Croatia faces Albania, hosts Germany return to action against Hungary, and Scotland takes on Switzerland.
Matchday 2 begins on Wednesday, starting with a crucial Group B clash between Croatia and Albania. Hosts Germany aim to build on their opening-day victory as they go up against Hungary, while Scotland, defeated by Germany in Munich on Matchday 1, will play against Switzerland.
We preview the action in Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Cologne.
Croatia v Albania (Group B, Hamburg)
Croatia and Albania both lost their opening games, and in a challenging group featuring Italy and Spain, this match may be their best chance to secure three points.
Croatia's 3-0 loss to Spain might have been harsh, but the group stage mathematics remain unchanged: winning the next two games will still see them through. As captain Luka Modrić stated: "We no longer have the right to make mistakes. In a way, that's a good thing because we know we have no other option but to win."
Nedim Bajrami scored for Albania just 23 seconds into their match against Italy (a EURO record), but the Azzurri came back to win 2-1, putting Sylvinho's team back to square one. Midfield dominance may be crucial in Hamburg, with Bajrami acknowledging the challenge ahead.
"I know [Marcelo] Brozović well because I played against him in Serie A, and [Luka] Modrić and [Mateo] Kovačić are two great players who play at a high level, so we should give 100 percent focus against them." Given Albania's aggressive play against Italy on Matchday 1, Croatia's star players should brace for a frenetic encounter.
Key stat: Croatia's defeat to Spain was only their third loss in their last 13 EURO group stage matches (W7 D3).
Germany v Hungary (Group A, Stuttgart)
Germany celebrated a resounding 5-1 victory over Scotland in Munich, with standout performances from Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz. However, recent results against Hungary—a defeat and two draws in their last three encounters—indicate that the match in Stuttgart might not be straightforward.
"Hungary are always uncomfortable opponents," noted midfielder Emre Can. "They’re difficult to play against. I remember the [2-2 draw] at EURO 2020 in Munich. We need to focus on ourselves. If we harness the energy from our 5-1 win against Scotland, we’ll do well."
Hungary's 3-1 loss to Switzerland was a disappointing start, despite six of their squad playing club football in Germany. Leipzig goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi emphasized that no major changes are needed for a team that qualified unbeaten.
"We have a clear structure of how we want to play," said the 34-year-old. "Everyone knows their role." Individual errors proved costly against Switzerland, so near-perfection will be necessary this time.
Key stat: Germany's win over Scotland marked the eighth time they have won their opening game of a European Championship, a record no other team has surpassed.
Scotland v Switzerland (Group A, Cologne)
The Tartan Army turned out in huge numbers for Scotland's tournament opener, but Steve Clarke's team faltered under the pressure, suffering a 5-1 defeat. Midfielder Callum McGregor is determined to make amends against Switzerland. "Everyone will criticize us for a poor performance, and rightly so, but we can't let it derail us," he said. "[Switzerland and Hungary] will smell blood, and it's up to us to set things right."
Clarke highlighted Switzerland's ability to elevate their game in major tournaments as an example for Scotland. The Swiss started strong at EURO 2024, with their 3-1 win over Hungary suggesting they already have the knockout phase in sight. However, captain Granit Xhaka is keeping his focus on their next match. "We know the quality that Scotland have," said the Leverkusen player. "They have big players who play for big teams."
Key stat: Switzerland have lost only one of their last eight EURO group stage matches (W4 D3).