Albania's Klaus Gjasula (L) runs away in celebration after scoring his team's late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Luka Modric's Croatia. AFP/VNA Photo

Xuân Đăng

Albania - Croatia: Albania end Croatia's hopes?

A thrilling 2-2 against Albania put Croatia one step closer to exiting the Euros.

Croatia's starting eleven had an average age of 30 years and one day, their second-oldest ever for a game at a major tournament after their third-place game against the Netherlands at the 1998 World Cup.

In the first ever competitive match between the two Balkan teams, Croatia tried to set the pace from the start, but it was Albania's Qazim Laci who scored first in Hamburg, heading in a cross from the right in the 11th minute.

Croatia struggled to create chances in the first half and could have faced a greater deficit but goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic blocked a shot from Kristjan Asllani and a header from Rey Manaj to keep it 1-0 at halftime.

The Croatians came out with more energy after the break and turned the match around in two minutes. Andrej Kramaric equalised with a shot just inside the post.

Just two minutes later Klaus Gjasula was unlucky when Albania tried to clear the ball from the penalty area but it bounced off him and into the net.

This was the fourth own goal of the tournament.

At that point, Croatia looked in control but a late surge by Albania changed everything once again as Gjasula redeemed himself by scoring with a low shot in the 95th minute.

Croatia, World Cup semi-finalists in 2022, will now likely need to win their final Group B match against holders Italy on June 24 to reach the knockout phase.

Ilkay Gundogan (L) and Jamal Musiala scored Germany's goals as the Euro 2024 hosts beat Hungary 2-0 in Stuttgart .AFP/VNA Photo

Germany - Hungary: Die Mannschaft reach last 16

With goals from Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gundogan, the hosts Germany became the first team to qualify for the last 16 of Euro 2024 after beating Hungary 2-0 in Stuttgart.

Germany unsurprisingly stuck with the same line-up that battered Scotland 5-1 in the first game of the tournament, ending a run of three major finals in which they had lost their opening match.

Meanwhile, Marco Rossi made two changes following Hungary's disappointing 3-1 loss to Switzerland, bringing Marton Dardai into his three-man defence and starting Bendeguz Bolla at right wing-back.

After the whistle, Hungary had the first chance of the match when Roland Sallai nipped in behind Joshua Kimmich and could have nabbed a very early goal if Manuel Neuer hadn’t rushed out to take the ball off his toe at the edge of the six-yard box.

Kai Havertz outmuscled Willi Orban to get to a ball into the Hungary box, only to have his effort saved at point-blank range by Peter Gulasci, who put it out for a corner.

Musiala struck for the second game running midway through the first half. The 21-year-old is now officially the top scorer at the tournament.

Gundogan grabbed his side's second on 67 minutes as Germany eased to a second successive win in Group A, making sure they will progress to the knockout phase at least as one of the best third-placed sides.

Hungary still have a chance to qualify to the round of 16, granted they earn a win against Scotland in the final group stage game on Sunday.

Scotland's Scott McTominay (No.4) celebrates scoring their side's first goal. AFP/VNA Photo

Scotland - Switzerland: Scotland’s Euro 2024 hopes still alive

Scotland went ahead early on when Manchester United's Scott McTominay –- their top scorer in qualifying -– swept home Callum McGregor's cutback on a counter-attack.

They were pegged back before half-time when Xherdan Shaqiri received the pass by Anthony Ralston to score with an inswinging curler that planted into the top-left corner, giving Angus Gunn no chance

The Swiss should have taken the lead just before the hour mark when Dan Ndoye turned Kieran Tierney on the edge of the box. With just the goalkeeper to beat, Ndoye fired wide of goal.

Grant Hanley then headed against the post from a Scotland free kick and Switzerland's Zeki Amdouni headed wide at the far post late on.

The Scots will go into their final Group A match against Hungary in Stuttgart on Sunday, and a win in their last match of group stage may be just enough to take them to the knockout phase of a major tournament for the first time. VNS