With a 1-1 draw against Croatia on Monday, the reigning champions Italy secured a berth in the round of 16 at Euro 2024, leaving Croatia’s championship dreams in shambles. Mattia Zaccagni curled home an equaliser in the 98th minute.
After a 1-1 draw with Germany on Sunday, Switzerland, who placed second in their group, will play Italy next.
Shortly after missing a penalty kick, Luka Modric gave Croatia the lead in the 55th minute, and it appeared as though that would be enough to advance them until late substitute Zaccagni bent a spectacular strike past Dominik Livakovic‘s helpless dive into the far corner.
Italy now sits second in Group B with four points, while Croatia is in third place and must wait nervously to find out if two points will be enough to advance them to the next round as one of the top four third-place teams.
The top-seeded Spanish team defeated Albania 1-0 to complete their three-game winning streak and drop the ousted Albanians to the bottom with a single point.
The elimination of Albania also helped the countries that were not playing advance to the round of 16, since England, France, and the Netherlands are now assured of finishing among the top four third-place teams.
If there was one thing that gave Luciano Spalletti‘s team hope going into Monday’s encounter, it was the fact that Croatia had performed even worse than Spain, who had stunned Italy with a defeat that could have been even more decisive than the 1-0 score.
The Croats were on the verge of defeat after losing 3-0 to Spain and drawing 2-2 with Albania. During the first half of their match against Italy, one of the primary problems that had plagued them throughout the tournament—how to convert possession into a goal threat—resurfaced.
For the better part of the first twenty minutes, Croatia hardly offered the Italians much of a kick, so it was understandable that their only real chance of the game was a long-range pile-driver from Luka Sucic, which Gianluigi Donnarumma parried.
Italy appeared much more intented, as Mateo Retegui had a couple of half-chances before Alessandro Bastoni had the finest chance of the first half, heading Livakovic’s save on Nicolò Barella‘s lofted pass to the far post.
But Croatia was given a penalty a few minutes into the second half. Davide Frattesi, the halftime substitution, was hit by Andrej Kramaric‘s shot with his arm outstretched. Referee Danny Makkelie waved play on, but Frattesi quickly changed his mind after seeing the VAR.
Modric took the penalty kick, but Donnarumma superbly stopped his shot low to the keeper’s left. Although it gave Italy a brief reprieve, it was still a setback.
Shortly after, Croatian halftime substitute Ante Budimir‘s header forced Donnarumma to make another outstanding save, but Modric was there to seize the rebound and make up for his missed penalty by smashing it into the roof of the net.
With the goal, Modric became the oldest scorer in the history of the European Championship at 38 years, 289 days, but Croatia’s joy would not last long.
Italy made a strong effort to get back into the match, and in the 87th minute, replacement Gianluca Scamacca came dangerously close to scoring a cross.
But just as Croatian supporters were beginning to rejoice over what they believed to be a win, Italy delivered that crushing finishing blow.
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