You had to see Kovacic at the final whistle, prostrate, his hands holding a heavy head filled with negative thoughts, to understand that the situation had gotten worse. In the Croatian brains, the elimination in the first round took on depth at the end of this draw conceded in the last moments against Albania and this crazy meeting which had almost nothing to envy of the Turkey-Georgia of the day before.
The dejected look of Modric, sitting a few meters from his teammate, already seemed to record the Vatreni fiasco, now forced to achieve the feat on Monday against Italy. Was the captain thinking of the breathtaking scenario of the last half hour or of his cataclysmic first half?
They all fear competing too much. This Wednesday in Hamburg, Luka Modric gave his detractors a battery of arguments to convince them that his 38 years devour all his energy when Kroos, Valverde or Camavinga are not at his side.
The midfielder’s initial performance against Spain could be explained by Roja being too strong. The argument no longer holds up against the Albanians who are intrinsically less good even if they were attractive during the first 45 minutes.
Because the last semi-finalist of the World Cup helped them a lot too. The incredible waste, before the break, of their captain is the main reason. With ten balls lost in the first half hour, Modric experienced an ordeal. In addition to removing the danger for his opponents with his technical waste, he also provoked it against his team as during this loss of the ball, at the source of the counter which offered the 2-0 to Asani (31st). Livakovic saved the furniture and made up for his little hand mistake made twenty minutes earlier.
Sylvinho’s men have made successful starts to matches their trademark in this Euro. Although they did not score after 23 seconds, it only took them 11 minutes to open the score, but Strakosha’s partners faltered again, this time after the break.
And yet, Dalic’s choices paid off
Rightly criticized, Dalic waited until half-time to make the right choices. By swapping his 4-3-3 for a 4-2-3-1 and with the appearances of Susic and Pasalic, his players have finally found mobility and depth on the sides. Entering five minutes before, Budimir perfectly offset Kramaric who equalized (74th) then Pasalic crossed hard towards the goal and Gjasula scored a csc (an own goal, in the 76th) which had nothing to envy of that from Hranac the day before during Portugal-Czech Republic.
The match was descending into madness. Croatia was able to kill the match three times (80th, 88th, 89th) then Gjasula went from zero to hero by equalizing with a magnificent flat foot at the end of added time (90th + 5).
A draw which does no one’s business for the two nations which will face the two heavyweights of the group on the last day. For Croatia, it will be a question of life and death given their status. To avoid Modric having a completely missed last dance.
Top : Pasalic (7/10): Entered at half-time in place of a transparent Lovro Majer, Pasalic changed the face of his team. His movements opened the game and he caused danger (55th, 68th, 76th, 80th). The Atalanta player was finally decisive by causing the own goal.
Flop : Modric (4/10): He recovered slightly after the break by becoming reliable again but not very dangerous. With 10 lost balls in the first half hour, has he ever experienced such a complicated first half in his fabulous career?
Croatia: Livakovic ; Juranovic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Perisic (84e Sosa) ; Brozovic (46e Sucic), Modric, Kovacic ; Majer (46e Pasalic), Kramaric (84e Baturina), Petkovic (69e Budimir).
Albania: Strakosha; Hysaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Ramadani (85e Hoxha), Asllani; Asani (64th Seferi), Laci (72th Gjasula), Bajrami; Manaj (85th Daku).
Referee: M. Letexier (Fra).
Warnings: Hysaj, Ivusic, Daku, Gjasula.
The goals : 11th Laçi (0-1), 74th Kramaric (1-1), 76th csc Gjasula (2-1).
