Klaus Gjasula scored an own goal and redeemed himself at 90+5' in the Croatia-Albania match

Croatia and Albania, both defeated in the opening round, remain winless in the 2024 European Championship after drawing 2-2 in Hamburg, Germany, in the second matchday of Group B.

Qazim Laçi put the Albanians ahead in the 11th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error from the Croatian side to give his team an early lead. The match saw both teams struggling to find their rhythm, with Croatia pushing hard for an equalizer but being continually thwarted by a resolute Albanian defense.

The game turned dramatically in the final quarter. Andrej Kramaric equalized for Croatia in the 74th minute, finding the back of the net with a well-placed shot after a quick counterattack. Just two minutes later, Albania’s Klaus Gjasula accidentally deflected the ball into his own net, giving Croatia a 2-1 lead.

However, the drama didn’t end there. In stoppage time, at 90+5, Klaus Gjasula redeemed himself by scoring at the right end, securing a vital point for Albania with a powerful header from a corner kick. This late equalizer stunned the Croatian side, who had hoped to secure their first win of the tournament.

With this result, Spain and Italy, who won their first-round matches and will face each other on Thursday, remain at the top of the group with three points each. Croatia and Albania, with just one point from two matches, are now under pressure to win their remaining games to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stages of Euro 2024.

The upcoming clash between Spain and Italy in Euro 2024 is highly anticipated, as both teams will be looking to establish dominance in the group and secure early qualification for the next round. Meanwhile, Croatia and Albania must regroup and prepare for their next fixtures, knowing that only victories will keep their hopes alive in this fiercely competitive tournament.