Italy’s hopes of advancing in Euro 2024 hung in the balance until substitute Mattia Zaccagni’s stunning 98th-minute equalizer secured a 1-1 draw against a resilient Croatian team. Croatia’s Luka Modrić had put his side ahead in the second half, positioning Croatia as potential group runners-up.
However, Zaccagni’s late strike ensured Italy progressed to the knockout stage, needing just a point to move forward, while Croatia, with two points from three games, must now rely on other results to possibly qualify as one of the best third-place teams.
Italy will face Switzerland in
Berlin on Saturday at 18:00 in the opening game of the knockout stage. The
match against Croatia was intense, especially in the first half, with
remarkable saves from Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Croatia’s Dominik Livaković.
Croatia proved to be a formidable opponent, maintaining their unbeaten record
against Italy in major tournaments. Modrić’s goal also made him the oldest
scorer in Euros history at 38.
In Group B, Spain maintained
their perfect record with a 1-0 victory over Albania, finishing the group stage
without conceding a goal. Coach Luis de la Fuente made 10 changes to the
starting lineup, yet Spain continued their winning streak. Ferran Torres scored
the decisive goal in the 13th minute, and goalkeeper David Raya's crucial
stoppage-time save from Armando Broja preserved the clean sheet. This win
marked Spain’s first time winning all three group stage games at the Euros
since their 2008 triumph.
Despite dominating the first
half, Spain missed several scoring opportunities, with notable misses from Dani
Olmo and Mikel Merino. Albania, who failed to record a shot until the 45th
minute, began to pressure Spain in the second half. De la Fuente responded by
bringing on forwards Alvaro Morata and Lamine Yamal. However, Albania’s late
efforts were not enough to change the outcome.
The loss relegates Albania to
last place in Group B and eliminates them from the tournament. The result also
ensures automatic qualification for France, England, and the Netherlands to the
next round. Despite the defeat, Albania coach Sylvinho expressed pride in his
team’s effort, stating, “We left it all on the pitch. I have no regrets for my
players.”
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