Zaccagni scores last-second equaliser to send Italy through, breaks Croatia hearts

Substitute Mattia Zaccagni struck deep into stoppage time to send Italy into the last 16 of Euro 2024 following a dramatic 1-1 draw with Croatia in Leipzig.

Luka Modric had looked to have put the Croatians in the box seat when the 38-year-old went from villain to hero in the blink of an eye in the 54th minute.

First, the Vatreni captain saw his penalty kick saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma but was then on hand to turn home a rebound to send his country into ecstasy just 30 seconds later.

The Azzurri poured forward in search of the equaliser but Alessandro Bastoni headed a fine chance over the top before Zaccagni fired a wonderful finish into the far corner to save The Azzurri at the death.

The result sees Italy finish second behind Group B winners Spain, while Croatia’s tally of two points and -3 goal difference means they are unlikely to finish as one of the best third-placed sides. Minnows Albania end up bottom of the pool and bow out despite some memorable moments at this summer’s tournament.

The Azzurri will now meet Switzerland in the last 16 on Saturday in Berlin (17.00 BST kick off).

The Croatia players were on the floor at the end.

They were just seconds away from booking a spot in the last 16 but that late, late equaliser means they are unlikely to get the reprieve as one of the best third-placed teams – and they knew it.

It could well be the end of an era for an ageing squad who have taken their country to unexpected heights on so many occasions. The questions had been asked about the creaking legs of some of these star names, but they have always responded, until this tournament it seems.

As for Italy, they will feel they deserved a point given the way the game transpired over the 90 minutes, but it was too close for comfort in the end and more questions will be asked of Luciano Spalletti and his players in the days ahead.

Stepped up with a fine second-half display, shrugging off the dismay of the penalty miss to fire what looked like being a winner until Italy’s late intervention.

ITALY: Donnarumma 8, Darmian 6, Bastoni 6, Calafiori 7, Di Lorenzo 6, Barella 7, Jorginho 6, Pellegrini 7, Dimarco 6, Raspadori 6, Retegui 6. Subs: Frattesi 6, Chiesa 6, Scamacca 6, Zaccagni n/a, Fagioli n/a.

CROATIA: Livakovic 8, Stanisic 7, Pongracic 7, Gvardiol 8, Sutalo 7, Kovacic 7, Modric 8*, Brozovic 7, Pasalic 7, Kramaric 6, Sucic 7. Subs: Budimir 8, Ivanusec 7, Perisic 7, Majer n/a, Juranovic n/a.

05’ – CROATIA CHANCE! Gianluigi Donnarumma springs to his right to push away Sucic’s delicious 25-yard curler.

27’ – ITALY CHANCE! Bastoni is left free to meet a sublime ball from Barella but Dominik Livakovic is there to brilliantly push his header to safety.

55’ – GOAL! – Italy 0-1 Croatia: (Modric). Modric scampers on to a rebound to flash a close-range finish beyond Donnarumma after the shot-stopper had kept out Budimir’s flicked effort. It comes just 30 seconds after the Italian ‘keeper had kept out Modric’s penalty. What a dramatic moment!

90+8’ – GOAL! – Italy 1-1 Croatia: (Zccagni). What a finish to rescue the Azzurri. Zaccagni is played in on the left side of the area and curves a lovely effort into the far corner.