Euro 2024: Zaccagni saves Italy with last-minute goal and leaves Croatia in limbo

Mattia Zaccagni’s superb last-minute strike catapulted Italy into the knockout stages of Euro 2024 with a 1-1 draw against Croatia in a thrilling Group B clash on Monday.

Italy advance as runners-up behind winners Spain and will face Switzerland in the round of 16, while Croatia are close to elimination but could still advance depending on further results over the course of the week.

With only two points, Zlatko Dalic’s side are unlikely to qualify among the four best third-placed teams, but it is still possible.

Croatian midfielder Luka Modric became the oldest goalscorer in the competition’s history with his goal in the 55th minute, just 33 seconds after Gianluigi Donnarumma saved the 38-year-old’s penalty.

It seemed to be enough for his team, but Zaccagni fired a brilliant shot into the top corner after a counterattack in the 98th minute, sending Italy through the so-called “group of death”.

After conceding five goals in the first two games, Dalic decided to strengthen the midfield by bringing in Mario Pasalic and Luka Sucic in addition to four substitutions.

The coach also kept the established trio of Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic despite their difficulties in the 3-0 defeat to Spain and the 2-2 draw with underdogs Albania.

Luciano Spalletti’s Italy beat Albania 2-1, but then lost heavily to Spain, losing 0-1. The coach switched to a 3-5-2 formation and left out Juventus’ Federico Chiesa.

Croatia dominated their opening matches against a defensive Italian side, knowing that a draw would put them in second place behind group winners Spain.

In his first start at the tournament, 21-year-old RB Salzburg midfielder Sucic forced Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma to make a brilliant save with a powerful shot from distance.

At the other end, Azzurri striker Mateo Retegui’s header was narrowly deflected on one of his rare forays forward, as the two-time winners liked to slow down the game and tried to buy time with corners and throw-ins as early as the 20th minute.

Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic pulled off a brilliant save to deny Alessandro Bastoni’s ball, which was found by Nicolo Barella’s tempting cross, as the defending champions took control without taking any risks.

Dalic, who led Croatia to the final and semi-finals of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, brought on strong striker Ante Budimir for the second half.

In doing so, he gave his team a focal point, the team instantly appeared more threatening and quickly reaped the rewards.

Italian substitute Davide Frattesi handled Andrej Kramaric’s shot and after a VAR review, Croatia was awarded a penalty.

Donnarumma was able to parry the shot from Real Madrid midfielder Modric, but 33 seconds later the veteran was unstoppable.

The Italian goalkeeper then brilliantly parried another shot from Budimir, while Croatia kept up the pressure and Modrić hammered the rebound into the net from close range.

He beat the previous record of the oldest European Championship goalscorer, set by Austrian Ivica Vastic in 2008, by 32 days.

With ten minutes to go, Modrić was substituted and even some Italian fans applauded the playmaker while nervously watching the clock ticking away.

Croatia thought they had prevailed, but Zaccagni broke their hearts in the eighth and final minute of injury time.