ITALY scored at the death tonight to snatch a 1-1 draw with Croatia and secure qualification to the round of 16 of the Euro 2024 European Championship in Germany while Spain defeated Albania 1-0 to maintain their 100 percent record.
Champions Italy were on the verge of finishing third in Group B as they were trailing Croatia to Luka Modric’s 55th minute strike well into stoppage time.
But the Azzurri left it until virtually the first kick of the encounter in Leipzig to secure their spot in the knockout rounds and send Croatia to the brink of elimination.
Substitute Mattia Zaccani, who came on in the 81st minute, struck with a brilliant curling effort into the top corner in the eighth minute of injury time to send the Italy camp into delirious celebration and the Croatians sunk to the knees in anguish.
With the result, Italy finished second in Group B with four points while Croatia are third with two and are highly unlikely to squeeze through as one of the best third-placed teams.
Spain garnered all nine points available after a much changed XI saw off bottom team Albania 1-0 in Dusseldorf.
Ferran Torres, one of the nine changes head coach Luis de la Fuente made to his starting line-up, scored the game’s only goal in the 13th minute as Spain comfortably won the group.
Spain, champions in 2008 and 2012, will face the third-place teams from either Group D, E or F in the round of 16 on Sunday, while Italy are up against Switzerland on Saturday.
