Italy break Croatian hearts at Euros with last-kick equaliser
By Ciaran Fahey
Leipzig: Italy substitute Mattia Zaccagni scored in the last minute of stoppage time for Italy to advance to the knockout stage of the European Championships after drawing 1-1 with Croatia on Monday (Tuesday AEST).
Luka Modric’s second-half strike looked like sending Croatia through as the Group B runner-up, but Zaccagni swept a brilliant shot inside the far post in the eighth minute of added time to cap a furious finale from the defending champions.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was unhappy so much time was added after a battling performance from his side.
“You can’t have eight minutes of added time after that game, it’s nonsense,” Dalic said. “There weren’t so many breaks in play, or so many fouls to justify that. I don’t want to cause a fuss but I think Croatia needs to be acknowledged and respected. We played for almost three hours.”
Italy needed a point to progress, while Croatia realistically needed a win to stay in the tournament. The Croatians have two points from their three games and were at the mercy of other results to see if their return will be enough to scrape through as one of the best third-place finishers.
Dalic made no mention of waiting. He already believes his side are out. Albania were eliminated after coming bottom of the group on one point following their 1-0 loss to Spain, a result which meant England, France and the Netherlands are now guaranteed to finish at least among the four best third-placed teams.
A heartbroken Luka Modric was almost the hero for Croatia.Credit: AP
Italy will face Switzerland in the round of 16 on Saturday (Sunday 2am AEST) at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, where the final will be held on July 14.
“We were a bit soft at times in the game, we didn’t produce our best football,” Italy coach Luciano Spalletti said. “When you can afford to draw the game, that’s how it goes, you know a draw is enough, you are a bit more timid.”
But Spalletti bristled at a question asking if he was concerned about his team trailing going into stoppage time.
“Worries and concerns are part and parcel of this job,” he said. “We did what we needed to do.”
Modric scored 33 seconds after having a penalty saved by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to become the oldest goalscorer ever at the tournament. At 38 years, 289 days on Monday, Modric broke the record held by Ivica Vastic, who was 38 years, 257 days, when he scored for Austria against Poland at Euro 2008.
After Modric’s penalty miss, Croatia immediately attacked again and Donnarumma had to save a shot by Ante Budimir. Modric pounced on the rebound in the 55th minute.
The goal sent showers of beer into the sky as ecstatic Croatian fans jettisoned the cups they were holding in the celebrations.
Alessandro Bastoni headed just over in response as the Italians suddenly found themselves in need of a goal. Defeat could have seen the defending champions knocked out depending on results in other games.
Modric turned his skills to defence until he went off to a standing ovation in the 80th.
“He wasn’t tired,” said Dalic, who added he wanted to give his star a rest.
But Italy maintained their pressure and it finally paid off at the last possible moment with Zaccagni’s curling shot.
AP
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