already a first Spain-Croatia shock, Italy on the relaunch… Saturday’s program

Second day of the Euro, Saturday, and already a shock between Spain, European champion in 2008 and 2012, and Croatia, finalist of the 2018 World Cup.

After the opening match won largely by Germany against Scotland, 5-1, Friday, the Euro begins its second day, Saturday June 15. The second match in Group A between Hungary and Switzerland will already give an indicator of the group’s underdog behind the host country.

This will be followed by the entry into Group B, considered the famous “group of death” with the presence of Spain, European champion in 2008 and 2012, Croatia, semi-finalist of the last two World Cups, and of Italy, quite simply the reigning European champion, who missed the last two World Cups and is playing big at the Euro.

The poster not to be missed: Spain-Croatia (6 p.m.)

It is undeniably the shock of this first day of the Euro and therefore the match not to be missed under any circumstances (on beIN Sports). In a very difficult group, where poor Albania risks suffering, every misstep will be fatal. Between Spain, Croatia and Italy, it is impossible to identify a clear favorite, and the winner of this first shock, at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, will already have taken a big option on qualification.

Spain, semi-finalist in 2021, advances with a team without a big star, but with a mixture of experience (Carvajal, Nacho, Rodri, Oyarzabal) and youth (Pedri, Yamal, Nico Williams), concocted by Luis de La Fuente, who straightened out the Roja after the failure of the 2022 World Cup (round of 16). Opposite, Croatia retains its usual structure with Gvardiol-Kovacic-Brozovic-Modric, and will play its eternal role of outsider still at full speed.

The team to watch: Italy puts its title on the line (9 p.m.)

What is Italy really worth? Not qualified for the last two World Cups (2018 and 2022), victorious between the two of the Euro (2021) and finally qualified in extremis for this edition on the last day of the qualifiers after a 0-0 draw against Ukraine: this is the record of the Squadra Azzurra for six years. If she arrives as title holder, she therefore offers few guarantees.

It is made up of immensely talented players on each line (Donnarumma in the goalkeepers, Di Lorenzo or Bastoni in the defenders, Barella in the middle, Chiesa and Scamacca in attack), but has so far not found the right formula to regain his rank under the orders of Luciano Spalletti. The entry into contention against modest Albania, at 9 p.m. in Dortmund (on M6 and beIN Sports), will be particularly scrutinized because victory is obligatory and the expected manner.

The meeting far from the spotlight: Hungary-Switzerland (3 p.m.)

We won’t tell you that this match is the right time to go out to the park, but this Hungary-Switzerland, in Cologne (on beIN Sports), is not a priori favored by the spectacle. However, it pits two interesting teams against each other: Switzerland, the defeat of France during the last Euro, certainly does not have a flamboyant game, but it continues to gain consistency and is always difficult to maneuver. Didier Deschamps knows something about it.

On the other hand, Hungary could be a good surprise in the Euro. Undefeated in their qualifying group, the Magyars could take advantage of an open group with Germany, Scotland and Switzerland to play a bad trick. And if you’ve decided to close the shutters and not go to the park, we advise you to observe Dominik Szoboszlai, the 23-year-old creative midfielder who exploded at Liverpool before giving up at the end of the season. But he can awaken a match with an illumination.