Croatia's Euro 2024 Hopes Hanging by a Thread After Italy Draw
Italy snatches a dramatic late equalizer against Croatia, securing a spot in the Euro 2024 last 16. Luka Modric's stunning goal was cancelled out by Mattia Zaccagni's stoppage-time strike, leaving Croatia's fate uncertain.
Italy snatched a dramatic late equalizer through Mattia Zaccagni in the final minute of stoppage time, breaking Croatia's hearts and securing their spot in the Euro 2024 last 16. Luka Modric had earlier given Croatia the lead with a stunning shot into the roof of the net, but Italy's late strike denied them a hard-fought win.
Modric's goal came after he had seen a penalty saved, but Croatia seemed to have overcome that setback. However, Italy's stoppage-time equalizer, curled home by Zaccagni in the 98th minute, ensured their passage to the knockout stages. Croatia, on the other hand, suffered a cruel blow, going from being on the verge of qualification to facing an uncertain fate.
At the final whistle, Croatia's players slumped to the ground in despair, while their fans in the stands stared in disbelief. Having struggled in their opening two matches, Croatia had played above expectations against the reigning champions, but ultimately fell short. Italy, meanwhile, will face Switzerland in the round of 16 on Saturday, June 29.
Croatia's performance was a marked improvement from their earlier matches, but their inability to finish off Italy proved costly. With an aging squad, including Modric and other veterans of their 2018 World Cup run, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Croatia's golden generation. Despite the heartbreak, Modric was named man of the match for his outstanding performance.
Luka Modric's exceptional display was capped off with a stunning goal, but it wasn't enough to secure victory for Croatia. Italy's late equalizer meant that Croatia's fate is now out of their hands, and they face an anxious wait to see if they will progress as one of the best third-placed teams.
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