When everything seems over for Albania, Klau Gjasula paid his sin off with a late goal to bring his team levelled against Croatia. Albania wasted no time to take the lead inside 11 minutes in the first half through Qazim Laci. However, things gone to Croatia’s favour since Laci left the pitch to make way for Gjasula.
Croatia turned the table, rising from 0-1 trail, to 2-1 only in three minutes following Andrej Kramaric‘s shot and Gjasula’s own goal but the lead stood until the 95th minute before Gjasula silenced the Croatian fans and saved the day for his team.
Croatia National Football Team Player Ratings
Goalkeeper
Dominik Livaković (7.3/10)
With Croatia dominating the ball possession, Livakovic can only wait on his position and did several saves.
Defenders
Josip Juranović (7.1/10)
Always stayed in his position to wait for the Albanian players launch an attack.
Josip Šutalo (6.8/10)
Winning duels and blocking shot attempts, Sutalo di his best to guard the defensive line for the rest of the game.
Josko Gvardiol (6.6/10)
Found it hard to distribute the ball when he was inside Albania’s box due to a tight defensive game from the opponents.
Ivan Perisic (7.2/10)
Running down the flank to open the opponents’ defence but had a tough challengs from Albanian defenders.
Midfielders
Marcelo Brozovic (7.1/10)
Made interceptions and delivered the ball well in the midfield only to be subbed on the break.
Luka Modric (8.1/10)
The Real Madrid legend’s link-up with Kovacic and Brozovic in the midfield is not that bad but still failed to find the target somehow.
Matteo Kovacic (8/10)
Put Albanian defence under-siege with his possesion but Kovacic never really had a chance to fire a proper shot.
Forwards
Lovro Majer (7.1/10)
Winning duels and delivered successful long passes throughout the first half but still failed to make an impact for his team.
Andrej Kramaric (8.1/10)
Kramaric did his best to find the back of Albania’s net but the goal just came in the second half.
Bruno Petković (7.2/10)
Croatia’s target-man today, managed to send three shots but all of them were failing to find the back of the net.
Substitutions
Mario Pasalic (7/10)
Filling the boots of Brozovic really well when he bossed the midfield since coming on in the second half.
Luka Sucic (7.4/10)
Wasted no time in giving threats for Albania and Croatia’s ball flow was better since he came on.
Ante Budimir (7.5/10)
Still found it difficult to score a goal since the friendly against Portugal but still made an assist for Kramaric, who scored Croatia’s first goal in this tournament.
Borna Sosa (6.4/10)
Replacing a player with calibre of Ivan Perisic was not easy but somehow he could keep the lead for Croatia until the final whistle.
Martin Baturina (7/10)
Showed a decent performance despite only touched the ball less than 10 times since appearing in the 85th minute.
Manager – Zlatko Dalic (6.9)
Made a right decision in the second which makes Croatia’s ball flows improving. But things did not going according to the plan when Gjasula scored the leveller.
Also Read: Croatia vs Albania Highlights – Albania salvage crucial point at the death
Albania National Football Team Player Ratings
Goalkeeper
Thomas Strakosha (8.5/10)
Watched the game closely under his posts and did important saves when his team needed him the most.
Defenders
Mario Mitaj (6.6/10)
Clearing Croatia’s attempts to attack from his line, collecting five clearances and one interception in the process.
Berat Djimsiti (7.1/10)
Blocked Croatian players’ attempts to score as the attacking plans were frequently stopped in his feet.
Arlind Ajeti (6.5/10)
Always on-position to launch a counter attack everytime Croatia found deadlocks in their attacking plan.
Elseid Hysaj (6.5/10)
The Croatian midfielders and attackers distributed the ball really well until they found Hysaj on the flank who cut it all out.
Midfielders
Kristjan Asllani (6.8/10)
Waited patiently in the midfield until the right moment to counter attacked Croatia.
Yiber Ramadani (7.1/10)
Discipline for the whole game to guard his area and prevented Croatia to score.
Qazim Laci (7.8/10)
Brought Albania to take the lead inside 11 minutes since the game started.
Forwards
Nedim Bajrami (6.3/10)
Tried his best to bag another goal in this tournament but he failed to do it somehow.
Jasir Asani (6.8/10)
Owing to Croatia’s ball domination, Asani rarely put his feet on the ball for most of the time of the match.
Rey Manaj (6.4/10)
Giving several threats for Croatia with two shots where one was blocked, one was going off the target.
Substitutions
Klau Gjasula (6.5/10)
His own-goal put Albania behind for the first time of the game but he paid it off by scoring the leveler in the last seconds of the game.
Taulante Seferi (6.8/10)
Delivered one shot on target from eight touches since coming on in the second half.
Arber Hoxa (6.6/10)
Expected to prevent Albania from conceding another goal which he did.
Mirlind Daku (6.9/10)
Coach Sylvinho put him on to add anoter options in the attacking plan but still couldn’t find a back of the net.
Manager – Sylvinho (6.8/10)
Put Croatia in frustration for most of the time in the game with his tactic.
Also Read: Fans on ‘X’ react in shock as Albania secure a point against Croatia