Croatia at the UEFA European Championship

The UEFA European Championship is one of the major competitive international football tournaments, first played in 1960, whose finals stage has been held every four years.

The Croatia national football team has contested this tournament since 1996, having been part of Yugoslavia up until the qualifying stages for the 1992 edition. Croatia has qualified for every Euro competition except for the 2000 edition, played in Belgium and the Netherlands. The team's best performances have been reaching the quarter-finals twice — in 1996 and 2008, losing to Germany and Turkey, respectively.

Overall record

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UEFA European Championship record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Position Pld W D L GF GA
  1960 to   1992 Part of   Yugoslavia Part of   Yugoslavia
  1996 Quarter-finals 7th 4 2 0 2 5 5 Squad 1st 10 7 2 1 22 5
    2000 Did not qualify 3rd 8 4 3 1 13 9
  2004 Group stage 13th 3 0 2 1 4 6 Squad 2nd 10 6 2 2 14 5
    2008 Quarter-finals 5th 4 3 1 0 5 2 Squad 1st 12 9 2 1 28 8
    2012 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 4 3 Squad 2nd 12 8 2 2 21 7
  2016 Round of 16 9th 4 2 1 1 5 4 Squad 2nd 10 6 3 1 20 5
  2020 14th 4 1 1 2 7 8 Squad 1st 8 5 2 1 17 7
  2024 Group stage 20th 3 0 2 1 3 6 Squad 2nd 8 5 1 2 13 4
    2028 To be determined To be determined
    2032
Total Quarter-finals 7/8 25 9 8 8 33 34 78 50 17 11 148 50
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

UEFA Euro 1996

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Qualifying

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification            
1   Croatia 10 7 2 1 22 5 +17 23[a] Qualify for final tournament 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 7–1
2   Italy 10 7 2 1 20 6 +14 23[a] 1–2 4–0 3–1 1–0 4–1
3   Lithuania 10 5 1 4 13 12 +1 16 0–0 0–1 1–3 2–1 5–0
4   Ukraine 10 4 1 5 11 15 −4 13 1–0 0–2 0–2 0–0 3–0
5   Slovenia 10 3 2 5 13 13 0 11 1–2 1–1 1–2 3–2 3–0
6   Estonia 10 0 0 10 3 31 −28 0 0–2 0–2 0–1 0–1 1–3
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Croatia 4, Italy 1.

Group stage

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Portugal 3 2 1 0 5 1 +4 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Croatia 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6
3   Denmark 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
4   Turkey 3 0 0 3 0 5 −5 0
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Turkey  0–1  Croatia
Report
  • Vlaović   86'

Croatia  3–0  Denmark
Report
Attendance: 33,671
Referee: Marc Batta (France)

Croatia  0–3  Portugal
Report
Attendance: 20,484

Knockout stage

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Quarter-finals
Germany  2–1  Croatia
Report
Attendance: 43,412[1]
Referee: Leif Sundell (Sweden)

UEFA Euro 2004

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Qualifying

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification          
1   Bulgaria 8 5 2 1 13 4 +9 17 Qualify for final tournament 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–1
2   Croatia 8 5 1 2 12 4 +8 16[a] Advance to play-offs 1–0 4–0 0–0 2–0
3   Belgium 8 5 1 2 11 9 +2 16[a] 0–2 2–1 2–0 3–0
4   Estonia 8 2 2 4 4 6 −2 8 0–0 0–1 0–1 2–0
5   Andorra 8 0 0 8 1 18 −17 0 0–3 0–3 0–1 0–2
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head-to-head points (3). Head-to-head goal difference: Croatia +3, Belgium −3.
Play-offs
Croatia  1–1  Slovenia
Pršo   5' Report Šiljak   22'
Attendance: 34,657[2]
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
Slovenia  0–1  Croatia
Report Pršo   61'

Croatia won 2–1 on aggregate and qualified for UEFA Euro 2004.

Group stage

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   France 3 2 1 0 7 4 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   England 3 2 0 1 8 4 +4 6
3   Croatia 3 0 2 1 4 6 −2 2
4    Switzerland 3 0 1 2 1 6 −5 1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Switzerland  0–0  Croatia
Report

Croatia  2–2  France
Report

Croatia  2–4  England
Report
Attendance: 57,047

UEFA Euro 2008

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Qualifying

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In the qualifiers, Croatia was drawn into Group E of Euro 2008's qualifications, along with Andorra, England, Estonia, Macedonia, Israel and Russia.

Over the course of qualifying, Croatia racked up nine wins, two draws, and one loss. Croatia's loss was a 2–0 defeat at Skopje, Macedonia. Croatia and Romania became the final teams to record their first loss, both on the 17 November 2007 matchday, in a qualification cycle where every team suffered at least one defeat. Croatia gathered numerous headlines after knocking England out on the final matchday, with a 3–2 victory at Wembley Stadium.[4]

Croatian striker Eduardo was the second-highest goalscorer in qualifications with ten goals, trailing Northern Ireland's David Healy.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification              
1   Croatia 12 9 2 1 28 8 +20 29 Qualify for final tournament 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 7–0
2   Russia 12 7 3 2 18 7 +11 24 0–0 2–1 1–1 3–0 2–0 4–0
3   England 12 7 2 3 24 7 +17 23[a] 2–3 3–0 3–0 0–0 3–0 5–0
4   Israel 12 7 2 3 20 12 +8 23[a] 3–4 2–1 0–0 1–0 4–0 4–1
5   Macedonia 12 4 2 6 12 12 0 14 2–0 0–2 0–1 1–2 1–1 3–0
6   Estonia 12 2 1 9 5 21 −16 7 0–1 0–2 0–3 0–1 0–1 2–1
7   Andorra 12 0 0 12 2 42 −40 0 0–6 0–1 0–3 0–2 0–3 0–2
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: England 4, Israel 1.

Group stage

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Croatia 3 3 0 0 4 1 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Germany 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2 6
3   Austria (H) 3 0 1 2 1 3 −2 1[a]
4   Poland 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1[a]
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head-to-head result (Austria 1–1 Poland). Overall goal difference was used as the tiebreaker.
Austria  0–1  Croatia
Report

Croatia  2–1  Germany
Report

Poland  0–1  Croatia
Report

Knockout stage

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Quarter-finals
Croatia  1–1 (a.e.t.)  Turkey
Report
Penalties
1–3

UEFA Euro 2012

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Qualifying

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification            
1   Greece 10 7 3 0 14 5 +9 24 Qualify for final tournament 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 3–1
2   Croatia 10 7 1 2 18 7 +11 22 Advance to play-offs 0–0 3–1 2–0 2–1 3–0
3   Israel 10 5 1 4 13 11 +2 16 0–1 1–2 2–1 1–0 3–1
4   Latvia 10 3 2 5 9 12 −3 11 1–1 0–3 1–2 1–1 2–0
5   Georgia 10 2 4 4 7 9 −2 10 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–1 1–0
6   Malta 10 0 1 9 4 21 −17 1 0–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–1
Source: UEFA
Play-offs
Turkey  0–3  Croatia
Report Olić   2'
Mandžukić   32'
Ćorluka   51'
Attendance: 42,863[9]
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)
Croatia  0–0  Turkey
Report
Attendance: 26,371[10]

Croatia won 3–0 on aggregate and qualified for UEFA Euro 2012.

Group stage

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Spain 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Italy 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 5
3   Croatia 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 4
4   Republic of Ireland 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Republic of Ireland  1–3  Croatia
Report

Italy  1–1  Croatia
Report
Attendance: 37,096[12]
Referee: Howard Webb (England)

Croatia  0–1  Spain
Report
Attendance: 39,076[13]

UEFA Euro 2016

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Qualifying

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification            
1   Italy 10 7 3 0 16 7 +9 24 Qualify for final tournament 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–0
2   Croatia[a] 10 6 3 1 20 5 +15 20 1–1 5–1 3–0 6–0 2–0
3   Norway 10 6 1 3 13 10 +3 19 Advance to play-offs 0–2 2–0 2–1 0–0 2–0
4   Bulgaria 10 3 2 5 9 12 −3 11 2–2 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–1
5   Azerbaijan 10 1 3 6 7 18 −11 6 1–3 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–0
6   Malta 10 0 2 8 3 16 −13 2 0–1 0–1 0–3 0–1 2–2
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ Croatia were deducted one point after charges for racist behaviour in the home match against Italy.

Group stage

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Croatia 3 2 1 0 5 3 +2 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Spain 3 2 0 1 5 2 +3 6
3   Turkey 3 1 0 2 2 4 −2 3
4   Czech Republic 3 0 1 2 2 5 −3 1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Turkey  0–1  Croatia
Report
Attendance: 43,842[14]

Czech Republic  2–2  Croatia
Report

Croatia  2–1  Spain
Report

Knockout stage

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Round of 16
Croatia  0–1 (a.e.t.)  Portugal
Report

UEFA Euro 2020

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Qualifying

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification          
1   Croatia 8 5 2 1 17 7 +10 17 Qualify for final tournament 2–1 3–1 3–0 2–1
2   Wales 8 4 2 2 10 6 +4 14 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–1
3   Slovakia 8 4 1 3 13 11 +2 13 Advance to play-offs via Nations League 0–4 1–1 2–0 2–0
4   Hungary 8 4 0 4 8 11 −3 12 2–1 1–0 1–2 1–0
5   Azerbaijan 8 0 1 7 5 18 −13 1 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–3
Source: UEFA

Group stage

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   England (H) 3 2 1 0 2 0 +2 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Croatia 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 4[a]
3   Czech Republic 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 4[a]
4   Scotland (H) 3 0 1 2 1 5 −4 1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head-to-head result (Croatia 1–1 Czech Republic) and overall goal difference (+1). Overall goals for was used as the tiebreaker.
England  1–0  Croatia
Report
Attendance: 18,497[18]

Croatia  1–1  Czech Republic
Report

Croatia  3–1  Scotland
Report

Knockout stage

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Round of 16
Croatia  3–5 (a.e.t.)  Spain
Report

UEFA Euro 2024

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Qualifying

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification          
1   Turkey 8 5 2 1 14 7 +7 17 Qualify for final tournament 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–0
2   Croatia 8 5 1 2 13 4 +9 16 0–1 1–1 1–0 5–0
3   Wales 8 3 3 2 10 10 0 12 Advance to play-offs via Nations League 1–1 2–1 2–4 1–0
4   Armenia 8 2 2 4 9 11 −2 8 1–2 0–1 1–1 2–1
5   Latvia 8 1 0 7 5 19 −14 3 2–3 0–2 0–2 2–0
Source: UEFA

Group stage

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Spain 3 3 0 0 5 0 +5 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Italy 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
3   Croatia 3 0 2 1 3 6 −3 2
4   Albania 3 0 1 2 3 5 −2 1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Spain  3–0  Croatia
Report
Attendance: 68,844[22]

Croatia  2–2  Albania
Report

Croatia  1–1  Italy
Report
Ranking of third-placed teams

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 D   Netherlands 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4[a] Advance to knockout stage
2 F   Georgia 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4[a]
3 E   Slovakia 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
4 C   Slovenia 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3
5 A   Hungary 3 1 0 2 2 5 −3 3
6 B   Croatia 3 0 2 1 3 6 −3 2
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Wins; 5) Lower disciplinary points total; 6) European Qualifiers overall ranking (or drawing of lots, if hosts Germany had been involved in the tiebreaker).[26]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Disciplinary points: Netherlands −2, Georgia −6.[25]

List of matches

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Year Round Opponent Score Result Venue Croatia scorers
  1996 Group stage   Turkey 1–0 W Nottingham Vlaović
  Denmark 3–0 W Sheffield Šuker (2), Boban
  Portugal 0–3 L Nottingham
Quarter-finals   Germany 1–2 L Manchester Šuker
  2004 Group stage    Switzerland 0–0 D Leiria
  France 2–2 D Leiria Rapaić, Pršo
  England 2–4 L Lisbon N. Kovač, Tudor
    2008 Group stage   Austria 1–0 W Vienna Modrić
  Germany 2–1 W Klagenfurt Srna, Olić
  Poland 1–0 W Klagenfurt Klasnić
Quarter-finals   Turkey 1–1 (a.e.t.) (1–3 p) D Vienna Klasnić
    2012 Group stage   Republic of Ireland 3–1 W Poznań Mandžukić (2), Jelavić
  Italy 1–1 D Poznań Mandžukić
  Spain 0–1 L Gdańsk
  2016 Group stage   Turkey 1–0 W Paris Modrić
  Czech Republic 2–2 D Saint-Étienne Perišić, Rakitić
  Spain 2–1 W Bordeaux Kalinić, Perišić
Round of 16   Portugal 0–1 (a.e.t.) L Lens
  2020 Group stage   England 0–1 L London
  Czech Republic 1–1 D Glasgow Perišić
  Scotland 3–1 W Glasgow Vlašić, Modrić, Perišić
Round of 16   Spain 3–5 (a.e.t.) L Copenhagen Pedri (o.g.), Oršić, Pašalić
  2024 Group stage   Spain 0–3 L Berlin
  Albania 2–2 D Hamburg Kramarić, Gjasula (o.g.)
  Italy 1–1 D Leipzig Modrić

By opponent

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Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD
  Albania 1 0 1 0 2 2 0
  Austria 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
  Czech Republic 2 0 2 0 3 3 0
  Denmark 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3
  England 2 0 0 2 2 5 -3
  France 1 0 1 0 2 2 0
  Germany 2 1 0 1 3 3 0
  Italy 2 0 2 0 2 2 0
  Poland 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
  Portugal 2 0 0 2 0 4 -4
  Republic of Ireland 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2
  Scotland 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2
  Spain 4 1 0 3 5 10 −5
   Switzerland 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
  Turkey 3 2 1 0 3 1 +2

Players with most appearances

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Rank Player Matches Years
1 Luka Modrić 16 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
2 Ivan Perišić 13 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
3 Darijo Srna 12 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016
4 Vedran Ćorluka 11 2008, 2012, 2016
5 Ivan Rakitić 10 2008, 2012, 2016
Marcelo Brozović 2016, 2020, 2024
Andrej Kramarić 2016, 2020, 2024

Goalscorers

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Rank Player Goals Years (goals)
1 Luka Modrić 4 2008, 2016, 2020, 2024
Ivan Perišić 2016 (2), 2020 (2)
3 Davor Šuker 3 1996
Mario Mandžukić 2012
5 Ivan Klasnić 2 2008
6 Zvonimir Boban 1 1996
Goran Vlaović 1996
Niko Kovač 2004
Dado Pršo 2004
Milan Rapaić 2004
Igor Tudor 2004
Ivica Olić 2008
Darijo Srna 2008
Nikica Jelavić 2012
Nikola Kalinić 2016
Ivan Rakitić 2016
Nikola Vlašić 2020
Mislav Oršić 2020
Mario Pašalić 2020
Andrej Kramarić 2024

Awards

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See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Shaw, Phil (24 June 1996). "Croatia punished by Sammer". The Independent. Independent Print. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  2. ^ "Croatia v Slovenia, 15 November 2003" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Slovenia v Croatia, 19 November 2003" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  4. ^ "With McClaren out, England needs something Special". CNN. 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  5. ^ "Full-time report Austria-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Full-time report Croatia-Germany" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  7. ^ "Full-time report Poland-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Full-time report Croatia-Turkey" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  9. ^ "Turkey vs. Croatia - 11 November 2011 - Soccerway".
  10. ^ "Croatia vs. Turkey - 15 November 2011 - Soccerway".
  11. ^ "Full-time report Republic of Ireland-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  12. ^ "Full-time report Italy-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  13. ^ "Full-time report Croatia-Spain" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  14. ^ "Full Time Summary – Turkey v Croatia" (PDF). UEFA.org. Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  15. ^ "Full Time Summary – Czech Republic v Croatia" (PDF). UEFA.org. Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  16. ^ "Full Time Summary – Croatia v Spain" (PDF). UEFA.org. Union of European Football Associations. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  17. ^ "Full Time Summary – Croatia v Portugal" (PDF). UEFA.org. Union of European Football Associations. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  18. ^ "Full Time Summary – England v Croatia" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Full Time Summary – Croatia v Czech Republic" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Full Time Summary – Croatia v Scotland" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Full Time Summary – Croatia v Spain" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Full Time Report – Spain v Croatia" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Full Time Report – Croatia v Albania" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Full Time Report – Croatia v Italy" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  25. ^ "European Championship 2024: Booking List before Round of 16" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship, 2022–24". Union of European Football Associations. 10 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
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