Croatia vs Italy Prediction: Confidently backing Italy to Win

The final group stage encounter for Croatia and Italy in this Euro 2024 will take place at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig. Ahead of this game, both nations will look to secure a win to boost their round of 16 chances. Let's take a look at this encounter ahead and provide a pick. 

Compared to how good this Croatia side has been in their last tournaments, everything looks like they will head home after this game. This team started their Euro 2024 journey in Berlin, losing 3-0 to a hot young Spanish side, conceding 3 goals in 12 minutes. 

However, their game 2 against Albania almost went their way until a 95th-minute goal by Klaus Gjasula denied them maximum points. Heading into this game, every possibility points to a must-win for the Croatia side, and they are expected to play at their heart if they want to at least finish as a best-placed third-positioned side.

Pre-match facts show that Italy have never defeated Croatia in a major international tournament and have lost one of their two such games, with their defeat coming in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Also, Croatia have an impressive record against Italy and have won three out of the nine matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Italy's paltry one victory.

Italy will look to take positivity from their second game against Spain despite losing 1-0. The Azzurris were dominated in that encounter as they could only get 43 percent of the possession compared to Spain's 57. However, with just four attempted shots and one shot on goal, we could derive that this team will look to do better on the offensive side. 

In the meantime, looking at this Italy side opener, they did come from behind to win Albania in the space of five minutes, with Nicolo Barella and Alessandro Bastoni scoring for this team. In fact, Italy headed into their last game without a defeat in seven consecutive matches. 

Ahead of this game, records show that Italy lost their final group game in only one of the last nine appearances in the UEFA European Championship. Meanwhile, this team has never defeated Croatia in a major international tournament and has lost one of their two such games, with their defeat coming in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Croatia Possible Starting Lineup:

Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Sucic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Budimir, Kramaric

Italy Possible Starting Lineup:

Donnarumma; Darmian, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Fagioli, Barella; Chiesa, Pellegrini, Zaccagni; Retegui

There is no doubt that this is an open game looking at the number of points the two teams picked after their first two games. However, Italy showed more character in this tournament compared to how struggling Croatia were in both encounters. In the meantime, games like this are crucial, and we could witness any result as the two teams are expected to give it their all. Yet, the Azzurri look more organized and decent on both ends of the field compared to Croatia and should be able to win. Also, while I expect the Croatia team to go all out for a win in this game, we can be certain they will focus on the offensive game here, and a bet on both teams' scoring is another decent option to pick.