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RotoBaller's Euro 2024 coverage continues with a Group B preview of Spain, Croatia, Italy, and Albania. Odds, Predictions, and Players to Watch.
Happy Euro 2024, RotoBallers! The tournament is just a couple of weeks away, and soccer fans are ready to witness the top nations in Europe battle it out for a spot in the finals at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. Elite football stars from around the world, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and many more, will represent their nations when the contest starts on June 14, 2024.
After a three-year break, Euro 2024 coverage is back on Rotoballer. Our dedicated team is ready to bring you comprehensive coverage, from Group Previews to the fantasy game and the day-to-day action of DFS during the tournament.
Take advantage of our extensive Euro 2024 coverage. This is just one of our six group previews. You can access the other five previews and the rest of our Euro 2024 coverage here on Rotoballer.
Overview: Group B
You don't have to be locked into soccer to quickly realize that Group B is the dreaded group of death. Croatia has made four straight knockout rounds at major competitions, including a runner-up and third-place finish in the last two World Cups. France won the 2018 World Cup and nearly went back-to-back if not for Lionel Messi's fairytale story. Spain has finished at least third in three of the last four iterations of this tournament, including back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2014. Unfortunately, one team has to be weak, and that team is Albania. A point for the Red and Blacks should be considered a massive achievement in a tough Group B.
Schedule
| Team 1 | Team 2 | Date | Time (EDT) |
| Spain | Croatia | Jun. 15 | Noon |
| Italy | Albania | Jun. 15 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Croatia | Albania | Jun. 19 | 9:00 a.m. |
| Spain | Italy | Jun. 20 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Croatia | Italy | Jun. 24 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Albania | Spain | Jun. 24 | 3:00 p.m. |
Spain
Bettings Odds (Bet 365)
Win Group: +177
Advance: +105
Win Euro 2024: +900
Player to Watch: Lamine Yamal - Winger, Barcelona
After a meteoric rise through the academy, Lamine Yamal has burst onto the global soccer scene as a 16-year-old. He only made his debut for Barcelona in April 2023, but he's already receiving comparisons to a certain Argentinian who used to play for the Catalan giants. Yamal has cracked Barcelona and Spain's first team before his 17th birthday. Keeping an eye on him at Euro 2024 allows you to watch the start of an incredible career. Yamal has two goals for Spain in six appearances, and it's not hard to imagine him on the scoresheet this summer.
Prediction - Advance; Losing in the Quarter-finals
Spain's national team is in a transitional phase with a full-blown youth movement. However, that doesn't mean we should exclude them from an extended stay in Germany. There's a built-in pedigree with this tournament (2010 and 2014 winners), and it's only too soon for a young team until it's not. The winner of Group B could come down to who batters Albania with the most goals. Still, Spain is tied with Portugal with the fourth-best odds to win the whole tournament, but it may prove too much against some of the more battle-tested countries later on.
LAMINE YAMAL SCORES ON HIS SPAIN DEBUT.
16 YEARS OLD.
HISTORY MAKER. pic.twitter.com/Q8bcyEK75Z
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 8, 2023
Croatia
Bettings Odds
Win Group: +550
Advance: +127
Win Euro 2024: +4100
Player to Watch: Josko Gvardiol - Defender, Manchester City
As Dominik Szobozslai went to Liverpool, Josko Gvardiol left RB Leipzig to pursue a career in the English Premier League last summer. However, instead of the red half of Merseyside, the Croatian went to the blue side of Manchester. There, he settled in as Pep Guardiola's do-it-all left wingback. Down the season's final third, Gvardiol accumulated 2.1 xGI (expected Goal Involvement) over City's final nine games, excluding the FA Cup Final. The 22-year-old has the chance to make his name on the international stage, and if his first season in England is any indication, he won't miss that chance.
Prediction - Advance; Losing in the Semi-finals
Any day, any time, anywhere. That is the Croatian way over the last decade of international football. They can beat anyone; just don't ask them to do it attractively. They may put their foot to the floor against Albania to find some goals but expect cagey, tight matches versus Spain and Italy. At this point, it feels ludicrous to count them out, even with 39-year-old Luka Modric still essential for his country. They should progress through the Group stage; then it's anyone's guess. The Kockasti has come so close in recent tournaments, and it's another close call in Germany.
Italy
Bettings Odds
Win Group: +300
Advance: +109
Win Euro 2024: +1500
Player to Watch: Federico DiMarco - Defender, Inter Milan
Inter Milan has finished in the top three of Serie A over the last three seasons. They took home the domestic crown this season and made it to the final of the Champions League last year, where they fell to Manchester City. Federico DiMarco has been a part of this team for all three seasons. The attacking wingback is a joy to watch on the pitch and is one of the best in the game at what he does. During the 2023-24 campaign, DiMarco's 11.4 xGI was third-best among all defenders in Europe's top-five leagues. The 26-year-old has a knack for finding the back of the net and setting up his teammates. We can expect more of the same in Germany.
Prediction - Win Group; Lose in Final
The reigning Champions of Europe missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a dismal qualifying collapse. However, the history of this country in this tournament is too good to ignore. In the 21st century, Italy has made three finals with one win and has made the quarter-finals in four straight tournaments. They are the favorites to win the group with a good blend of players, and it doesn't take much to see them pulling off a repeat. If they take care of business against Albania and then grab a couple of points versus Spain and Croatia, the Italians will be well on their way to the knockout rounds.
Albania
Bettings Odds
Win Group: +2600
Advance: +375
Win Euro 2024: +50100
Player to Watch: Rey Manaj - Forward, Sivasspor
If Albania is going to upset the balance and advance, they'll need to find goals. Armando Broja broke a two-year drought in this week's friendly versus Hungary, but the bulk of the goal-scoring will fall on Rey Manaj. The 27-year-old has played for Inter Milan, Barcelona B, and Watford in his career but has finally found a home in Turkey with Sivasspor. His 18 goals were third-most in the Turkish Super Lig this season and counted for 39 percent of his team's goals. Albania will need that same kind of form if they want to get anything from their three fixtures against three of the top-10 ranked teams in the world.
Prediction - Eliminated in Group stage
It would be great to see a nation make a Cinderella-like run through Euro 2024, but it won't be Albania. They topped a weaker-than-most Group E in qualifying by keeping five clean sheets. However, their attack isn't going to get it done against Italy, Spain, and Croatia. Hopefully, they can keep the scores respectable in their group contests, but those three European giants will be looking to pad their stats versus the Red and Blacks. They have some talent to keep an eye on, but even one point would be something to smile about on the plane home.
👀 Rey Manaj'dan nefis bir serbest vuruş golü! #SVSvÇRS pic.twitter.com/RrfdyZwicU
— beIN SPORTS Türkiye (@beINSPORTS_TR) February 11, 2024
Fantasy Preview
Our very own The FPL Manual is breaking down each group with his threads on X. Give him a follow and enjoy some fantastic information on the squads in Group A as you look to build the best Euro 2024 fantasy lineup.
#EuroFantasy Group B Part 1⃣ Preview
- Spain 🇪🇸 & Italy 🇮🇹
Discussing on each team:
🔹Current Form
🔹Road to Euro 2024
🔹Probable team(s) lineup and
🔹Best fantasy assets to consider— FPL Manual (Wale) (@TheFPLManual) May 27, 2024
Join Our League
Once again, join our Rotoballer.com fantasy league. Hit any of our writers up over the next two weeks, and we will give you the code (also in the graphic below), and you'll be good to go. Good luck for UEFA Euro 2024 Fantasy, RotoBallers!
Stick around for more Euro Fantasy content coming soon. Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on X @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
