By Theo Van Zyl
A 98th minute equaliser from Mattia Zaccagni against Croatia means that defending champions Italy are through to the knockout stages of the European Championships.
Croatia needed to win their game against Italy in order to qualify, having started the day at the bottom of Group B.
Luka Modric scored what looked to have been the decisive goal of the game.
He should have scored seconds earlier when he had his penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but the Real Madrid icon was given an instant reprieve when the ball fell to him after another save from the Italy keeper.
Modric became the oldest player to ever score at a European Championship (38 years and 289 days).
However, Croatian hearts were broken when Riccardo Calafiori’s through ball picked out an unmarked Zaccagni, who found the top corner with a brilliant curling effort.
In Group B’s other match, Spain were able to beat an Albanian side who also needed a win to progress.
Luis De La Fuente made a remarkable 10 changes to his team, looking to rest key players.
Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game, meaning Spain top Group B, having won all three of their matches.
In that time they have scored five goals and conceded none, an impressive record to take with them into the knockout stages where they await their opponents.
Italy will play Switzerland in the round of 16, who finished just behind Germany in Group A.
Croatia and Modric, who finished in third place, will have to wait to know if they are going home or advancing. The four third-placed teams with the highest points tally will advance to the knockouts.
Croatia, with just the two points, have the odds stacked against them, and will need England to beat Slovenia by at least three goals on Tuesday.
Pictured above: Italy
Image source: X
