Mattia Zaccagni struck a last-gasp equaliser as Italy sent Croatia onto the brink of crashing out of UEFA Euro 2024 with a 1-1 draw.
Luka Modric saw a 54th minute penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma following Davide Frattesi’s handball but barely a minute later, he fired in the opening goal on the rebound after Donnarumma fumbled his save of Ante Budimir’s shot.
Zaccagni however struck in the final minute of injury-time from Riccardo Calafiori’s pass to equalise for Italy who now progressed as Group B runner-up after Spain eliminated Albania with a 1-0 win through Ferran Torres,
Italy will next meet Switzerland in the opening Round of 16 tie on Saturday 29 June at 6pm CEST in Berlin, Germany.
Croatia meanwhile finished third in the group but their goal difference meant that they won’t progress as one of four best third-placed teams unless England beat Slovenia by three goals or more.
Aware that defeat could see their tournaments come to a premature end, Croatia and Italy knew that only a win would be enough for their knockout dreams.
Croatia though were the first to try and seize control of their destiny as Luka Sucic’s strike from 29.5 yards forced a fifth minute block from Donnarumma.
Italy had slowly grown into the game on the counter-attack but Lorenzo Pellegrini nodded Federico Dimarco’s 11th minute overhead pass wide.
Croatia were soon afterwards given a boost when Albania fell behind in the 13th minute to Spain – who had taken the lead in their game through Torres, although the Croatians still needed to win as a draw wouldn’t be good enough to advance amongst the four best third-placed teams.
Italy though soon began to dominate as Mateo Retegui saw a 21st minute header blocked by Dominik Livakovic, before he attempted a shot from a subsequently recycled corner only for Marin Pongracic to deflect his effort behind.
Livakovic then deflected Alessandro Bastoni’s 28th minute header from Nicolo Barella’s cross over the bar as the reigning champions kept up their pressure.
Italy managed to reach half-time with the score still goalless but on course to finish as runner-up in Group B, which would of meant an early departure for Croatia plus Albania.
Both teams opted for changes at half time as Croatia’s Mario Pasalic was substituted for Budimir, whilst Frattesi replaced Pellegrini.
Croatia’s gamble however paid off with an energetic start to the second-half which saw Marcelo Brozovic’s 52nd minute cross handballed by Frattesi, with a penalty awarded after a quick VAR review but Modric’s penalty towards the right corner was cleared by Donnarumma.
Modric quickly made amends a minute later after Donnarumma fumbled his save of Budimir’s deflected shot, which fell for the Croatian legend to lash in on the rebound to put Croatia on course for second and a knockout spot.
Italy consequently switched from a back three to a back four and almost pulled level in the 61st minute but Bastoni headed over the bar, as Luciano Spalletti’s Gli Azzurri began to pile on the pressure as Croatia sat back to try and protect their slim lead.
Croatia’s risk looked set to pay off until the ball fell for Zaccagni from Calafiori’s pass in the final minute of eight minutes of injury time, and the Italian substitute calmly curled into the top right corner to send Italy through.
Croatia now need England to do them a favour by beating Slovenia by three goals or more otherwise they will be eliminated.
Teams
Croatia – Dominik Livakovic, Josip Stanisic, Josip Sutalo, Marin Pongracic, Josko Gvardiol, Luka Modric (Majer 81′), Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic (Ivanusec 70′), Luka Sucic (Perisic 70′), Andrej Kramaric (Juranovic 90′), Mario Pasalic (Budimir 46′)
Substitutes: Martin Baturina, Ante Budimir, Martin Erlic, Luka Ivanusec, Ivica Ivusic, Josip Juranovic, Nediljko Labrovic, Lovro Majer, Marco Pasalic, Ivan Perisic, Bruno Petkovic, Marko Pjaca, Borna Sosa, Domagoj Vida
Italy – Gianluigi Donnarumma, Matteo Darmian (Zaccagni 81′), Riccardo Calafiori, Alessandro Bastoni, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Federico Dimarco (Chiesa 57′), Jorginho (Fagioli 82′), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Frattesi 46′), Nicolo Barella, Giacomo Raspadori (Scamacca 75′), Mateo Retegui
Substitutes: Raoul Bellanova, Alessandro Buongiorno, Andrea Cambiaso, Federico Chiesa, Bryan Cristante, Stephan El Shaarawy, Nicolo Fagioli, Davide Frattesi, Federico Gatti, Michael Folorunsho, Gianluca Mancini, Alex Meret, Gianluca Scamacca, Guglielmo Vicario, Mattia Zaccagni