Italy was on its last legs in the final minutes of its UEFA Euro group stage match against Croatia. Down 1-0, Mattia Zaccagni and company were in danger of not moving on to the knockout rounds with a loss.
That was until Zaccagni slotted in his first-ever goal for Italy in the top right corner to end the match in a 1-1 draw.
Each side gained one point, keeping Italy in second place in Group B with four points. With its group stage matches now finished, the squad is now through to the Round of 16. It will face Switzerland on June 29th.
Meanwhile, Croatia holding on to dear life with its two points. It still has a chance of going through, as the top four third-place squads qualify. However, it depends on what happens in the rest of the groups.
Italy fans rejoiced on X after the miraculous result.
“What a game….. the Euros just keep giving us drama and entertainment at its best, with virtually the last kick of the game Italy 🇮🇹 breaks Croatian heart with a stoppage time goal,” The Gunners Den tweeted. “Wow wow wow what a game. This might just be papering over the cracks for Italy 🇮🇹 but they won’t care they’ve qualified for the knock out stage of the tournament. #EURO2024.”
A fan named Ruben Tejada shouted out Riccardo Califiori for his assist as well.
“Califiori with a great assist and Zaccagni with a wonderful finish wow,” Tejada tweeted.
The eight minutes of added time also caused an argument among fans. Some thought it was too much, as games rarely add on that much time after the 90th minute. However, Roberto Paulo Luciani thought it was justified.
“People saying they didn’t see where 8 minutes came from , 7 yellow cards , Pk , a goal and celebration , cramp and both teams subbing 8 players 🙃,” Luciani tweeted.
The Obstructed Viewer, however, begged to differ, citing an Italy bias.
“That still doesn’t add up to 8 minutes,” he replied. “At all! Fact is, if this happened to Italia they would be calling it a conspiracy like they usually do since 2002 🙄 .”
Soccer tends to simultaneously electrify and devastate fans, unlike any other sport. Italy fans are experiencing the former for now, as they still have a chance to see their team defend its UEFA Euro title.
This could be Luka Modric's last UEFA Euro
With former Italy captain Leonardo Bonucci recently hanging up his boots, Croatia captain Luka Modric may soon follow suit. The former Ballon d'Or winner admitted as much after Monday's match, via FOX Soccer.
“I'd like to keep playing forever, but there probably will come a time when I have to hang up my boots,” Modric said. “I'll keep playing on, but I don't know how much longer…”
The 38-year-old may never appear in another Euro match, depending on whether Croatia advances. While Italy's magical moment was exciting, it's also tragic to possibly never see the Real Madrid legend play in the tournament again. Fans should relish Modric's time on the pitch for the next couple of seasons, because he's one of the finest midfielders the game has seen.
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