Albania scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to deny Croatia a victory, severely denting their hopes of reaching the knockout stage of Euro 2024.
An a captivating game on Wednesday, Albania rescued a point when Klaus Gjasula side-footed home in the 95th minute, sending their supporters into a frenzy.
The match at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion seemed destined for heartbreak for Albania after they had let slip an early lead.
Qzim Laci struck in the 11th minute, and Albania then defended superbly for over an hour, looking on the verge of producing a major upset.
However, Croatia turned the game around when former Leicester forward Andrej Kramaric drove in an equaliser, followed by Luka Sucic’s shot deflecting off Gjasula and into the Albanian net.
Despite the setback, Gjasula had the final say with his late strike. This result means the 2018 World Cup finalists will now need to beat defending champions Italy in their final Group B game to have a chance of progressing.
Albania, buoyed by this thrilling performance, face a tough test in their next game against Spain. Nevertheless, this match and the dramatic equaliser will live long in the memory of their fans.
