Zaccagni fires Italy into the eighth closing in harm time, Croatia shaken

Italy have certified for the following spherical of the European Championship due to a protracted objective in harm time. Mattia Zaccagni gave the Italians a final minute 1-1 draw towards Croatia, that time was sufficient to take second place in group B.

The Italians will now play towards Switzerland within the subsequent spherical, which is Saturday at 6pm. It stays to be seen for the Croats, they’ll nonetheless proceed as quantity three within the group, however with two factors which appears to be a troublesome story. Within the different sport within the group Spain received Albania, permitting the Spanish to advance first.

Luka Modric appeared to be the large man. The 38-year-old star participant missed a penalty, however a couple of minutes later his nation took a 1-0 lead. This made him the oldest ever goalscorer at a European Championship.

A draw was sufficient for Italy to succeed in the following spherical, Croatia needed to win. The Croats began the sport stuffed with enthusiasm to attain the much-desired objective. After 4 minutes there was already a superb shot from Luka Sucic, however the Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a superb save.

Croatia was extra harmful, however after twenty minutes the sample of the sport modified and the Italians more and more threatened. The largest probability earlier than half-time was a close-range header from Alessandro Bastoni after 27 minutes, which Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved. There have been nonetheless possibilities for each groups in the remainder of the primary half, however probably not huge possibilities.

Fireworks​​​​ got here from the stands, the place the mandatory torches had been lit. This didn’t trouble the gamers.

The Croats additionally began attacking within the second half. Referee Danny Makkelie obtained many questioning faces after six minutes. The ball landed within the sixteen meter space on the arm of just lately substituted Italian Davide Frattesi. VAR Rob Dieperink known as the referee to the display screen and he was decisive: penalty.

Luka Modric took a seat behind the ball, however the 38-year-old Croatian star participant noticed his effort turned away by Donnarumma. But it surely turned out to be a loopy second. As a result of a number of seconds later, Modric was nonetheless the hero. He scored after Donnarumma grabbed a shot from substitute Ante Budimir (1-0).

At 38 years and 289 days, Modric entered the historical past books because the oldest European Championship goalscorer of all time. 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo will definitely attempt to take this document away from him this summer season.

Then it was as much as the Italians to exit for a objective, they usually got here very shut on a number of events. The Croats tried to maintain their lead, partly by bringing in veteran Ivan Perisic and Feyenoord participant Luka Ivanusec.

Italy pressed onerous, however lacked the approach to harm the Croats. Though substitute Gianluca Scamacca was near a go from one other substitute, Federico Chiesa. However the former PEC Zwolle striker fell only a few steps wanting getting the equalizer minutes earlier than the tip.

Danny Makkelie added eight minutes of added time. The Croatians defended with all their power. In additional time, the referee from Dordrecht nonetheless had to attract a number of playing cards.

Within the 98th minute, Zaccagni managed to cease the defeat with a superb objective. For Zaccagni it was his first ever objective within the nationwide workforce. He obtained the ball from Riccardo Calafiori and curled the ball superbly previous Livakovic (1-1).