Croatia v Italy LIVE: Reaction as last-gasp Zaccagni goal sends Azzurri through to Euro 2024 knockouts

Croatia 1-1 Italy: An equaliser with the final kick of the game sent the Azzurri through and likely knocks Croatia out

Young fan runs onto pitch for selfie with Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2024

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:

Euro 2024: Croatia v Italy

• Italy snatch dramatic last-gasp equaliser to draw 1-1 with Croatia in the final game of Group B
• Mattia Zaccagni’s strike sent Italy through and likely eliminated Croatia
• Luka Modric had earlier missed a penalty then scored shortly after
• FULL-TIME! Croatia 1-1 Italy
• 90+8 - GOAL! Zaccagni scores with the final kick to save Italy and send them through (CRO 1-1 ITA)
• 55’ - GOAL! Modric immediately makes amend by smashing home at far post (CRO 1-0 ITA)
• 54’ - MISSED PENALTY! donnarumma brilliantly saves Modric spot-kick (CRO 0-0 ITA)
• RESULT: Already-qualified Spain beat Albania 1-0 in Group B’s other match

[24 June 2024 18:25 · Chris Wilson]

Euro 2024 results

And below is a list of all the results so far at euro 2024, plus The Independent’s reports and reaction.

Friday, June 14

Group A, Munich: Germany 5-1 Scotland 

June 15

Group A, Cologne: Hungary 1-3 Switzerland

Group B, Berlin: Spain 3-0 Croatia 

Group B, Dortmund: Italy 2-1 Albania

June 16

Group D, Hamburg: Poland 1-2 Netherlands

Group C, Stuttgart: Slovenia 1-1 Denmark 

Group C, Gelsenkirchen: Serbia 0-1 England 

June 17

Group E, Munich: Romania 3-0 Ukraine 

Group E, Frankfurt: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

Group D, Dusseldorf: Austria 0-1 France

June 18

Group F, Dortmund: Turkey 3-1 Georgia 

Group F, Leipzig: Portugal 2-1 Czechia 

June 19

Group B, Hamburg: Croatia 2-2 Albania

Group A, Stuttgart: Germany 2-0 Hungary

Group A, Cologne: Scotland 1-1 Switzerland

June 20

Group C, Munich: Slovenia 1-1 Serbia

Group C, Frankfurt: Denmark 1-1 England 

Group B, Gelsenkirchen: Spain 1-0 Italy 

June 21

Group E, Dusseldorf: Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine 

Group D, Berlin: Poland 1-3 Austria

Group D, Leipzig: Netherlands 0-0 France

June 22

Group F, Hamburg: Georgia 1-1 Czechia

Group F, Dortmund: Turkey 0-3 Portugal

Group E, Cologne: Belgium 2-0 Romania

June 23

Group A, Frankfurt: Germany 1-1 Switzerland

Group A, Stuttgart: Scotland 0-1 Hungary

[24 June 2024 18:10 · Chris Wilson]

Euro 2024 fixtures: Schedule, results and kick-off times at European Championship

With the last 16 ownethe horizon, here’s a rundown of the fixture schedule for the remaining group games and the dates and times for the round of 16 games (and onwards).

Here is the full schedule for Euro 2024, plus below you can see day-by-day fixtures and times (BST) in text form, with the knockout games and reports to be included as the tournament progresses.

[24 June 2024 17:55 · Chris Wilson]

Albania forward banned for anti-Serbia chants at Euro 2024

A bit of Albania-related news now, as striker Mirlind Daku has been banned for two matches – including tonight’s game – after leading fan chants with a megaphone at Euro 2024.

In the aftermath of Albania’s match, Daku led fans in a chorus of “f*** Macedonia and f*** Serbs”.

Daku represented Kosavo before switching to Albania last year. His switch from Kosavo to Albania was not expected, but he had only played friendly matches for the country and still continues to represent Kosavao, including with previous goal celebrations.

[24 June 2024 17:40 · Chris Wilson]

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/nico-williams-spain-italy-euro-2024-b2566182.html

And some more reaction...

As Nico Williams weighed up Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the early moments of the second half on a charged evening in Gelsenkirchen, the Italy defender must have felt as if his night was never going to end. Williams had been everywhere but still had one more trick: Italy had compromised their gameplan in an attempt to finally subdue the thrilling Spain winger, but Williams carried the spirit of this young team and simply went again as he found the avenue to his left. A moment that had been building since kick-off finally arrived as Williams produced the cross that led to Riccardo Calafiori’s own goal. By the end, Spain had battered Italy 1-0.

Even as Luis de la Fuente’s side sealed their place in the last-16 with a game to spare, Spain deserved more. For the best part of an hour, they tore the holders Italy apart, led by Williams and his evisceration of Di Lorenzo.

[24 June 2024 17:30 · Chris Wilson]

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Euro 2024 offers something new with Spain and Italy duel

Here’s the initial reaction to Italy’s last match.

Just when you think Euro 2024 has given you a bit of everything, it gives you something new. Because Spain’s Group B clash with Italy, the tournament’s first meeting of major footballing nations, was certainly different to every game that came before it.

Just one hour earlier, a rematch of one of the 2021 semi-finals had concluded – England drawing with Denmark – and Thursday’s late game carried the same status, but greater prestige.

Other games in Germany this week had felt like big ‘occasions’, but this felt like the first big match, in a purely sporting tense. It was as if this wasa semi-final.

Italy, the defending champions, were about to have their 2024 title credentials tested, and the same applied to Spain.

[24 June 2024 17:15 · Chris Wilson]

Italy legend Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint while watching Euro 2024

Italy legend Roberto Baggio has been robbed at gunpoint and hospitalised while watching his country’s Euro 2024 clash against Spain at home.

At least five armed robbers burst into Baggio’s villa in Altavilla Vicentina, near the northern city of Vicenza, at around 10pm local time on Thursday evening, according to a report by Italian media outlet Corriere della Sera.

Reports also stated that Baggio was struck on the head with the butt of a gun when he confronted the thieves before they locked the 57-year-old Baggio and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash in an incident that lasted for around 40 minutes.

[24 June 2024 17:05 · Chris Wilson]

What do Italy, Croatia and Albania need? Euro 2024 group permutations and third-place standings explained

Euro 2024 arrives at the final round of the group stage to decide who will go through to the knockouts. As well as the top two teams in each of the six groups, the four best third-placed teams will also progress to make up the last-16, with the remaining eight nations cut from the tournament.

Next up is Group B, after a dramatic night where Hungary claimed third place in Group A and sent Scotland home with the last kick of the ball in Stuttgart. Spain are already through as group winners, but all of Italy, Albania and Croatia can join them in the last-16.

In the past two editions of the European Championship where the 24-team format has been used, four points has always been enough as a third-placed team to progress to the last-16. While three points has occasionally been sufficient, it does not guarantee a place in the next round. Two points was not enough to finish as one of the four best third-placed teams at Euro 2016 or Euro 2020, but there is a way in which it may be possible at Euro 2024.

Read everything you need to know below!

[24 June 2024 16:50 · Chris Wilson]

Albania v Spain team news & predicted XIs

There are no new injury concerns for either side, though Spain may look to rest players who are nearing the yellow card threshold (there is a one-match ban for receiving two yellows across any games before the quarter-finals). Key players such as Rodri, Le Normand and Dani Carvajal are among those at risk of suspension.

In midfield, both Pedri and Fabian Ruiz have started both games alongside Rodri, so it may make sense for Martin Zubimendi or Mikel Merino to start. Up front, all three of Morata, Williams and Yamal have started the opening games, so expect to see Joselu, Mikel Oyarzabal and Ferran Torres at some point, if not in the starting eleven.

Albania have plenty to think about after rescuing a draw with Croatia, with Armando Broja spending the whole game on the bench after a great performance from Rey Manaj.

Though Arber Hoxha and Mirlind Daku impressed, expect to see them start on the bench once more as Sylvinho favours his previous line-up. Though Klaus Gjasula scored a deserved equaliser for the Albanians, but the 34-year-old may be rested and used off the bench once more.

Albania XI: Strakosha; Hysaj, Abet, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Ramadani, Asllani; Asani, Laci, Bajrami; Manaj.

Spain XI: Simon; Navas, Nacho, Laporte, Cucurella; Olmo, Zubiemendi, Ruiz; Torres, Joselu, Oyarzabal.

[24 June 2024 16:30 · Chris Wilson]

Predicted line-ups

Croatia XI: Livakovic; Juranovic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Perisic; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Majer, Budimir, Kramaric.

Italy XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Frattesi, Jorginho, Barella; Chiesa, Scamacca, Pellegrini.

[24 June 2024 16:20 · Chris Wilson]

Italy team news

Italy have started the exact same eleven in both of their matches, and though Luciano Spalletti may be considering changes, the drop-off in quality on his bench may force him to stick with a similar line-up.

Mateo Retegui showed flashes of decent play when he replaced Scamacca, while he may opt to start Bryan Cristante in this game, having brought him on at half-time of the loss against Spain. Expect the defence to stay the same.