Reigning European champions Italy sneaked into the last 16 of Euro 2024 in the most astonishing circumstances thanks to a 1-1 draw with Croatia in their Group B finale. Simply needing to avoid defeat to finish second in the section and join Spain - who bested Albania 1-0 - in the knockout rounds, Luciano Spalletti 's men failed to turn up and were on the cusp of being usurped courtesy of a history-making Luka Modric strike. However, with the very last attack of the game, the Italians finally made their unrelenting pressure pay, as Mattia Zaccagni swept home a stunning equaliser mere seconds before Danny Makkelie 's whistle blew for the final time.

Both sets of players collapsed onto the turf at the end - Italy through elation and Croatia through agony - as the 2018 World Cup runners-up were condemned to a third-placed finish with just two points. As a result, Croatia's only slim hope of advancing to the knockout rounds will be if Slovenia lose to England by three goals on Tuesday night, although that scenario only applies if Slovenia fail to score more than once, otherwise the Chequered Ones will require a four-goal Three Lions success. SCENES! 🤩 53': Luka Modric misses a penalty ❌ 54': Luka Modric puts Croatia ahead! #BBCEuros #Euro2024 #CROITA pic.

twitter.com/MiW6qnSCk1 After public criticism from his manager about his on-field application, Gianluca Scamacca made way for Mateo Retegui at the tip of the Azzurri attack, which barely saw the ball in the opening exchanges..