Euro 2024 is now fast approaching, with Germany playing hosts to the latest edition of the European Championship as 24 teams look to lift the famous Henri Delaunay trophy.
Despite an expanded modern tournament these days, the group stages still throw up big meetings from the continent's best – and this year's finals, which kick off on Friday 14th June, is no different.
Group B is arguably the ‘group of death’, with defending champions Italy, 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia and three-time winners Spain all facing off against each other, alongside outsiders Albania.
Euro 2024 tournament guide: Teams, matches, dates, TV channels, odds & more
Football FanCast has put together a guide for all things Euro 2024, with venues, fixtures, tables, stadiums and more all covered here.
ByStephan Georgiou Euro 2024 Group B fixtures
Sat 15th June, 5pm
Spain
vs
Croatia
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Sat 15th June, 8pm
Italy
vs
Albania
Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
Wed 19th June, 2pm
Croatia
vs
Albania
Volksparkstadion, Hamburg
Thu 20th June, 8pm
Spain
vs
Italy
VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen
Mon 24th June, 8pm
Croatia
vs
Italy
Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
Mon 24th June, 8pm
Albania
vs
Spain
Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf
Spain
Luis de la Fuente
Alvaro Morata
8th
6th
Alvaro Morata, Joselu (4)
Group A winners, 21 points
Winners x3 (1964, 2008, 2012)
Spain have been in fine form since the 2022 World Cup, losing just twice under new manager Luis de la Fuente. The 62-year-old has worked his way up through the national system, taking charge of Spain’s U19, U21 and U23 sides before replacing Luis Enrique at senior level.
Wed 5th June
Spain 5-0 Andorra
Sat 8th June
Spain 5-1 Northern Ireland
Scotland pushed Spain for the top spot when it came to qualifying for the competition, and De la Fuente should have a mixture of experience and youth in his squad this summer. Dani Carvajal, Rodri and Alvaro Morata could be some of the more knowledgeable heads in the starting XI, while exciting youngsters Pedri, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal may spell the future.
Since their win in 2012, Spain have struggled at the Euros by their recent high standards, being knocked out in the round of 16 in 2016 and at the semi-final stage of Euro 2020, so it could once again be time for La Roja to stage a serious push for the title.
Position
Player
Club
Goalkeeper
Alex Remiro
Real Sociedad
Goalkeeper
David Raya
Arsenal
Goalkeeper
Unai Simon
Athletic Club
Defender
Dani Carvajal
Real Madrid
Defender
Marc Cucurella
Chelsea
Defender
Alex Grimaldo
Bayer Leverkusen
Defender
Aymeric Laporte
Al-Nassr
Defender
Robin Le Normand
Real Sociedad
Defender
Nacho
Real Madrid
Defender
Jesus Navas
Sevilla
Defender
Daniel Vivian
Athletic Club
Midfielder
Alex Baena
Villarreal
Midfielder
Fabian Ruiz
Paris Saint-Germain
Midfielder
Fermin Lopez
Barcelona
Midfielder
Mikel Merino
Real Sociedad
Midfielder
Pedri
Barcelona
Midfielder
Rodri
Man City
Midfielder
Martin Zubimendi
Real Sociedad
Forward
Ayoze Perez
Real Betis
Forward
Dani Olmo
RB Leipzig
Forward
Ferran Torres
Barcelona
Forward
Joselu
Real Madrid
Forward
Alvaro Morata
Atletico Madrid
Forward
Mikel Oyarzabal
Real Sociedad
Forward
Nico Williams
Athletic Club
Forward
Lamine Yamal
Barcelona
Croatia
Zlatko Dalic
Luka Modric
10th
8th
Andrej Kramaric (4)
Group D runners-up, 16 points
Quarter-finals x2 (1996, 2008)
Croatia have been a threat in a number of recent major tournaments, taking on France in the 2018 World Cup final and finishing third in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. However, in the European Championship, Croatia have been knocked out in the last 16 in 2016 and 2020, so Zlatko Dalic will be hoping for a deeper run this time around.
They qualified through the group stages without needing the play-offs thanks to a bit of help from Armenia, who drew with Wales in the penultimate round of fixtures.
Mon 3rd June
Croatia 3-0 North Macedonia
Sat 8th June
Portugal 1-2 Croatia
Looking ahead to the tournament, though, Croatia should once again have the experience of captain Luka Modric, while Marcelo Brozovic and Andrej Kramaric also have plenty of international caps under their belt. Some younger stars are also emerging as well, such as Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol and Dinamo Zagreb winger Martin Baturina.
Therefore, they may fancy their chances of getting out of the group again despite a tough group draw, with their recent friendly win over Portugal a reminder of what they are capable of.
Position
Player
Club
Goalkeeper
Ivica Ivusic
Pafos
Goalkeeper
Nediljko Labrovic
Rijeka
Goalkeeper
Dominik Livakovic
Fenerbahce
Defender
Martin Erlic
Sassuolo
Defender
Josko Gvardiol
Man City
Defender
Josip Juranovic
Union Berlin
Defender
Marin Pongracic
Lecce
Defender
Borna Sosa
Ajax
Defender
Josip Stanisic
Bayer Leverkusen
Defender
Josip Sutalo
Ajax
Defender
Domagoj Vida
AEK Athens
Midfielder
Martin Baturina
Dinamo Zagreb
Midfielder
Marcelo Brozovic
Al-Nassr
Midfielder
Luka Ivanusec
Feyenoord
Midfielder
Mateo Kovacic
Man City
Midfielder
Lovro Majer
Wolfsburg
Midfielder
Luka Modric
Real Madrid
Midfielder
Mario Pasalic
Atalanta
Midfielder
Luka Sucic
RB Salzburg
Midfielder
Nikola Vlasic
Torino
Forward
Ante Budimir
Osasuna
Forward
Andrej Kramaric
Hoffenheim
Forward
Marco Pasalic
Rijeka
Forward
Ivan Perisic
Hajduk Split
Forward
Bruno Petkovic
Dinamo Zagreb
Forward
Marco Pjaca
Rijeka
Italy
Luciano Spalletti
Gianluigi Donnarumma
9th
7th
Davide Frattesi (3)
Group C runners-up, 14 points
Winners x2 (1968, 2020)
The defending champions left it late to book their automatic spot in the tournament through the qualifiers, finishing level on points with Ukraine after a nervy goalless draw in the final round of fixtures.
However, since lifting the trophy at Wembley with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over England, Luciano Spalletti's side have had struggled for form, with Roberto Mancini parting ways during this period, so you could argue that they aren’t the favourites to top or even potentially qualify from Group B.
Tue 4th June
Italy 0-0 Turkey
Sun 9th June
Italy 1-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ranked 9th in the world, one spot above Croatia, Italy may need to rely on goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at points. The experience of midfielder Jorginho may also come in handy, with Juventus star Federico Chiesa and Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca potentially leading the attack.
Position
Player
Club
Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Paris Saint-Germain
Goalkeeper
Alex Meret
Napoli
Goalkeeper
Guglielmo Vicario
Tottenham
Defender
Alessandro Bastoni
Inter
Defender
Raoul Bellanova
Torino
Defender
Alessandro Buongiorno
Torino
Defender
Riccardo Calafiori
Bologna
Defender
Andrea Cambiaso
Juventus
Defender
Matteo Darmian
Inter
Defender
Giovanni Di Lorenzo
Napoli
Defender
Federico Dimarco
Inter
Defender
Federico Gatti
Juventus
Defender
Gianluca Mancini
Roma
Midfielder
Nicolo Barella
Inter
Midfielder
Bryan Cristante
Roma
Midfielder
Nicolo Fagioli
Juventus
Midfielder
Michael Folorunsho
Hellas Verona
Midfielder
Davide Frattesi
Inter
Midfielder
Jorginho
Arsenal
Midfielder
Lorenzo Pellegrini
Roma
Forward
Federico Chiesa
Juventus
Forward
Stephan El Shaarawy
Roma
Forward
Giacomo Raspadori
Napoli
Forward
Mateo Retegui
Genoa
Forward
Gianluca Scamacca
Atalanta
Forward
Mattia Zaccagni
Lazio
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ByStephan Georgiou Albania
Sylvinho
Berat Djimsiti
66th
30th
Jasir Asani, Nedim Bajrami (3)
Group E winners, 15 points
Group stage (2016)
Albania will be the big underdogs in Group B, however, they could spring a surprise after topping their qualifying group ahead of the likes of Poland and the Czech Republic.
They conceded just four times in eight games during qualifying, with former Brazil left-back Sylvinho the man in charge since 2023. He has plenty of experience to call upon at the back, with Atalanta’s Berat Djimsiti and Lazio’s Elseid Hysaj regulars in helping their country to the major tournament.
Mon 3rd June
Albania 3-0 Liechtenstein
Fri 7th June
Albania 3-1 Azerbaijan
This is actually only Albania’s second-ever appearance at the European Championship, with their previous appearance in 2016 seeing them finish 3rd above Romania after a historic 1-0 win in France.
Albania will have their work cut out from the off against defending champions Italy, and it would be a major shock if they progressed to the last 16 despite their decent run of results that have got them this far.
Position
Player
Club
Goalkeeper
Etrit Berisha
Empoli
Goalkeeper
Elhan Kastrati
Cittadella
Goalkeeper
Thomas Strakosha
Brentford
Defender
Arlind Ajeti
CFR Cluj
Defender
Naser Aliji
Voluntari
Defender
Ivan Balliu
Rayo Vallecano
Defender
Berat Djimsiti
Atalanta
Defender
Elseid Hysaj
Lazio
Defender
Ardian Ismajli
Empoli
Defender
Marash Kumbulla
Sassuolo
Defender
Enea Mihaj
Famalicao
Defender
Mario Mitaj
Lokomotiv Moscow
Midfielder
Amir Abrashi
Grasshoppers
Midfielder
Kristjan Asllani
Inter
Midfielder
Nedim Bajrami
Sassuolo
Midfielder
Medon Berisha
Lecce
Midfielder
Klaus Gjasula
Darmstadt
Midfielder
Qazim Laci
Sparta Prague
Midfielder
Ernest Muci
Besiktas
Midfielder
Ylber Ramadani
Lecce
Forward
Jasir Asani
Gwangju
Forward
Armando Broja
Fulham
Forward
Mirlind Daku
Rubin Kazan
Forward
Arber Hoxha
Dinamo Zagreb
Forward
Rey Manaj
Sivasspor
Forward
Taulant Seferi
Baniyas