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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
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RARE PHOTOS: Alessandro bastoni vows italy will play without fear in croatia showdown | Vintage Vibes

Alessandro Bastoni challenges Álvaro Morata during Italy’s defeat by Spain.
Alessandro Bastoni challenges Álvaro Morata during Italy’s defeat by Spain. Photograph: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images

The Italy centre-back Alessandro Bastoni has promised that they will cast fear to one side when they try to avert the embarrassment of an early exit from Euro 2024.

A defeat against Croatia would almost certainly mean the reigning champions have to sweat on the shakedown of third-place finishers, with the chances high that more than four teams will finish on three points. They could even finish ­bottom of Group B if Albania simultaneously record an unlikely win against Spain, who outplayed Luciano Spalletti’s side last ­Thursday. It promises to be a knife-edge ­evening given only a win will do for their opponents and ­Bastoni believes a no-regrets approach will help banish any ­lingering disappointment.

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