Liveticker | Croatia - Albania

Matchday 2

FINAL

Volksparkstadion Hamburg

Albania

90' + 5'

GjasulaKlaus Gjasula

76'

KramarićAndrej Kramarić

74'

11'

LaciQazim Laci

F. Letexier

Volksparkstadion Hamburg

Full-time: Croatia 2-2 Albania

What a game of football. Albania raced out the traps, taking the lead through Laçi after 11 minutes. They should have scored more before the break but Croatia held on and then turned the game on its head in the second-half. First Kramarić celebrated his birthday with a fine equaliser and then, two minutes later, Gjasula's unfortunate own-goal made it 2-1. It looked Like that would be it until the Darmstadt midfielder popped up with a 95th-minute equaliser.

Full-time

90'

+ 7

Yellow card

Klaus Gjasula

90'

+ 5

ALBANIA LEVEL!

What a moment for Albania and Gjasula. The Darmstadt man was attributed with the own-goal which looked like winning it for Croatia but he's now levelled at the death. The ball lands kindly in the penalty box and Gjasula makes no mistake. A calm finish and a massive goal in this competition.

90'

+ 5

Klaus Gjasula

GOAL!

2:2

90'

+ 4

Yellow card

Mirlind Daku

90'

+ 1

Six minutes added on

Croatia are almost there...

90'

Brave Livaković

Albania finally get forward in this second half and Livaković has to pull of a smart save down to his left and then takes a bang as he gets up to repel the follow-up too. The offside flag does go up but that was another important intervention from the Croatia 'keeper.

87'

Yellow card

Ivica Ivusic

85'

Kramarić comes off

With five minutes to go, both sides make a pair of changes. One of those sees Kramarić come off, the Hoffenheim man having made a telling contribution in this game for Croatia.

85'

Substitution

Arber Hoxha

Ylber Ramadani

85'

Substitution

Mirlind Daku

Rey Manaj

84'

Substitution

Martin Baturina

Andrej Kramarić

84'

Substitution

Borna Sosa

Ivan Perišić

5:38

Watch: Kramarić's Magic Moments

You can add another to the list after today...

77'

Yellow card

Elseid Hysaj

77'

Croatia ahead!

Wow, this game has been turned on its head in the matter of minutes. Substitute Sučić looks to turn home from close range and his shot rebounds off two defenders and into the back of the net. Looks like it's Gjasula who turns it into his own net in the end.

76'

Klaus Gjasula

OWN GOAL!

2:1

74'

Kramarić levels!

The birthday boy strikes! Kramarić strikes through the legs of an Albania defender, his 29th goal for Croatia pulling his country level. An excellent finish.

74'

Andrej Kramarić

GOAL!

1:1

73'

Substitution

Klaus Gjasula

Qazim Laci

73'

On comes Gjasula

The Darmstadt man enters the fray, replacing goalscorer Laci, who has been superb today.

69'

Another Croatia change

Budimir replaces Petković as Croatia desperately try to find an equaliser. Albania are defending incredibly well.

69'

Substitution

Ante Budimir

Bruno Petkovic

65'

First change for Albania

It's Seferi for Asani as Albania make a change to their frontline. Their forwards haven't been in the game this half.

64'

Substitution

Taulant Seferi

Jasir Asani

Frustration for Kramarić

Hoffenheim's all-time top scorer (left) has driven at the Albania defence time and again but Kramarić and his side can't find a breakthrough. They're camped on the edge of Albania's box but keep meeting a wall of defenders.

51'

Sučić goes close

The substitute cuts in from the right and shoots with his left but is denied by the strong right-hand of Strakosha. Real intent from Croatia at the start of this half.

46'

Double change for Croatia

Wolfsburg's Majer is one of two players removed at the break with Pašalić and Sučić brought on. Can they help get their side back into this game?

Kick-off!

45'

+ 2

Substitution

Mario Pasalic

Marcelo Brozovic

45'

+ 2

Substitution

Luka Sucic

Lovro Majer

Half-time: Croatia 0-1 Albania

A brilliant performance from Albania means the Kuqezinjtë (Red and Blacks) have a deserved lead at the break through Laçi's early header. They could, and perhaps should, be further in front it it wasn't for Livaković in the Croatia goal.

Half-time

44'

Another Albania chance

It could've been 3-0 by now. Livaković makes a much easier save this time but only because Manaj's header is tame.

42'

The Kramarić chop

Kramarić chops inside two defenders, looking to get his side up the pitch, but his cross into the box is easily cleared. Croatia just can't get going.

40'

Sloppy from Croatia

You would expect Modrić, Brozović and Kovaćić to boss the midfield here but they're doing anything but that. Albania keep catching them sleeping in possession and haven't allowed that trio to run the game.

34'

Off colour, and off target, Croatia

Goal attempts

3off target

0on target

3off target

2on target

32'

Should be 2-0!

Croatia are lucky to not be 2-0 down and they have Livaković to thank that they aren't. A rapid counter releases Asllani one-on-one with the 'keeper but he can't get the better of Livaković, who parries clear.

Laçi makes it 1-0

27'

Over from Petković

A beauty of a ball from Wolfsburg winger Majer find the head of Petković in the centre of goal but he can't hit the target. The cross deserved better.

21'

Croatia pressing

Finally, Croatia are looking to get on the front foot with Juranović and Majer on one side and Perišić and Kramarić on the other looking to get the ball into the box more frequently. Albania are holding firm, though.

18'

Europe's fastest starters?

It might not have matched Nedim Bajrami's 23-second fastest goal in the tournament’s history last time out but Albania have again stunned their opponents by flying out the traps fastest. Some habit to keep.

11'

Albania take the lead!

Well, well, well. We just said Albania had started brightly and now they have the lead. Qazim Laçi makes a late run into the box and heads home from close range. Cue massive celebrations in the Albania end.

11'

Qazim Laci

GOAL!

0:1

Volksparkstadion draped in sunshine

The home of HSV is looking stunning in the sunshine today.

Bright start from Albania

Croatia are strong favourites going into this game but it's Albania who have settled best in the opening stages. No side has mustered any chances of note in front of goal just yet, though.

Off we go

Albania get us underway at the Volksparkstadion...

Kick-off!

More on those teams

While Darmstadt's Klaus Gjasula - who starts on the bench today - is the sole German footballing presence in the Albania squad, there are plenty of Bundesliga favourites in the Croatia ranks. Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim, pictured), Josip Juranovic (Union Berlin) and Lovro Majer (Wolfsburg) all start, while Josip Stanišić (Bayer Leverkusen) is in reserve. Fans will also remember Joško Gvardiol (RB Leipzig) and Ivan Perišić (Borussia Dortmund, Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich) for stellar stints in Germany's top-flight.

Croatia starting XI

Livaković - Juranović, Šutalo, Gvardiol, Perišić - Modrić, Brozović, Kovaćić - Majer, Petković, Kramarić

Albania starting XI

Strakosha - Hysaj, Djimsiti (c), Arlind Ajeti, Mitaj - Asllani, Ramadani, Laçi - Asani, Manaj, Bajrami

1:33

Watch: Inside Hamburg's Volksparkstadion

Take a peek behind the scenes of today's host stadium, and the home of HSV...

Albania make history but suffer loss

The Kuqezinjtë's Nedim Bajrami scored the quickest goal in European Championship history against Italy, finding the back of the net within 22 seconds. However, they were unable to hold on and ultimately fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat. A result here, though, would keep their hopes alive ahead of their final group match with Spain.

Croatia struggle in opener

Zlatko Dalić's men were dealt a heavy defeat as they kicked off their Euro 2024 campaign in Berlin. They were on the wrong end of a 3-0 defeat to Spain, missing a penalty to boot. While they are by no means out of the tournament, they need a healthy victory here to boost their chances of progression.

Welcome!

Follow all of the live build-up and action from this Group B second matchday fixture between Croatia and Albania at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion!