This Monday evening, Croatia lost almost everything in a fraction of a second. Virtually 2nd and qualified for the round of 16 of Euro 2024 for almost the entire second half, the Croatians were finally joined at the last minute of added time by valiant Italians and Mattia Zaccagni (1-1, 98th ).
With only two small points, Zlatko Dalic’s men, 3rd in group B, no longer have their destiny in their hands and are even on the verge of elimination.
But they can still hope to finish among the four best 3rd in the group. Since the introduction of this rule for Euro 2016, a team has never qualified with 2 points, but there needs to be a first for everything. And Croatia will need an incredible miracle and an improbable scenario to hope to validate their ticket to the final phase. Everything will be decided in the last group matches on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Group C and group F decisive
With six groups at the start in this Euro, Croatia must put two nations behind it in the ranking of the best 3rds. Hungary, in Group A, finished with 3 points and will therefore be ahead of them. In group D, Austria, like the Netherlands or even France, already qualified even in the event of 3rd place, are also guaranteed to finish ahead of Croatia. Group E with all nations already at 3 points before the last meeting, the 3rd will also be ahead of the Croatians.
For Croatia to join the 8th, the 3rd in group C and group F must therefore finish with 2 points (or less) and a lower goal difference. In Pool C, England must therefore beat Slovenia by a minimum of 3 goals and at the same time Denmark must beat Serbia, or Serbia must also beat Denmark by a three-goal margin. Then, in Group F, Portugal must also win against Georgia and Turkey must dominate the Czech Republic.
Croatia qualified for the round of 16 if…
– England dominates Slovenia by at least 3 goals while Denmark beats Serbia, before Portugal wins against Georgia and Turkey tames the Czech Republic
– England dominates Slovenia by a minimum of 3 goals while Serbia beats Denmark by a minimum of 3 goals before Portugal wins against Georgia and Turkey tames the Czech Republic
