In a dramatic turn of events at Euro 2024, Italy secured a crucial 1-1 draw against Croatia, thanks to a sensational 98th-minute equalizer by substitute Mattia Zaccagni. The match, played on Monday, saw Croatia initially take the lead through Luka Modric’s goal in the 55th minute, shortly after he missed a penalty.
Croatia, desperate for a victory to secure their spot in the last 16, looked set to advance until Zaccagni’s late heroics. His superbly bent finish eluded goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, ensuring Italy salvaged a point and confirmed their place in the knockout stage.
“It was a hard-fought match and we deserved to advance based on our performance,” commented Italy coach Luciano Spalletti. “Facing tough opponents like Spain and Croatia was a significant challenge, but our team showed resilience.”
Spain, who topped Group B with a perfect record, defeated Albania 1-0 in their final group game, leaving Albania eliminated with one point. The results also confirmed that England, France, and the Netherlands will advance as at least one of the best four third-placed teams.
Despite earlier setbacks in the tournament, including a defeat to Spain, Italy demonstrated their determination against Croatia. The match highlighted Croatia’s struggle to convert possession into scoring opportunities, a recurring theme throughout their Euro 2024 campaign.
The atmosphere was electric, with Croatian fans creating a vibrant backdrop throughout the match. Modric, at 38 years and 289 days old, made history as the oldest scorer in Euro tournament history with his goal, but ultimately, Croatia fell short of securing a crucial victory.
“It’s a cruel outcome for us tonight,” expressed Modric. “Football can be unforgiving, but we must regroup and focus on what’s ahead.”
Italy will now prepare to face Switzerland in their next fixture, aiming to build on their resilient performance and advance further in the tournament.
