With an agonizing goal, Italy tied it against Croatia and reached the round of 16 of Euro 2024 :: Olé

With determination, with a lot of faith and on time, Italy, whose goal was not opened in the entire match, made it 1-1 against Croatia in the last play this Monday and thus entered the round of 16 of Euro 2024.

The fight that Italy had to put up was long and difficult, as four minutes into the match they started off warned by a strong shot by Luka Sucic that Gianluigi Donnaruma managed to clear. Yes, because Croatia had started the game with a lot of energy, not only from its players but also from its fans, and was quickly emboldened to reach the rival goal. However, After that play, they stayed in the game, a sign that led to this ending…

The thing is that, beyond Croatia’s good start, Italy was the one that established clear dominance in the first half, with a well-marked 5-3-2. He built his game patiently, although it was difficult for him to reach the rival area from below. Retegui, forward, fought alone against the centre-backs and did the dirty work by going down to defend repeatedly, but he had no clear opportunities in front of the goal, beyond a header at 20′ and other deflected shots that he generated alone by running into spaces.

In Croatia there were worried faces as they could not find depth to reach the goal. The Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic trident teamed up well but Italy did not allow them to enter easily either. At that rate the balance was more inclined for the tanos, until David Frattesi made a clear handball that the referee charged as a penalty after reviewing it in the VAR at 52′.

And there was a change of emotions in Croatia: Luka Modric missed the penalty (Donnarumma guessed the shot) and, a minute later, he corrected his mistake. and he took advantage of a rebound with his left foot at 54′ that allowed him to make it 1-0, which unleashed the cry for a goal from all the Croatians.

From there, Croatia retreated and, of course, Italy’s constant search to tie the game, although with long faces and, at times, with less enthusiasm. A notable symptom after Modric’s goal that Italy had a hard time making disappear. Because although he looked for it, there was no determination in the conclusion of the plays. Except for the last one…

Riccardo Calafiori ran down the center of the field with the ball at his feet and dragged as many marks as he could, to leave Mattia Zaccagni, who hit a right hand from the corner and made the final 1-1 in the last play of the game.

Thus, Italy managed to finish second in Group B and advance to the round of 16 with its four points. Croatia, for its part, came third with just two points and has no chance of advancing to the next stage as one of the best third places. In last place, with one point and already eliminated, finished Albania, which lost this same Monday 1-0 against Spain, leader of the group with a perfect score (9 units).

Spain vs 3 A/D/E/F (6/30)