After the defeats against Spain and Italy respectively, this afternoon Croatia and Albania will play their future at Euro 2024 in ninety minutes which will be a sort of sentence without appeal. It is not the Eagles who have the most pressure on them, in their second participation in a European Championship in their history, but the red and white team, fresh from a second and third place at the last two World Cups and from elimination from Euro 2020 in the round of 16. Dalic focuses on the pride of the senators, in particular of Modric and Brozovic, with the latter who will experience a long-distance duel perhaps decisive for the progress (and outcome) of the match with his former Inter teammate Asllani.
That captain’s closure
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Marcelo and Kristjan spent a year together at Pinetina, with an Italian Super Cup and an Italian Cup won, but also with a Champions League lost in the final against Manchester City. Same locker room and same role, that of director in front of the defense. Their paths separated last summer, when Brozo accepted the offer of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and flew to Saudi Arabia to earn 27 million net per season, while Asllani said no to any possibility of a loan to stay employed by Simone Inzaghi. After arriving in Milan in January 2016, when Roberto Mancini was on the bench, the Croatian understood that his adventure with the Nerazzurri was at the end despite a contract until 2026. His 2022-23 season had been troubled due to injuries and his prolonged absence, before and after the World Cup, he had pushed Inzaghi to entrust the role of cornerstone in front of the defense to Calhanoglu, who became the permanent starter. In Istanbul in the defeat against Guardiola’s team Marcelo played for the last time with the Inter shirt, also wearing the captain’s armband, then greetings and thanks via social media to the fans and the club for the 8 years that have passed in Milan. The signature? Your crocodile… He who introduced the figure of the player who lies down behind the barrier after opposing free kicks to avoid low shots. In true Brozovic style, a histrionic character (see also social sketch with Barella) who for a season taught Asllani the tricks of the trade, from playing times and movements with and without the ball.
the lessons in Appiano
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The Albanian is now a different player compared to the one who landed at Pinetina in the summer of 2022 and paid 16 million (including bonuses) to Empoli. “Brozovic was an inspiration for me – he said a few days ago – and seeing him and Calhanoglu train was one of the best things that could have happened to me”. He has learned a lot thanks to Marcelo and in the last year he has refined his technical-tactical knowledge by working with the Turk. Today, however, he will have the first… master in front of him, that Brozovic of whom he was the designated reserve given that in 2022-23 Hakan had started him as a left midfielder in Inzaghi’s 3-5-2. Kristjan against Italy was the one who made the most correct passes (50) of his team and it is easy to understand that tomorrow Albania will rely on him, capable at the last minute with a great throw to put Manaj alone in front of Donnarumma (decisive save by Gigio). Against Spain, Brozo surpassed him in terms of number of positive passes (61), but like his former teammate he also left the field disappointed by the knockout. Today they will first hug each other in the locker room, then they will battle on the pitch and for ninety minutes the friendship between them will “fade away”. The path to the European Championship is up for grabs. Action.
