Croatia 1-1 Italy: Zaccagni’s Late Equaliser Sends Azzurri Through

Italy looked beat. Eight minutes into eight minutes of stoppage time, they were trailing to Croatia and had they had barely looked like finding the net since going behind.

Then one last attack. Out of defence strode Riccardio Calafiori, carrying the ball to the edge of the penalty area where he slid a pass to Mattia Zaccagni, arriving at speed on his left.

Lazio winger Zaccagni, who had not come on until the 81st minute when Luciano Spalletti started to throw on all the forwards he could find on the bench, took the chance first time with his right foot, went for goal and curled a shot beyond the dive of Dominik Livakovic.

Everyone inside the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig held their breath as it sailed into the net to level the scores at 1-1. Then the Italian element of the crowd, outnumbered and with little to shout about all night, erupted.

Italy have a new hero as they head for Berlin to face Switzerland in the last 16. A point was enough to clinch the runners-up spot behind Spain in Group B.

The Lazio winger kept his composure in the final moments and placed the ball in the top corner

Luka Modric had converted from close range to put Croatia in the driving seats on the night

Croatian hearts were broken. They had been so close, having taken a hold on the game during an incredible three-minute spell early in the second half, parked by a penalty for a handball against Davide Frattesi, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes.

Frattesi turned his back as Andrej Kramaric shaped a shot towards goal and it caught him on the arm. Referee Danny Makkelie did not notice but a VAR intervention and a trip to the pitchside monitor changed all that.

Luka Modric put the ball on the spot and faced Gialuigi Donnarumma, hero of the tournament as Italy won it on penalties against England at Wembley in 2021.

Donnarumma saved again, low to his left but that was not the end of it. Croatia kept the pressure on and delivered a cross from the right. Donnarumma made what was arguably an even better save to deny Ante Budimir from close range.

But Modric was onto the rebound in a flash, twisting as he fired high into the net from six yards out, in front the of noisiest section of Croatian supporters. Bedlam ensued.

Croatia had been a shadow of the force they were at the World Cup through the opening two groups games. They surrendered tamely to Spain, beaten in the first half, and conceded a late equaliser against Albania, giving off the whiff of an ageing team with too many of the best players near the end of the road.

Here, though, Zlatko Dalic’s team started with purpose and energy, roared on by their astonishing support. Luka Susic tested Gianluigi Donnarumma from distance. The Italian keeper turned it round the post without too much trouble and they defended the corner but up went the volume again.

 Croatia thought they were through after Modric’s strike, only to be heartbroken late on

With the incessant drumming, bangers, flares and smoke canisters, it seemed at times as if we were playing this fixture 600 miles south in Zagreb but Spalletti’s team rode out the early pressure and started to establish some rhythm.

Italy’s boss had given the shape a tweak. He was determined to change something after a humbling experience against Spain, when they were beaten 1-0 but thoroughly outplayed, so he went into a back three with Giacomo Raspadori and Mateo Retegui in tandem up front.

Retegui registered their first serious effort midway through the first half, a header at the back post deflected narrowly wide which sparked a good spell for the Azzurri. The best opening came the way of Alessandro Bastoni, unmarked when found by Nicolo Barella.

The Inter Milan centre-half seemed certain to score as he sprang up and timed his header, firm but straight above Dominik Livakovic who reacted brilliantly and pushed the ball over. Barella buried his face into the turf in disbelief. Bastoni applauded the keeper.

Livakovic made another smart save, low to his left from Lorenzo Pellegrini on the turn before half time but it was cagey fare. The Italians knew a point would be enough and they were unhurried, taking every opportunity to eat up a few seconds.

Pellegrini and Federico Dimarco didn’t mind stopping for a spot of litter-picking as plastic beer cups were hurled down at them from the stands as they prepared to take a corner in the first half. Croatia, too, were patient enough to run the clock down before they started taking risks.

Zlatko’s first move was to send on striker Budimir, immediately involved in combination with Josko Gvardiol, the bearded Manchester City defender who came charging out from left back on one of those muscular forays forward.

After being substituted in the match, Modric was forced to watch on as Croatia let the lead slip

Then Gvardiol charged out again, a sign he had about to be let off the leash and the game was about to be uncorked. Croatia’s pressure told, with the VAR penalty, the Modric goal and all the drama that followed.

Suddenly it was a different game. Italy acquired new urgency as they set about launching a response as Croatia dug in to defend.

Dalic took Modric off 10 minutes from time and he went off to a standing ovation and cries of ‘Luka, Luka’. We may not see him again at a major tournament but if this was his last stand he leaves with a record, the oldest goalscorer at a Euros, aged 38 and 289 days.

Bastoni headed over from a corner. Crosses flashed in from both flanks eluding those in blue shirts. Shots were blocked by defenders throwing themselves in the line of fire but Croatia seemed just as likely to score a second on the break as concede.

Then came Zaccagni’s contribution.