Defending Champs Italy in ‘Group of Death’ with Spain and Croatia

What happens when you put three of the top-10 ranked teams in the world in the same group?

You create the ‘Group of Death’ at Euro 2024. Italy are the Cup holders while Spain won Euro

2008 and 2012, and Croatia made the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup. Could all three

advance to the knockout stage? Can Albania wreak havoc as the forgotten team? The ‘Group

of Death’ has some interesting possibilities this summer.

Group Winner: Spain -150

Spain was dominant in qualifying, losing just once in 8 matches and scoring 25 goals while

allowing just 5. La Roja’s loss to Scotland was their only loss in all competition since 2021, a

run that included victories over Croatia and Italy en route to winning the Nations League Cup.

Now, Spain will face those opponents again and because of those two wins, they are favored to

win the group. While there are some young, promising players in the mix like Pedri and Lamine

Yamal, there are questions of a lack of experience. Still, Spain has the likes of Ferran Torres

and Alvaro Morata and certainly has the team to go all the way in Germany.

Key player: Alvaro Morata

Alvaro Morata is the all-time leading goalscorer for Spain at the Euros with 6 goals in 10

matches. And through the first 26 games in LaLiga, he notched 14 goals for Atlético Madrid.

Morata has a knack for scoring for his national team, tallying 34 goals in 69 caps. He is also the

only player in Spain’s history to score at least 3 goals in multiple European Championship

tournaments. He did that in 2016 and 2020.

Group Winner: Italy +275

They are the defending champions but have been drawn into a tough group. Luciano Spalletti

took over the side last September and many hope he can do with the national team what he did

with Napoli last season, comfortably winning Serie A. While there is a need for a legitimate

goalscorer up front, the Azzurri has some world-class players in Federico Chiesa, Federico

Dimarco, Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella. Italy does have a slight advantage opening

against Albania as a win would put them in a great spot to move on.

Key player: Gianluigi Donnarumma

Italy has always been known for defense and goalkeepers, and if they plan to repeat, Gianluigi

Donnarumma will be a big reason. He’s one of the best goalies in the world and was the hero in

the penalty shootout victory against England at the 2020 Euro Final.

Group Winner: Croatia +400

Will this be the summer Croatia finally breaks through on the international stage? In the last two

World Cup tournaments Croatia has finished runners-up and third but at the Euros, they were

eliminated in the round of 16 in 2020. For whatever reason, Croatia hasn’t been able to get past

the quarters at this event. The golden generation remains intact and Zlatko Dalic has been

successful with his squad. If Croatia can get results against Spain or Italy it should move them

into the knockout stage, where anything is possible.

Key player: Luka Modric

This is likely Luka Modric’s last major tournament on the international stage and he’ll try to end

his career with a bang. While he’s 38-years old, Modric isn’t showing any signs of slowing

down. Croatia will go as far as this maestro takes them.

Group Winner: Albania +2800

Albania would need a miracle against these powers to even get a result. They finished third at

the 2016 Euros defeating Romania in group play. Albania was a surprise winner of their

qualifying group edging the Czech Republic and Poland. This tournament appears to be a three

and done for Albania, leaving with some nice parting gifts.