Croatia vs Albania (Wednesday in Hamburg)
Steen: Croatia looked their (advanced) age against Spain on matchday 1 but statistically they were more competitive than the 3 nil scoreline defeat. They will be hoping that match was just bad luck, while plucky Albania scored in mere seconds against European football giants Italy, only to concede two goals and lose the match in a valiant defeat. These Balkan rivals have a big difference in terms of football resumes and recognized players, it’s players like Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic on Croatia going up against players who have never featured on the biggest teams in club football on team Albania. Albania fear no one though, Croatia has something to prove but I doubt they run away with the result as Albania will play firmly with a low block. Prediction: Croatia 2 Albania 0
Ben Gray: After both were beaten on Saturday, these two teams really need all three points at Volksparkstadion, with Croatia firm favourites to prevail.
Zlatko Dalić’s team were smashed 3-0 by Spain in Berlin, not the way they dreamt of commencing their Euros campaign, considering this is the Blazers’ joint-heaviest defeat at a major tournament of all-time.
Croatia have not been knocked out in the group phase of any major tournament for a decade and, with an opportunity to sneak into the knockouts in third still on the table, aren’t in serious danger of an early exit just yet, although that’ll change should they fail to win this one. Albania meantime made history on Saturday night, scoring the fastest goal in European Championships history, when Nedim Bajrami lashed them ahead after a mere 22 seconds against Italy.
However, the Red and Blacks weren’t in front for long, actually behind at Westfalenstadion a quarter of an hour later, ultimately defeated 2-1 by the defending champions, despite a spirited display for Sylvinho’s side. This will be a first-ever senior meeting between Croatia and Albania, and most fully expect the former to mark the occasion with a victory in Hamburg, a win they very much need. Prediction: Croatia 2 Albania 0
Germany vs Hungary (Wednesday in Stuttgart)
Steen: Hungary has talent but they were poor in their opening match against Switzerland, especially early on, Germany will look to pounce and build an early lead and then not look back as the hosts look to qualify for the knockouts. Gundogan and Kroos the veterans in the midfield feeding young attackers Musiala and Wirtz was magical to watch in the opening match. Even if Hungary are more stable and solid in the back than Scotland, I doubt they can slow down Germany, who will be looking to get 6 points and then rest some players in the third and final game against the Swiss, who may also be qualified. Hungary should play freely enough to get some chances on goal, but the defensive management is shaky. Prediction: Germany 3 Hungary 1
Ben: After claiming a statement victory on opening night, hosts Germany are strong favourites to make it two wins out of two in Stuttgart?
On Friday night, die Mannschaft crushed Scotland 5-1 in Munich, three up by half time, the starting front three Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and then Kai Havertz all on target, before substitutes Niclas Füllkrug and Emre Can completed the rout.
This is the very first time die Nationalelf have scored 5+ goals in a European Championships match, having previously done so on nine occasions at World Cups, most-recently and most infamously against Brazil in the Mineiraço a decade ago.
Before the tournament, there was much concern that Julian Nagelsmann’s side would embarrass themselves on home soil, but victory here would rubber stamp Germany’s place in the round of 16, as momentum continues to build.
In contrast, Hungary came into this competition with sky-high expectations, but were extremely disappointing on Saturday, with Barnabás Varga’s header halving the deficit against Switzerland mid-way through the second half, before the Swiss sealed the 3-1 victory late on. Before this, Marco Rossi’s team had lost only two of 17 competitive fixtures, notably beating England twice and defeating Germany 1-0 in Leipzig just under two years ago in a UEFA Nations League fixture.
70 years ago, these two teams met in the World Cup Final in Bern, with Hungary 2-0 up inside eight minutes, before Germany fought back to prevail 3-2, lifting the first of four World Cups, with Gusztáv Sebes’ side widely considered the best team of all-time to never win the World Cup. More-recently, Hungary are unbeaten in three encounters with Germany, although that streak is very likely to end at Neckarstadion. Prediction: Germany 3 Hungary 1
Scotland vs Switzerland (Wednesday in Cologne)
Steen: Exposed in both tactics and defence against the hosts Germany, the embattled Steve Clarke will look to reinvigorate the belief and self confidence of this Scottish side as they gear up for what was always going to be a difficult matchup with perennial tournament dark horses Switzerland. The veteran Swiss ended up slotting 3 goals past a struggling Hungary (though the match was 2-1 for a time and competitive). This is a well drilled side that won’t concede easily with Yann Sommer in goal, while Scotland couldn’t even generate a shot on goal against Germany in the opening match. Billy Gilmour, a proven midfielder, may come into the game for Scotland, but I doubt they can change enough about their backline to prevent conceding, even if the plan on attack improves from the nothing that was offered on matchday 1, it’s hard to see Scotland posting a positive result in the tournament. Prediction: Switzerland 3 Scotland 0
Ben: Having been truly humbled in the tournament opener, it’s now do or die for Scotland, as they desperately seek to reach the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time ever.
On Friday night, with the world watching, the Dark Blues were smashed 5-1 by Germany in Munich, Ryan Porteous’ red card on the cusp of half time certainly not helping their cause, as the Tartan Army endured their team’s heaviest major tournament defeat since 1954. Steve Clarke’s team didn’t have single shot on or off target all night, with their goal about as fluky as it could possibly be, as Scott McKenna’s header looped and spun off Antonio Rüdiger and over Manuel Neuer; one goal from zero shots is efficient if nothing else.
Given that their goal difference took a serious battering, Scotland simply need four points from their two remaining games, this fixture and then against Hungary in Stuttgart on Sunday, otherwise they’ll be the first team heading home, an all too familiar feeling.
No such concerns for Switzerland, who’ve reached the knockout phase at each of the last five major tournaments, something Scotland can only dream of, a streak they’re on course to continue. On Saturday, Murat Yakın’s team deservedly beat Hungary 3-1, with Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer both bagging their first-ever international goals in the first half, before Breel Embolo, Forrest Gump-esque, discarded his knee-brace while running through, before audaciously secured the three points. So now, another victory in Köln for the Rossocrociati would rubber stamp a top two finish, while even a point would maintain their sequence of knockout phase appearances.
These two nations haven’t met since a friendly in 2006, while Scotland’s most-recent major tournament victory came against the Swiss at Euro ’96; Ally McCoist OBE the only scorer at Villa Park 28 years ago.
To offer the Tartan Army some hope, never before have Switzerland won multiple group games at a Euros, but we’re forecasting that’ll change at RheinEnergieStadion, with Scotland’s long wait for a win going on. Prediction: Switzerland 2 Scotland 1
Main Photo by Lars Baron – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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