Croatia, Italy and Albania, rivals of Spain in EURO 2024

The Spanish team falls into the 'group of death', with its debut on June 15 against the Croatian team in Berlin

The Spanish men's soccer team will face Croatia, Italy and Albania in the final phase of the Euro 2024 that will be held next summer in Germany, within Group B, as revealed by the draw this Saturday in the building of the Elbe Philharmonic.

Spain did not fare well in the distribution of luck in Hamburg with a powerful group with Croatia and Italy, candidates to go far like those of Luis de la Fuente, as tough rivals to win the two direct tickets to the round of 16.

The status of top seed did not smile at the three-time European champion, with the conclusion that, from the last pot, it was Italy's turn, the worst rival. At first, in the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) they started calmly, since the first ball that came out to accompany 'La Roja' was that of Albania.

In the Balkan country, in its second EURO after 2016, they surely ran out of air as the draw progressed. Croatia was the third member of Group B, another old acquaintance for Spain, with two tickets to the round of 16 for the first two, while the four best third parties also advance.

De la Fuente, who was crowned in the League of Nations as soon as he took over from Luis Enrique Martínez, will have the challenge of returning Spain to the podium in a great event, after a series of failures, especially in World Cups. Meanwhile, in the last Euro Cup, 'La Roja' fell in the semifinals, on penalties against the 'Azurri'.

Both Italy, which won the tournament again from 11 meters against England, and Croatia, are two of Spain's regular rivals in every important event. The 'Red' will make their debut on June 15 in Berlin against a Croatia that remains to be seen if they take, for the fifth EURO, Luka Modric, defeated in the final of the Nations League, while on the 20th they will play against Italy in Gelsenkirchen.

The checkered team will be the Spanish team's rival for the fourth time in a row in a European Championship, while it will be the fifth time in a row that they face Italy, Spanish executioner in the last two. De la Fuente's men will close the group on the 24th in Düsseldorf against Albania, but by then they should have their homework well done.

--DRAW FOR THE FINAL PHASE OF EURO 2024.

GROUP A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland.

GROUP B: SPAIN, Croatia, Italy, Albania.

GROUP C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England.

GROUP D: Playoff winner A, Netherlands, Austria, France.

GROUP E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Playoff winner B.

GROUP F: Turkey, Playoff winner C, Portugal, Czechia.