Jack Wright's EURO 2024 Matchday 2
24/5 Fourfold

This match signals the start of the second round of group games but could already be classed as a must win for Croatia. A thumping 3-0 defeat to Spain at the weekend leaves them bottom of Group B with a testing final fixture against Italy to come. Zlatko Dalić and his side will feel aggrieved at the margin of defeat against the Spanish having had more possession, taken more shots at goal and produced a higher xG. However, having gone into the weekend clash six games unbeaten confidence should still be high especially taking on the tournament’s second lowest ranked team.

They will get back to winning ways here against an Albania side that failed to have a shot on target after taking a shock lead 23 seconds into their match with the Italians. A match they went on to lose 2-1.

Scotland had the prestige of kicking off this year’s tournament but that dream soon turned into a nightmare. Conceding twice in the opening 20 minutes they ended up on the receiving end of a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the hosts Germany. Also managing to give away a penalty with Ryan Porteous sent off for the two-footed challenge that led to the decision. Despite scoring a late consolation Steve Clarke saw his side fail to have a shot on target in a very one-sided contest.

In contrast, Switzerland overcame a very tricky opening fixture against dark horses Hungary. A slick first half showing from the Swiss gave them a 2-0 lead at the interval and despite a rally from the Hungarians Murat Yakin’s men came out on top 3-1. Switzerland have the tools to pile more misery on to a Scottish side that have lost six of their last 10 internationals and shipped 26 goals in the process.

I must include this Portugal side again that made it to Germany off the back of the most impressive qualification campaign of all the nations that will be competing at Euro 2024. Boasting a 100%-win record with the most potent attack and meanest defence cannot be ignored. These two nations met in competitive action as recently as 2022 in a playoff semi-final for the Qatar World Cup. The Portuguese swept to a 3-1 victory that night and look a better side under the guidance of new head coach Roberto Martinez.

Turkey tends to come up short against the better attacking nations as highlighted by a 6-1 drubbing against Austria in March and with key defensive absentees Portugal can take advantage.

The wake-up call of a humiliating group stage elimination at the 2022 World Cup could well have done Belgium a big favour. The time of waiting for their “golden generation” to finally click is over and this youthful more athletic Red Devils side under the guidance of career coach Domenico Tedesco look impressive. With one of the planet’s most prolific playmakers pulling the strings and a striker that set a new goalscoring record in qualifying the threat is obvious. Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku add the experience to the side and have shown they still possess the powers to ensure Belgium can go deep into this tournament.

I still feel Romania’s table topping unbeaten qualification campaign was something of a false position. The underlying data across that campaign suggests they will come unstuck against the elite nations and Belgium still come into that bracket.