Croatia v Italy LIVE: Result and reaction as Azzurri snatch last-gasp equalizer to reach Euro 2024 round of 16 and final Spain v Albania

Italy thus became the first team to go where no other nation among the Euro 2024 favorites has bothered, dared or deemed useful so far.

No, it’s not about going all out and obliterating an opponent: Germany did that on opening night. We should also not abandon a big name, nor leave out a top scorer.

Instead, Luciano Spalletti ensured that the Azzurri were the first of the big guns to attempt to showcase their tactical skill in more than one distinct form, changing their setup from a back four and wide forwards when of the first two matches to line up 3-5-2 against Croatia in their decisive meeting in Group B.

Against Spain in particular, their full-backs failed to make any impact and Federico Chiesa was one of those who paid the price, giving way to Spalletti’s changes which saw him come into play a two-man traveling strike force, with Gianluca Scamacca also coming on the bench. duty, with key man in the qualifying campaign Giacomo Raspadori replacing him and Matteo Darmian starting as third central defender.

This lasted for an hour, before panic mode set in.

Spain: After beating Italy 1-0, Spain had already qualified as group winners. Spain finished with maximum points after beating Albania and will face one of the top four third-placed teams in Cologne on Sunday June 30 at 8 p.m.

Italy: On a dramatic night in Leipzig, the title holders equalized in the last minute against Croatia to advance to the last 16. They will face Switzerland.

Croatia: Luka Modric and company seemed to do it again, until Mattia Zaccagni’s last goal eliminated them. Croatia needed to win, but they advanced from the round of 16 on their return home leg. It is unlikely that two points will be enough to qualify in third place, but it could be possible if results in the other groups are favourable.

Albania: Albania had to beat Spain to have any chance of qualifying and were eliminated after a 1-0 defeat.

Instead, it is almost certain that Croatia will be kicked out of Euro 2024. The team that can excel over 120 minutes and penalties missed a penalty and scored a goal in the 98th minute. While this was shaping up to be the evening of an all-time great, in the person of Luka Modric, it was instead overshadowed by a newcomer on such occasions.

When Mattia Zaccagni came off the bench, the 29-year-old striker had never scored for Italy. When he did, it was magnificent, the Lazio winger curling a shot around Dominik Livakovic.

Stewards were deployed onto the pitch during the Albania v Spain match after a young fan bypassed security and started running, briefly interrupting the draw.

The youngster entered the Düsseldorf pitch in the 90th minute of the Euro 2024 group stage.

He turned towards the Albanian bench after being chased by several brightly colored security officers, before being apprehended and escorted away.

The match ended 1-0 against the away favorites, despite 10 changes being made from Spain’s previous match.

Spain qualified for the round of 16 after finishing first in the group.

There is a nice walk between Düsseldorf Central Station and the Merkur Spiel-Arena. It usually lasts around 90 minutes, although it seems much longer in 27 degree heat, with the spring sun shining on the surface of the Rhine and slowly roasting your cheeks. Still, the long straight riverside road is picturesque, and on Monday evening the blue of the Rhine was balanced by the red streams on its bank, as many Albanians and Spaniards took their final pre-match hike of the phase of groups. .

For the Albanians, it would be their last at Euro 2024, period. Not that they saw it as inevitable before kick-off.

They significantly outnumbered the Spanish fans on this particular route, and they were jubilant in voice and seemingly confident in spirit. Near the start of the route, at a crossroads near the Oberkasseler Bridge, fans who had chosen not to walk to the stadium were driving or hanging out in cars – the latter group chanting and waving flags; the first ones honked their horns, after having attached the national emblem to their caps.

If this was indeed the second match of the evening, those watching Italy-Croatia may have missed the opportunity to see the fifth best team in Euro 2024. It turns out to be the second team Spanish footballer, who continued to play with a fluidity beyond virtually anyone else. else at the tournament.

They had many of the same qualities as the first team, but also the same flaws in finishing. That didn’t matter here, as they beat Albanian football 1-0 to make it three perfect wins out of three in the group stage. They will surely now look to become the first European champions to win all their matches, something no one has yet done, even in the 16-team era. This is the objective that Spain should aim for.

That’s not to diminish Albania, who ended up coming out on top because they knew they had a chance to stay in this competition, but they couldn’t get close enough. They went to their knees in disappointment at the end, but there was probably also considerable exhaustion from chasing passes.

Here is Zaccagni’s goal in real time. What a superb finish!

Spain and Italy are therefore certainly out of Group B. Croatia faces a nervous wait to find out if they will be in the next round.

Italy will face Switzerland in Berlin on Saturday June 29 at 5pm BST.

Spain don’t know their opponents yet, but they do know that they will play on June 30 at 8 p.m. BST in Cologne. They will face the third-placed team from group A, D, E or F.

So this is what Group B looks like after the final day.

1 (Q) – Spain – 9 points, GD +5

2 (Q) – Italy – 4 points, GD +1

3 – Croatia – 2 points, GD -3

4 – Albania – 0 points, GD -2

Incredible emotion at the end. The difference between Italian and Croatian players.