Italy's hopes of defending their Euro 2024 title were kept alive after Mattia Zaccagni scored a stunning equalizer in the eighth minute of injury time to hold Croatia 1-1 on Monday. The dramatic finish saw Croatia's hearts broken, as the 2022 World Cup bronze medalists now face an uphill battle to qualify as one of the best third-place finishers.
Italy's Euro 2024 campaign was on the brink of an embarrassing end until Mattia Zaccagni's late heroics rescued the defending champions from potential elimination.
Italy's Zaccagni Saves Defending Champs with Last-Gas Equalizer
Croatia, buoyed by Luka Modric's stunning goal just 33 seconds after seeing a penalty saved, seemed destined to claim a vital victory in Group B. But Zaccagni's beautiful strike in the dying moments turned the match upside down and saved Italy's blushes.
The result clinched second spot for Italy, who will now face Switzerland in the round of 16 on June 29. Croatia, on the other hand, face a near-impossible task to qualify as one of the best third-place finishers with just two points from their three matches.
Modric, the world player of the year in 2018, had put Croatia on the verge of victory with a clever finish after Donnarumma had parried Budimir's shot. The goal made Modric the oldest scorer in European Championship history.
Italy, the 2021 champions, had created chances throughout the match but had to wait until the final kick of the game to find a breakthrough. Zaccagni's equalizer was the culmination of a rapid counterattack that caught the Croatian defense napping.
The dramatic finish echoed the wild scenes witnessed in Group A a day earlier, where Germany and Hungary both secured wins thanks to injury-time strikes.
Elsewhere in Group B, Spain secured top spot with a 1-0 victory over Albania, thanks to a goal from Ferran Torres. Albania finished bottom of the group after losing all three of their matches.
Croatia's hopes of reaching the knockout stage now hinge on other results. They will need to win their final match against Scotland and hope that other results go their way.
Italy, meanwhile, can breathe a sigh of relief after avoiding a humiliating exit. Zaccagni's late goal has given them a lifeline, but they will need to improve their performances significantly if they are to defend their title.
The round of 16 match between Italy and Switzerland promises to be a fascinating encounter. Both teams have shown resilience and fighting spirit in the group stage, and they will be eager to make a statement in the knockout phase.
