A dramatic added-time goal from Italy’s Mattia Zaccagni snatched a 1-1 draw with Croatia which was enough to earn them a place in the last 16 of Euro 2024 and likely sends Croatia home.
After a goalless first half, Croatia’s Luka Modric had a penalty saved in the 54th minute but just 60 seconds later he smashed home a rebound after Gianluigi Donnarumma pulled off another fine save from Ante Budimir.
The goal brought defending champions Italy to life, and they pressed for the equaliser which would take them through and, with time running out, Zaccagni curled home a shot from distance to break Croatian hearts.
It meant Italy finish as Group B runners-up and will face Switzerland in the last 16, while Croatia are third on two points and must wait to see if they will progress as one of the best four third-placed finishers, although it is now unlikely.
Relive all the drama below:
Italy escape after serving up tactical lesson and a reminder – to Euro 2024 hopefuls and themselves
And so Italy became the first team to go where no other nation among the favourites at Euro 2024 have bothered, or dared, or thought worthwhile, so far.
No, not to go all-out-attack and wipe the floor with an opponent – Germany did that on the opening night. Not to drop a big name, either, or to leave out a leading goalscorer.
Instead, Luciano Spalletti ensured the Azzurri were the first of the big guns to attempt to show their tactical proficiency in more than one distinct shape, altering their set-up from a back four and wide forwards in the opening two fixtures to line up 3-5-2 against Croatia in their decisive Group B encounter.
Against Spain in particular, their wide players had failed to have any kind of impact and Federico Chiesa was one of those to pay the price, making way as Spalletti’s alterations saw a roving two-man strikeforce come into play, Gianluca Scamacca also pulled into bench duty, key man from the qualifying campaign Giacomo Raspadori replacing him and Matteo Darmian starting as a third central defender.
It lasted an hour, before panic mode set in.
England v Slovenia line-ups: Team news and predicted XI ahead of Euro 2024 fixture
England play their third and final group stage game at Euro 2024 on Tuesday, knowing that they still require a positive result to ensure they top Group C after a stuttering campaign so far.
The Three Lions beat Serbia in nervy fashion first time out, then were somewhat fortunate to draw with Denmark to top the group heading into their last fixture against Slovenia – and received plenty of criticism in the process.
Gareth Southgate seems set to shuffle the pack, at least in midfield, in search of a winning line-up for England to not only secure first place and their round of 16 spot, but also some confidence and a little more cohesion as they move through the tournament.
There are also question marks over the wide forwards in the line-up and possibly at left-back, the closer Luke Shaw gets to full fitness.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game including all the latest team news.
Gareth Southgate backs England to deliver against Slovenia
Turning our attention to tomorrow’s vital England game…
Gareth Southgate is confident England will deliver an improved performance against Slovenia as the Euro 2024 hopefuls look to top their group following days of scrutiny and criticism.
An unconvincing 1-0 victory against Serbia in their Group C opener was compounded by arguably their worst major tournament display under the former defender.
England were fortunate to escape with a 1-1 draw against Denmark on Thursday, leading to widespread examination and analysis of a team that has hit back at ex-players in recent days.
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have been among the most vocal critics and Southgate, who claims to be “oblivious” about such comments, says it is time the Euro 2020 runners-up do their talking on the field.
“We have had time on the training pitch and plenty of discussions with the players,” the England manager said on the eve of Tuesday’s group finale against Slovenia.
Euro 2024 Golden Boot standings: Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and others battle to be top scorer in Germany
Europe’s best strikers are vying for individual honours as well as team success as they aim to top the scoring charts at Euro 2024.
Footballing greats such as Antonie Griezmann, Fernando Torres, Alan Shearer and Gerd Muller are among those who have won the prestigious prize throughout the history of the Euros and the likes of Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Jamal Musiala and Romelu Lukaku are hoping to join them this time around.
Some players have got off to a fast start but others have still got plenty of work to do in order to challenge at the top of the standings as we advance through the final round of group games and the knockout stage.
The young stars are out at Euro 2024 as football’s next era arrives
Zinedine Zidane didn’t get this before dominating Euro 2000, when he was 28. Despite that gap, Musiala is being seen in similar terms to the French great then, at least as far as an individual European Championships goes. That is as the potential player of the tournament.
Euro 2024 power rankings: Rating every nation’s chances after their first game of the group stage
While the favourites all appeared fallible coming into this European Championship, they have got off to strong starts across the board. Germany were most impressive of all and thumped Scotland in the tournament’s curtain-raiser in Munich to send out a signal that the hosts are a serious prospect, powered by the talent of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz.
Here, we assess how every Euro 2024 nation stacks up after the first round of group games (this article will be updated after each round of matches).
Euro 2024 fixtures: Schedule, results and kick-off times at European Championship
Below is the full schedule for Euro 2024. You can also see day-by-day fixtures and times (BST) in text form, with the knockout games and reports to be included as the tournament progresses.
Euro 2024 results
Here’s an updated list of the results at Euro 2024 then.
Friday, June 14
What do Italy, Croatia and Albania need? Euro 2024 group permutations and third-place standings explained
Spain: After beating Italy 1-0, Spain were already through as group winners. Spain finished with maximum points after beating Albania and will play one of the four best third-placed teams in Cologne on Sunday 30 June at 8pm.
Italy: On a dramatic night in Leipzig, the holders denied Croatia with a last-minute equaliser to advance to the last-16. They will face Switzerland.
Croatia: Luka Modric and company looked to be doing it again, until Mattia Zaccagni’s last-gasp goal knocked them out. Croatia needed to win but went from being in the last-16 to going home. Two points is unlikely to be enough to go through in third, but it may be possible if results in other groups go their way.
Albania: Albania had to beat Spain to have any chance of going through and are out following a 1-0 defeat.
Italy pass their test of nerve but Croatia left to rue late goals – and subbing Luka Modric
Instead, almost certainly, Croatia will be cast out of Euro 2024. The team who can excel over 120 minutes and penalties missed a penalty and went out to a 98th-minute goal. When it was shaping up as the night of an all-time great, in Luka Modric, he was instead upstaged by a newcomer to such occasions.
When Mattia Zaccagni came off the bench, the 29-year-old forward had never scored for Italy. When he did, it was magnificent, the Lazio winger curling a shot around Dominik Livakovic.
Source: independent.co.uk
