Euro 2024 Group B Preview

Evening, chaps - I'm back with my second installment of the Euro 2024 previews. It's time to discuss Group B. Prospects: Group B is the Group of Death within this summer's tournament, with the current Euro holders Italy alongside recent World and European champions Spain and Croatia, who have been finalists and semi-finalists in the last two World Cups. La Roja are the favorites to advance top of this group, having turned it around since being knocked out of the last World Cup in the R16 by Morocco, under the leadership of Luis de la Fuente and with a young exciting side. Italy's fortunes on the other hand have suffered in the same space of time and they'll be pushed hard by an aging but tournment experienced Croatian side. The less said about Albania, the better. One to Watch: Barca forward Lamine Yamal may only be 16 but he's already becoming a key figure in de la Fuente's team. Most Likely to see Red: Mercurial Roma striker Gianluca Mancini is the current bad boy of Italian football after having been fined for displaying an offensive banner to opposing fans after scoring the winning goal in the Rome derby in April. Key Match - Italy v. Croatia - June 24, 3pm Blue Devil's Crystal Ball Says: Spain will cruise through this group, anchored by one of the world's best midfielders, Rodri. Italy usually find a way to navigate a last crucial match in the group stage match and will do so again against Croatia - but only just. Albania will provide the shooting practice for the others.