Euro 2024: Croatia and Italy Face Off in Leipzig

Battle for Survival

Defending champions Italy face a stern test against Croatia in Leipzig on Monday, with both sides desperate to avoid an early exit from Euro 2024.

The reigning champions, Italy, enter the match at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig knowing a win is essential for their hopes of reaching the knockout stages. After drawing their opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, they now face a Croatia side who will also be hungry for three points after losing their first match against England.

The history between these two sides is long and storied, with Croatia holding a slight edge. In 12 previous meetings, Croatia have won five, Italy four, and three have ended in draws. This will be their first meeting at a major tournament since the 2018 World Cup, when Croatia knocked Italy out on penalties in the round of 16.

Monday's match is sure to be a closely contested affair, with the outcome likely to have a major impact on the race to qualify for the knockout stages of Euro 2024. Both teams will be aware of the stakes involved and will be determined to put on a strong performance.

The match kicks off at 700 PM CEST on Monday, June 24th, 2024. You can follow all the action live on ESPN or online at the UEFA website.