Croatia vs Italy

Watch Croatia vs Italy full match replay and highlights.
KICK-OFF at 19:00 (GMT) on 24th June 2024
The referee for this match is D. Makkelie
Game played at Leipzig Stadium
This is a match in Europe – UEFA European Championship, Group B, Season 2024

Italy 1-1 Croatia: Last-Gasp Equaliser Secures Knockout Spot for Italy

Italy clinched a dramatic 1-1 draw against Croatia in their final group stage match of UEFA Euro 2024, securing a place in the knockout stages for the fifth consecutive Euros. A stoppage-time equaliser from Mattia Zaccagni sealed Italy’s advancement and left Croatia anxiously waiting to see if they could qualify as one of the best third-place teams.

First Half: Intense Start from Croatia

Croatia, needing a win to keep their hopes of a top-two finish alive, started aggressively. Luka Sučić came close in the opening five minutes with a curling shot from the edge of the area, forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma into a full-stretch save. Despite Croatia’s pressure, Italy had their chances, particularly through crosses into the box. Mateo Retegui narrowly missed with a header from a Riccardo Calafiori cross, and Dominik Livaković made a stunning save to deny Alessandro Bastoni’s header.

Second Half: Croatia Take the Lead

The second half saw Croatia rewarded for their persistence when they were awarded a penalty after Davide Frattesi handled the ball in the area. Veteran Luka Modrić stepped up but saw his penalty saved by Donnarumma. However, just seconds later, Modrić made amends by scoring from the rebound after Donnarumma initially saved Andrej Kramarić’s effort. This goal made Modrić the oldest goalscorer in Euros history.

Late Drama: Italy’s Equaliser

Italy, who had not kept a clean sheet in nine consecutive Euros matches, nearly conceded again but were saved by Bastoni’s missed header. A series of substitutions seemed to disrupt Italy’s momentum, but they pressed on. In the dying moments, Mattia Zaccagni, one of the substitutes, curled in a spectacular equaliser, breaking Croatian hearts and ensuring Italy’s progression to the knockout stages.

Key Moments

• Early Pressure: Croatia’s aggressive start nearly paid off with Sučić’s early chance.
• Livaković’s Heroics: The Croatian goalkeeper made several crucial saves, particularly in the first half.
• Modrić’s Record Goal: Modrić became the oldest scorer in Euros history after converting his second chance.
• Zaccagni’s Equaliser: A stunning last-minute goal from Zaccagni secured Italy’s place in the knockouts.

Implications

• Italy’s Progression: Italy advances to the knockout stages, where they will face Switzerland in the opening match of the next phase on June 29th.
• Croatia’s Uncertain Fate: Croatia finishes the group stage with two points and must wait to see if they qualify as one of the best third-place teams.

Conclusion

Italy’s resilience and Zaccagni’s last-minute heroics ensured their spot in the knockout rounds, continuing their impressive run in the Euros. Croatia, despite a valiant effort, now face an anxious wait to see if they can progress further in the tournament.