The countdown to Euro 2024 is now well and truly on, with the tournament beginning on June 14.
Group B is shaping up to be a fascinating section, with Albania handed a tough draw, as Spain, Croatia and Italy will all be expecting to make an impression at this summer's competition.
Here, Sports Mole provides standings, fixtures and predictions, as Spain, Croatia, Italy and Albania all search for European glory this summer.
EURO 2024 GROUP B STANDINGS
EURO 2024 GROUP B FIXTURES & RESULTS
June 15: Spain 3-0 Croatia (5pm | Olympiastadion, Berlin)
June 15: Italy 2-1 Albania (8pm | BVB Stadion Dortmund, Dortmund)
June 19: Croatia 2-2 Albania (2pm | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg)
June 20: Spain 1-0 Italy (8pm | Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen)
June 24: Croatia 1-1 Italy (8pm | Dusseldorf Arena, Dusseldorf)
June 24: Albania 0-1 Spain (8pm | Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig)
All kickoff times BST
TEAMS
SPAIN
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Previous Euros: 11, most recently Euro 2020
Best result: Winners (1964, 2008, 2012)
Euro 2020: Semi-finals
Qualification: Group A winners
Manager: Luis de la Fuente
PRE-TOURNAMENT FORM
- W
- W
- L
- D
- W
- W
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), David Raya (Arsenal, on loan from Brentford), Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao)
Defenders: Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Nacho (Real Madrid), Cucarella (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)
Forwards: Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Joselu (Real Madrid, on loan from Espanyol), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ayoze Perez (Real Betis), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
CROATIA
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Previous Euros: Six, most recently Euro 2020
Best result: Quarter-finals (1996, 2008)
Euro 2020: Last 16
Qualification: Group D runners-up
Manager: Zlatko Dalic
PRE-TOURNAMENT FORM
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Fenerbahce), Ivica Ivusic (Pafos), Nediljko Labrovic (Rijeka)
Defenders: Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens), Josip Juranovic (Union Berlin), Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Borna Sosa (Ajax), Josip Stanisic (Bayer Leverkusen), Josip Sutalo (Ajax), Martin Erlic (Sassuolo), Marin Pongracic (Lecce)
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta BC), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Lovro Majer (Wolsfburg), Luka Ivanusec (Feyenoord), Luka Sucic (Red Bull Salzburg), Martin Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb)
Forwards: Ivan Perisic (Hajduk Split), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Marko Pjaca (Rijeka), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pasalic (Rijeka)
ITALY
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Previous Euros: 10, most recently Euro 2020
Best result: Winners (1968, 2020)
Euro 2020: Winners
Qualification: Group C runners-up
Manager: Luciano Spalletti
PRE-TOURNAMENT FORM
- W
- D
- W
- W
- D
- W
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur)
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter Milan), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Federico Gatti (Juventus)
Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus), Michael Folorunsho (Hellas Verona), Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan), Jorginho (Arsenal), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)
Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio)
ALBANIA
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Previous Euros: One, Euro 2016
Best result: Group stage (2016)
Euro 2020: Did not qualify
Qualification: Group E winners
Manager: Sylvinho
PRE-TOURNAMENT FORM
- D
- D
- L
- L
- W
- W
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Etrit Berisha (Empoli), Thomas Strakosha (Brentford), Elhan Kastrati (Cittadella), Simon Simoni (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Defenders: Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta BC), Elseid Hysaj (Lazio), Ivan Balliu (Rayo Vallecano), Ardian Ismajli (Empoli), Arlind Ajeti (CFR Cluj), Naser Aliji (Voluntari), Mario Mitaj (Lokomotiv Moscow), Enea Mihaj (Famalicao), Marash Kumbulla (Sassuolo)
Midfielders: Amir Abrashi (Grasshoppers), Kristjan Asllani (Inter Milan), Nedim Bajrami (Sassuolo), Medon Berisha (Lecce), Klaus Gjasula (Darmstadt 98), Qazim Laci (Sparta Prague), Ernest Muci (Besiktas), Ylber Ramadani (Lecce)
Forwards: Jasir Asani (Gwangju FC), Armando Broja (Fulham), Mirlind Daku (Rubin Kazan), Arber Hoxha (Dinamo Zagreb), Rey Manaj (Sivasspor), Taulant Seferi (Baniyas)
EURO 2024 GROUP B PREDICTION
It is difficult to look past Spain when it comes to the Group B winners, and it would be a surprise if La Roja did not claim first position in the section.
Second is open, with both Italy and Croatia believing that they are good enough to secure a top-two spot, but we have just favoured Italy here, as a talented squad is set to head to Germany.
Albania are the huge underdogs, and it is difficult to imagine them making an impression.
Spain and Italy should advance to the round of 16 automatically, and Croatia are also likely to pick up enough points to progress as one of the best third-placed teams, should they miss out on the top two.
Matt Law
