Euro 2024
Spain Wins Group B While Italy Snatches Second Place From Croatia
On Monday night, Italy scored a dramatic late equalizer against Croatia, securing the second spot in Group B at Euro 2024 and advancing to the last 16 alongside Spain.
Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a weak penalty from Real Madrid legend, Luka Modric, but Modric redeemed himself by blasting in a close-range effort moments later, putting his team on the brink of a top-two finish.
However, Mattia Zaccagni curled a wonderful strike into the top corner to ensure the Azzurri finished on four points, two ahead of Croatia.
Modric and his teammates face an anxious wait to see if their two draws and a loss will secure them a spot in the knockout stages as one of the top third-placed teams. Zlatko Dalic’s side now must hope for other results to fall in their favor in the remaining group matches.
Croatia faced Italy at Leipzig Stadium while a heavily-rotated Spain, who had already won Group B, took on Albania at Dusseldorf Arena.
Spain took the lead early on against Albania thanks to Ferran Torres’ 13th-minute effort as Luis de la Fuente opted to rest previous starters like Pedri, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, and Fabian Ruiz among others.
In the second half, Albania showed improvement as they fought to stay in the tournament, while Italy pushed hard to equalize and avoid the need to depend on being one of the top third-placed teams to advance to the last 16.
While Spain secured their victory, Italy substitute Gianluca Scamacca narrowly missed equalizing in the 87th minute as he failed to connect with Federico Chiesa’s low cross in front of the goal.
However, the leveler eventually arrived deep into stoppage time when Riccardo Calafiori drove forward and found Zaccagni, whose shot seared into the top corner to break Croatian hearts.
