Germany and Switzerland have sealed progression from Group A while Croatia was pegged back following a stalemate with Albania.
The second round of group games kicked off in Euro 2024 on Wednesday afternoon and nations are starting to learn their fate as per status in the tournament.
Croatia started the day with a disappointing 2-2 draw with Albania, which leaves their hopes of reaching the knockout round in great danger, while Germany and Switzerland progresss, though their permanent positions undecided.
In the company of our journalist Hassan Afolabi, here is how things went down in stadia across Germany on the sixth day of the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship.
Croatia left on the brink after fall-off in Albania draw
Croatia is in danger of not making it out of the group stages following a 2-2 draw with group minors Albania in their second game of Euro 2024.
Zlatko Dalic’s men headed into the game hoping to make up for their humiliating defeat to Spain in their opening game of the tournament.
The odds also favour them to see off the nation ranked 56 places below them by FIFA, but things took a different course in the opening minutes of the game Hamburg as Qazim Laci fired the Albanians ahead in the 11th-minute.
After setting a new record for the fastest goal in the history of the competition in their opening game, Albania were eager to make things happen and they got their reward as Laci gets ahead of his marker to head home a Jasir Asani cross.
It was a shocking start for Croatia, who continued to threaten and created a lot of chances but despite it all, they head into the interval trailing.
Their equalizer came 16 minute from the end of the game as Andrej Kramaric, who was named the player of the match found the bottom-left corner following a wonderful flicked pass by substitute Ante Budimir.
Two minutes later Croatia went ahead for the first time in the game and for the first time in a major tournament since as an attempted clearance came of the back of Klaus Gjasula and into the net for an own goal.
Gjasula would go on to become a hero on the day, as his 94th-minute and 23 seconds goal to restore parity for Albania not only saw him become the first substitute to score an own goal and a goal in the same Euro game but also the latest equalizer in the tournament’s historiy.
It finished all square in the first-ever senior meeting between the two and it is Croatia who now faces Italy in their final group game needing at least a win to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout round.
Albania also faces Spain and will also need to win to prevent group elimination in Germany 2024.
Germany beat Hungary to reach the knockout rounds
Germany became the first nation to secure a slot in the knockout round of the UEFA European Championship this summer following a 2-0 win over Hungary in Stuttgart.
The Germans headed into the game without a win in their previous three meetings with Hungary, albeit they were still expected to pick up a win as per the odds.
It took just 22 minites into the game before Jamal Musiala opened the scoring for the host, receiving a pass from captain Ilkay Gundogan before firing home for his second goal of the tournament.
Ilkay Gundogan scored mid-way through the second-half, arriving in the box to dispatch a Maximilian Mittelstaedt cutback to seal a 2-0 win as well as the player of the match award.
Gundogan became the first-ever Germany captain to score and assist in the same UEFA European Championship match in history, leaving his team needing just a point in their final group game against Switzerland to be assured top spot finish.
Two defeats in two for Hungary in Euro 2024. Unfortunately, there’s a little they can do a much better and tidy Germany side, who is yet to concede a goal from an opposition player so far.
Switzerland qualifies after Scotland stalemate
Switzerland followed Germany into the next round before the two do battle in their final group game following a 1-1 draw against Scotland in the final kickoff of the day.
It was an evenly contested clash and it was the Brits who drew the first blood after 13 minutes through Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay.
From a Switzerland corner, Scotland won possession and immediately counter. The ball arrived at the feet of Callum McGregor in the other end, who teed up McTominay to slam home via a wicked deflection off Fabian Schar.
The goal was initially awarded as an own goal for the Swiss defender of Newcastle United but the decision was soon overturned and McTominay gets the credit.
Exactly double the minute they went ahead, Scotland tried to play out from the back after retrieving possession. Unfortunately, Anthony Ralston’s attempted pass fell to Xherdan Shaqiri, who fired a first time strike on goal, with Angus Gunn off his line.
It finished all square and Switzerland needs only a point in their final group game against Germany to be assured a place in second and could finish first with a win in the match. Worst scenario will see Murat Yakin’s side finish third, which will be enough for a place in the knockout round.
Sccotland will now head into their final group game against Hungary knowing a win could see them reach the next round of a major tournament for the first time in the nation’s footballing history.
