Euro 2024 scores, highlights, standings: Spain destroy Croatia; Italy win but Albania make history

The first full day of action at Euro 2024 saw Switzerland start on the right foot with a 3-1 win over Hungary, while Spain had no trouble against Croatia, beating them 3-0. of the day, defending champions Italy dominated in every statistical category except goals, coming away with a 2-1 victory over Albania.

Discover everything you need to know:

Euro 2024 results for Saturday

• Switzerland 2, Hungary 0
• Spain 3, Croatia 0
• Italy 2, Albania 1

Italy 2, Albania 1

The score indicates a game that was close, but really shouldn’t have been. Italy should have scored a third goal after scoring two in the first quarter of an hour, but in the end it was enough, holding out against an Albanian side who did not apply enough pressure in the closing stages.

Nedim Bajrami of Albania scored after 23 seconds, taking advantage of a poor throw-in from Italy, to set the record for the fastest goal scored at a men’s European Championship.

From then on, it was all Italy. Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella scored shortly afterwards, while Italy also hit the post and wasted other quality opportunities. Italy had 69% possession of the ball and 17 shots compared to Albania’s eight, in a game that highlighted the winners’ reconstituted defense.

Alongside Bastoni, Genoa’s 22-year-old central defender Riccardo Calafiori stole the show with an exceptional display of strength, timing and intelligence, keeping the underdogs at bay for almost the entire game. Apart from a lapse in the final moments, where he was rescued by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the former AS Roma player was almost perfect as Bastoni’s partner to replace the retired Leonardi Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.

Here is Barella’s winning goal:

Spain 3, Croatia 0

That whole experience did them good. Veteran-laden Croatia, 2018 World Cup finalists and 2022 semi-finalists, were defeated by Spain 3-0. The young Spanish team, with 16-year-old Barcelona star Lamine Yamal at the top, He was clinical, scoring all his goals in the first half, hitting 60% of his shots on goal in the game.

Alvaro Moratez, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal scored the Spanish team’s goals, while Croatia, despite having made 16 shots, lacked precision in the most important moments, starting the tournament in the worst way. The result now puts a lot of pressure on Croatia, as another defeat in the group stage could mean the end of their run.

Ruiz, who assisted the first goal with a beautiful pass, stole the show with this incredible shot from the top of the box:

Spain entered the tournament with a lot of question marks thanks to a young and experienced team, but they look to be immediate contenders after this performance. Rodri was a central rock as expected, Yamal received a standing ovation for his dazzling display and there was an inspiring cohesion in the middle of the pitch that will carry them through any game.

Keep an eye on Morata as he appeared to be signaling an injury which saw him sent off in the second half.

Switzerland 3, Hungary 1

It was not an entirely convincing victory for Switzerland, despite controlling the game 2-0 through early international goals from Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer. A fine header from Barnabas Varga in the 66th minute got Hungary back into the game, but a defensive error gave Breel Embolo the chance he needed to put the ball over Peter Gulasci and consolidate the three points.

The opening goal, in the 12th minute, had to be confirmed by VAR, but it was Duah’s beautiful finish inside the box that gave Switzerland all the momentum:

Aebischer would make it 2-0 just before half-time with this shot. He seemed to have made a mistake by not taking the shot early, but he made it work, hitting this beautiful shot into the other side of the goal:

Embolo then added style points, capturing this poor headed backpass to make it 3-1:

The win is important for the Swiss as it probably means that just a draw against lowly Scotland could be enough to reach the knockout stages. At Euro 2020, all teams with four points advanced to the round of 16.

How are things

A group

1. Germany, 3 points (+4)
2. Switzerland, 3 points (+3)
3. Hungary, 0 points (-3)
4. Scotland, 0 points (-4)

Group B

1. Spain, 3 points (+3)
2. Italy, 3 points (+1)
3. Albania, 0 points (-1)
4. Croatia, 0 points, (-3)

Sunday schedule

All times Eastern

• Poland x Netherlands, 9am on FS1 (preview)
• Slovenia x Denmark, 12pm on FS1 (preview)
• Serbia x England, 3pm on Fox (preview)

What happened yesterday?

Hosts Germany kicked off the tournament in style with a 5-1 victory over Scotland. Five different players, including Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, found the back of the net in a one-sided match. It was 2-0 after 19 minutes, and a red card from Ryan Porteous for a terrible challenge into the box resulted in a penalty and opened the floodgates as Germany scored a third before the break and two more in the second half to make a opening statement that they can come back.

Numerous continental and global failures since winning the 2014 World Cup have seen Germany suffer a blow when it comes to being among the world’s best, but this is the perfect opportunity to prove they are a contender again. So far so good.

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