Will Albania continue their fearless pressing strategy despite being heavy underdogs? Will Germany cement themselves as a real contender after a second win at the tournament? Will Scotland finally have a shot? Matchday 6 of the Euro 2024 Boot Battle would provide a lot of answers. Here’s what went down.
Deja Vu for Albania
Albania taking the lead early on, only to surrender two goals in quick succession against a team that were heavy favourites against them – where have we heard that before?
Croatia looked like they were continuing a very long, collective nap that started during the lacklustre 90 minutes against Spain on Saturday. Qazim Laçi floating into the box and was not tracked. He nodded on a tasty cross that beat the Croatian keeper and gave the Albania an unexpected 11-minute lead. Despite being somewhat culpable for the opener, Dominik Livakovic made up for it in the Croatian goal by spectacularly denying the Albanians a second. They went into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.
Late Drama
There was more late drama in the second half. Croatia rightfully were pushing for the equaliser they needed to avoid being the first casualty of the tournament (although three points may still be good enough to progress). This left them exposed to counter attacks, as Albania threatened a second.
But with a little more than 15 minutes remaining, Andrej Kramaric cut back and finished calmly to score an essential goal for Croatia. A mere two minutes later, the game was flipped on its head. Poor defending allowed Croatia in down the left-hand side and Klaus Gjasula was the unfortunate man to continue a crazy run of own goals at this tournament so far. Croatia had a shot which deflected back away from goal, before hitting Gjasula and diverting it back into the net. A truly mad own goal but Croatia didn’t care.
It looked like it would be deja vu for Albania, who for the second game running had taken the lead and found themselves losing 2-1. They pressed for the equaliser but couldn’t convert a few sighters at goal that they had. But it was Gjasula who made up for his earlier own goal who would now be the hero. In the 95th minute, the ball fell to him in the box and he made no mistake – finishing smoothly to earn Albania a warranted point.
Adidas
Gjasula (Goal): 3 (Own Goal): -2
Kramaric (Goal): 2 (MOTM): 4
Nike
Laçi (Goal) 3
Running Total: Adidas 54 – Nike 71
Comfortable Win for Germany Leaves Hungary in Trouble
After such a dazzling display against the Scots, it was always going to be difficult to live up to the opening-night performance. Hungary, after losing to Switzerland in their first match, really needed something from this.
But it was the Germans, and Kai Havertz who had the first big chance. The Arsenal man got in behind the defence but was denied from close quarters by a decent Peter Gulacsi save. It was a sign of things to come and Germany took the lead after 22 minutes. Some industrial work by Ilkay Gundogan led to complaints that there was a foul in the build up, but the City man went unpunished by the on-field official and VAR as he got the ball to Jamal Musiala. The wonderkid fired home from inside the box to put his side one up.
A free-kick effort heading into the top corner from captain Dominik Szoboszlai was the only Hungarian response in the first half. His shot was well saved by keeper Manuel Neuer.
Hungary on the Brink of Exit
Toni Kroos nearly made it two after the break, but Gulacsi adjusted well after his fierce shot took a strong deflection. Barnabás Varga headed over in Hungary’s best opportunity to equalise. He perhaps should have done better, but the Hungarians struggled against a confidence-driven Germany side. Midway through the second half, captain Gundogan finished off a nice move to condemn Hungary to another defeat that leaves them on the brink of exit from Euro 2024.
Adidas
Neuer (Clean Sheet): 3
Tah (Clean Sheet): 3
Gundogan (Goal): 3
Nike
Kimmich (Clean Sheet): 2
Rudiger (Clean Sheet): 2
Mittelstadt (Clean Sheet): 2
Musiala (Goal): 3
Running Total: Adidas 63 – Nike 80
McTominay Strike Keeps Scotland in It
Scotland went into this one knowing they had to put up a better showing, after failing to even register a shot in their opener against Germany. They did more than that after 13 minutes, when Scott McTominay finished off a swift counter-attack. His effort was deflected into the roof of the net, but ‘Own Goal’ was not to grab another goal in his quest for the Golden Boot, with UEFA deeming it the United man’s goal.
After 26 minutes of Scotland looking like a proper team, a stray back-pass was latched onto by Xherdan Shaqiri. The former Stoke and Bayern Munich player fired it past the helpless keeper to level the scoring.
Dan Ndoye, who had a goal ruled out in the first half, went close after the break. He cut inside but was denied by Angus Gunn. Scotland looked the more urgent and pushed for a winner, with Switzerland sitting more comfortable after a win already in the locker against Hungary in the game prior. It was Grant Hanley who had the Scott’s best chance to take home all three points. His header from close range thundered back off the post.
Breel Embolo calmly finished below Gunn but it was correctly ruled out for offside. Meanwhile, Manuel Akanji cleared from practically underneath his own bar to prevent what looked like a sure-goal. The points were ultimately shared, leaving Scotland with a decent chance of progressing. Beating Hungary in their final game is a must though.
Adidas
McTominay (Goal): 3
Nike
Shaqiri (Goal): 3
Running Total: Adidas 66 – Nike 83
Boot Battle Standings (Adidas 66 Nike 83) – Matchday 6:
It was a tight day on Matchday 6 of our Euro 2024 Boot Battle. Neither Adidas nor Nike could make any considerable progress, with both cancelling each other out. Nike extended their lead by just a point after the three games as they close in on that prestigious 100 mark.
Adidas’ Kramaric was the standout performer for Team Adidas, scooping a goal and MOTM as he alone contributed six points to Adidas’ tally, 33% of its total points on the day. Tomorrow sees the return of Gareth Southgate’s England, who must put on a more impressive performance to win back some critics after a less-than inspiring win over Serbia.
