Leipzig, Germany: Mattia Zaccagni's superb last-gasp strike fired Italy into the Euro 2024 knock-outs with a 1-1 draw against Croatia in a fraught Group B clash on Monday. Italy progress in second place behind winners Spain and will face Switzerland in the last 16, while Croatia are on the verge of elimination but could still progress depending on other results later in the week. With only two points it is unlikely Zlatko Dalic's side will qualify as one of the four best third-place teams but it is still possible.
Croatia midfielder Luka Modric became the oldest goalscorer in the competition's history with his strike after 55 minutes, just 33 seconds after Gianluigi Donnarumma saved the 38-year-old's penalty. It seemed to be enough for Croatia, but Zaccagni whipped a brilliant strike into the top corner on the break in the 98th minute to send Italy through from what was dubbed a "group of death". "It's very stressful, we kept battling right until the end but unfortunately football was mercilessly with us tonight, it was cruel," Modric told reporters.
"That's part and parcel of football, often it gives you plenty of smiles but on other occasions it makes you very sad, like it did today. "The footballing gods don't always smile on us but we should be proud for the way we've represented our country tonight." After shipping five goals in the first two games, Dalic opted to shore up the midfield by bringing in Mario Pasalic and Luka Sucic amid four changes.
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