Klaus Gjasula redeemed himself with a dramatic last-gasp equaliser as Albania drew 2-2 with Croatia in another absolute thriller at Euro 2024.
The Darmstadt midfielder swept home in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time in Hamburg, where he used to ply his club trade, 20 minutes after his unfortunate own goal completed a dramatic late turnaround that looked to have Croatia on course for a vital comeback victory in Group B.
Croatia had scored twice in the space of just three minutes to stun their opponents, with birthday boy Andrej Kramaric first rifling in low after Zlatko Dalic’s men had turned up the tempo considerably following a dreadful first half in which they deservedly trailed courtesy of Qazim Laci’s early glancing header.
Albania started brilliantly again, four days after Nedim Bajrami notched the earliest goal in European Championship history against Italy in Dortmund.
The Sassuolo winger was once again a huge threat on the counter-attack here, with Croatia looking so uncertain defensively having brought in Josip Juranovic and Ivan Perisic for Josip Stanisic and Marin Pongracic following Saturday’s 3-0 drubbing by Spain in Berlin and switched Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol from left-back to centre-back.
Albania got the latest early goal that their efforts certainly deserved, with Sparta Prague’s Laci - who, along with ex-Watford forward Rey Manaj, was one of two changes made by head coach Sylvinho as Chelsea’s Armando Broja and Taulant Seferi both dropped to the bench - glancing home a header from Kristjan Asllani’s 11th-minute cross, straight under the hands of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic who should have done much better.
The ever-dangerous Bajrami had a shot deflected wide as confident Albania swarmed all over Croatia, who had almost 70 per cent possession in the first half but only one effort on target to show for it as they moved the ball too slowly and struggled notably to create chances - with captain and talisman Luka Modric certainly not immune.
They were indebted to Livakovic for two huge saves to keep the scoreline at 1-0 at the break, with Asllani and Manaj both thwarted.
Croatia created very little in the first half aside from a couple of Marcelo Brozovic potshots and a header from Kramaric that was brilliantly kept out by Brentford goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, before the offside flag went up.
Croatia sent on Luka Susic and Mario Pasalic for Brozovic and Lovro Majer at the break and immediately flicked a switch with far more urgency, aggression and purpose on the ball as they ramped up the pressure significantly, knowing that they likely had just 45 minutes to save their European Championship campaign with only defending champions Italy left to come in Group B in Leipzig on Monday night.
They were suddenly piling up the chances, but still could not find a way past Strakosha, with Sucic denied and Josip Sutalo heading wide of the front post from a Modric corner.
Modric had a fierce drive blocked and suddenly Albania, who initially could not escape their own half, rediscovered their counter-attacking verve, Manaj testing Livakovic again before Bajrami twisted and turned but missed the target with another effort.
Croatia peppered the Albania box with dangerous crosses chiefly through Perisic, with the introduction of Ante Budimir off the bench proving decisive as the Osasuna striker got the crucial flick-on from a right-wing cross for Kramaric to control and hammer in through the legs of Elseid Hysaj.
Budimir then played a decisive role in Croatia’s second goal too, getting to the byline and offering a cut-back for Pasalic, whose strike deflected off one Albania defender before cannoning in off the unlucky Gjasula.
Modric and Martin Baturina both went close to a third for Croatia, but resilient Albania did not lose hope as Mirlind Daku had a flurry of late chances before Gjasula side-footed low past Livakovic to spark pandemonium among their fans in the stands at Volksparkstadion.
Croatia were crestfallen at the final whistle following a result that could make it very hard for both teams to qualify for the last-16 from the so-called ‘Group of Death’, with Croatia facing Italy on Monday night as Albania battle Spain in Dusseldorf. Heavyweights Spain and Italy first do battle in Gelsenkirchen on Thursday evening.
