Italy and Croatia clash with tournament survival at stake

Leipzig, Germany: Defending champion Italy needs to avoid defeat against neighbouring Croatia in their final group game to ensure progress at the Euro...

Leipzig, Germany: Defending champion Italy needs to avoid defeat against neighbouring Croatia in their final group game to ensure progress at the European Championship. Croatia can progress with a win, or by avoiding defeat as long as Albania does not beat group-winner Spain in the other Group B game at the same time. Kick-off is at 9 pm local time (1900 GMT) on Monday. Here’s what to know about the match:

Match facts - Italy has three points after beating Albania 2-1 in its opening game before losing 1-0 to Spain, which is already assured of winning the group. Croatia lost to Spain 3-0 in its opening game, then drew with Albania 2-2 in their second game, leaving both Croatia and Albania with one point. Albania has the better goal difference.

- Though a draw will be enough for Italy’s progression, Luciano Spalletti’s team will be keen to impress after being thoroughly outclassed by Spain in its previous game. Italy only lost by a goal, but the Italian players spent most of the game chasing Spanish shadows and were saved embarrassment by captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

- Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia team is once again led by Real Madrid star Luka Modric, who is yet to score in his fifth tournament appearance. "We’re delighted to have Luka Modric out there with us on the pitch. At the moment we’re entirely focused on Italy. We’re not thinking too much about that stuff,” Dalic said of this possibly being the 38-year-old Modric’s last tournament appearance.

- Italy lost in its previous and only game in Leipzig, a 1-0 defeat to East Germany in a friendly in April 1982.