Croatia is looking to reignite their Euro 2024 campaign against Albania on Wednesday, following a crushing 3-0 defeat to Spain in their opening match. The loss has cast a shadow over the potential swansong of Croatia’s 'golden generation.'

Croatia, known for their remarkable run to the 2018 World Cup final and a third-place finish in the 2022 World Cup, now face the challenge of proving their resilience in Group B. Veteran players such as captain Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, Marcelo Brozovic, and Mateo Kovacic are in the twilight of their international careers, making this tournament particularly significant.

Head coach Zlatko Dalic remains optimistic despite the setback. "There is no room for pessimism, everything is still in our hands," Dalic asserted. "Of course, we have to be better. It's my job to turn the team around."

The defeat to Spain highlighted some tactical issues and hinted at potential squad changes. Rumors of discord within the team surfaced after Ivan Perisic allowed Bruno Petkovic to take a late penalty, which was subsequently saved. However, these rumors have been downplayed by the team.

Lovro Majer, a winger for Croatia, dismissed the penalty incident as a non-issue. "Bruno took the penalty, unfortunately, he didn't score, it can happen to anyone. It's a finished story and there's no need to add anything special," Majer stated.

Dalic is expected to consider a tactical shift, possibly altering the established midfield trio of Modric, Kovacic, and Brozovic. Brozovic, in particular, has appeared out of form since his move to Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr.

Despite their heavy loss, Croatia showed flashes of promise against Spain, creating several chances before conceding the opening goal. Dalic has apologized to the Croatian fans and assured them of a stronger performance in the upcoming matches against Albania and Italy.

"We can only promise that we will do our best and fight to the end and that we will celebrate in the next two games and get through the group," Majer added.

With their Euro 2024 hopes hanging in the balance, Croatia will need to draw on their experience and unity to navigate the rest of their group stage matches successfully.