By Mubukwanu Kaingu
Defending champions Italy hope to redeem themselves tonight to ensure they advance to the 2024 Euro knockout stage when they face Croatia in their final Group B match in Leipzig today.
Monday night’s fixture comes after the European champions were out-classed by Spain in their penultimate Group B match on June 20.
It was even more painful for Italy who granted Spain the three points via a 55th minute own-goal scored by defender Riccardo Calafiori.
The result saw Group B leaders Spain, who have 6 points, advance to the last 16 with a game to spare.
And now, all that Italy need is the three points by any means necessary again Croatia to stay in the campaign.
Italy have 3 points while Croatia have 1 point tied with Albania who face Spain in tonight’s simultaneous kickoff.
A second place finish will see Italy face Group A runner-up whose outcome was being decided on Sunday night when Hosts and leaders Germany (6 points) were playing second placed Switzerland (4 points) while Scotland and Hungary were also in action on 1 point and zero points respectively.
21h00:Italy – Croatia
21h00:Spain – Albania