Euro 2024: Mattia Zaccagni’s last-gasp equalizer sends Italy through to knockout stages and breaks Croatia hearts

Mattia Zaccagni’s last-minute goal earned Italy a 1-1 draw and sent the defending champion through to the Euro 2024 last-16, breaking Croatia hearts in the process.

Mattia Zaccagni’s last-minute stunner earned Italy a 1-1 draw and sent the defending champion through to the last-16 of Euro 2024, breaking Croatia’s hearts in the process. Luka Modrić’s goal 10 minutes into the second half after he had just missed a penalty looked like it would be enough to earn the Vatreni a place in the knockout stages. But Zaccagni had other ideas, latching onto Riccardo Calafiori’s pass in the 98th minute and bending his shot past the outstretched hand of Dominik Livaković and into the top corner. It proved to be the penultimate kick of the match as the referee blew for full-time immediately after the restart, the distraught Croatia players, only seconds earlier on the brink of glory, sinking to the turf. Modrić cut a forlorn figure on the bench and buried his face in his hands. Spain, meanwhile, beat Albania 1-0 off a tidy first-half Ferrán Torres goal from Dani Olmo’s through ball to finish top of Group B with nine points from nine.