Trailing 1-0, Italy, title holder, snatched a draw (1-1) at the last second against Croatia on Monday and its ticket to the round of 16 of Euro-2024, where it will be opposed to Switzerland, while France, England and the Netherlands also qualified.
This precious point, gleaned in the 98th minute by a clear strike from Lazio striker Mattia Zaccagni in the top corner, gives the Azzurri second place in Group B, behind Spain, who continued their flawless performance with a third success in three matches against Albania (1-0) thanks to a goal from Barcelonals Ferran Torres.
Croatia’s Luka Modric, who in vain became the oldest player to score in a Euro at 38 years and 289 days, held on to qualification until the end of added time, but will now have to hope for a miracle to be among the four best third with only two points.
In the other groups, Albania’s defeat ensures that France, England and the Netherlands will be included regardless of their respective results against Poland, Slovenia and Austria on Tuesday.
Italy struggles, Spain confirms
In Leipzig, Italians and Croats all fell to the ground at the final whistle: some miraculously saved by a splendid curling shot from Mattia Zaccagni in the last action of the match, others cursed and on the verge of elimination after leading until the 98th minute.
Back to the wall after the opening score of the Immortal Luka Modric, who missed a penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma but quickly made up for it by following with flair a recovery from Ante Budimir (55th) also repelled by the goalkeeper of PSG, the Azzurri may have rushed the Croatian midfielder towards the end of what could well be his last International tournament.
After all, one point was enough for the Nazionale to ensure their continuation in the competition, and they took it. Everything else, apart from the undeniable quality of its goalkeeper, already heroic in 2021 (voted best player of the tournament), is very worrying.
Especially since in this group B, the toughest of the competition, Spain, driven by its young talents, made a strong impression with three solid successes and a collective game that is still as practiced, but much more direct and formidable for its opponents.
Already qualified at kick-off, La Roja did not have to exert its talent to dominate Albania (1-0) with a very largely reshuffled eleven, where only defender Aymeric Laporte retained his starting place. Luis de la Fuente’s team indeed boosted its bench, but not really its reserves, to complete the first round with three wins and no goals conceded, a first since… 2008, the date of its second European coronation.
Spain will thus continue its quest for a fourth European star, twelve years after the last, on June 30 in Cologne against a third group whose identity is still unknown. If she passes this milestone, a probable shock in the quarter-finals awaits her against Germany.
Mbappé expected
The French team has been warned: to avoid the part of the table of Germany, Portugal and Spain, and slip into the other half which seems more welcoming, it must beat Poland and finish at the top of the table. group D.
The return, with his black mask, of the Blues star Kylian Mbappé, who according to his coach is “better every day” after his broken nose, is hoped, to dispel a little the offensive doubts of Didier Deschamps’ men, silent against Austria (own goal) and the Netherlands (0-0).
On the Polish side, FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandoswki should also be there to try to save the honor of his country, already eliminated.
