Euro 2024: Late drama takes Italy through to last 16
Croatia 1 - 1 Italy
Mattia Zaccagni scored in the final minute of stoppage time, ensuring that Italy progresses to the last 16 of Euro 2024 with a late equaliser against Croatia.
Luka Modric thought he had secured a victory for Croatia as he scored early in the second half. This came after he had a penalty saved, but Croatia's swift response to that setback appeared to be enough for them.
However, Italy levelled in stoppage time when Zaccagni scored in the 98th minute, securing their spot in the last 16 alongside group winners Spain. The result was heartbreaking for Croatia, who had been minutes away from progressing. It is now unlikely that their two points will be enough to secure a place as one of the best third-placed teams.
As a result of all this drama, Italy will face Switzerland in the last 16 on Saturday, 29th June.
Croatia’s players collapsed to the ground at the final whistle, while their fans stood motionless in the stands, staring in disbelief at what had just unfolded in front of their eyes.
The 2018 World Cup finalists had performed poorly in the first two games of this tournament, losing comprehensively to Spain and then drawing with Albania.
That meant they went into this game against the defending champions as underdogs, a label they often embrace, and they certainly appeared to thrive off it with their start to this game.
They had Italy firmly on the back foot, but as the match wore on, it looked like their struggles in the final third would be their undoing.
Then Modric stepped up. The 38-year-old recovered seconds after seeing his penalty following a handball saved to drive a shot into the roof of the net, sending Croatian fans wild.
From then on, they managed the game superbly, but with almost the last kick, Zaccagni found space for a shot that devastated the Croatian fans.
It remains to be seen what now happens to Croatia’s ageing stars, with Modric and others who had taken them to a World Cup semi-final two years ago now in their mid to late 30s.
