Croatia vs Italy live: Results and reaction as Azzurri snatch last-gasp equalizer to reach Euro 2024 knockouts plus Spain vs Albania

And so Italy became the first team to go where no other country among the favorites at Euro 2024 has so far bothered, or dared, or given meaningful thought.

No, not to attack all the way and pulverize the opponent – ​​that’s what Germany did on the opening night. Don’t leave out any big names, or any leading goalscorers.

Instead, Luciano Spalletti ensured that the Azzurri were the first of the big guns to attempt to show their tactical proficiency in more than one different shape, changing their set-up from a back four in the opening two fixtures to a back four and three. Moved forward in line of -3. A 5-2 win against Croatia in the Group B decider.

Particularly against Spain, their wide players failed to make any kind of impact and Federico Chiesa was one of those who paid the price, with Spalletti’s changes bringing a two-man strikeforce into play, with Gianluca Scamacca also benched. Pulled into duty, Giacomo Raspadori, the key figure in the qualifying campaign, replaced him and Matteo Darmian started as the third central defender.

This went on for an hour before panic mode kicked in.

Spain: Spain had already become group winners after defeating Italy 1–0. Spain finished with maximum points after beating Albania and will play one of the four best third-placed teams in Cologne on Sunday 30 June at 8pm.

Italy: On a dramatic night in Leipzig, the holders prevented Croatia from progressing to the last-16 with a last-minute equalizer. They will compete with Switzerland.

Croatia: Luka Modric and Co. were looking to do it again until Mattia Zaccagni’s last-gasp goal put them out. Croatia needed a win but it was a matter of reaching the last 16 and going home. Two points are unlikely to be enough to move into third, but it could be possible if results in the other groups go their way.

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

Instead, Croatia will almost certainly be eliminated from Euro 2024. The team that can excel in 120 minutes and penalties missed a penalty and missed a goal in the 98th minute. Just when it was shaping up to be an all-time great night in Luka Modric, he was overtaken by a newcomer to such occasions.

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

Stewards were deployed onto the pitch during Albania vs Spain when a young fan bypassed security and started running, causing a brief halt to the match.

The young player entered the Dusseldorf field in the 90th minute of the Euro 2024 group-stage clash.

After being chased by several brightly colored security personnel, he turned towards the Albania bench, before being caught and released.

Despite Spain making 10 changes from the previous match, the game finished 1–0 between the away favourites.

Spain reached the knockout stage after topping the group.

It is a reasonable walk from Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof to the Merkur Spiel-Arena. It usually lasts about 90 minutes, although in the 27 degree heat it feels longer, the spring sun glinting off the surface of the Rhine and slow-roasting your cheeks. Still, the long, straight, riverside course is beautiful, and on Monday evening the blue of the Rhine was balanced by the streams of red on its banks as the Albanians and Spaniards won their final of the group stage. Had completed the pre-game trek. ,

For the Albanians, this will be their last full stop at Euro 2024. Not that he saw it as an inevitability before kick-off.

On this particular path they outnumbered the Spanish supporters, and were full of joyous voices and confidence. Near the start of the route, at a junction near the Oberkäseller bridge, fans who had chosen to walk to the stadium were either driving by or hanging out of cars – the latter group sang and waved flags; The former blew his horns, and tied the national crest to his bonnet.

Had this been the second match of the night, those watching Italy-Croatia would have missed the chance to see the fifth-best team at Euro 2024. This is another team in Spanish football that played with a fluidity almost beyond all others. Otherwise in the tournament.

They had many of the same qualities as the first team, if the same flaws in finishing. It didn’t matter here, as they beat Albania Football 1–0 to make it three wins out of three in the group stage. Now they will surely try to become the first European champions to win all their games, something no one has done yet, even in the 16-team era. This should be Spain’s aim.

This did not diminish the stature of Albania, who ultimately made it through as they knew they had a chance to remain in the competition, but could not get close enough. They eventually dropped to their knees in frustration, but possibly also exhaustion from chasing the pass.

Here’s Zakagni’s goal in real time. What a great finale!

So Spain and Italy will definitely advance from Group B. Croatia are facing a nervous wait to see whether they will advance to the next round or not.

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

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

So, this is how Group B looks after the final round of games.

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 feeling at the end. Difference between Italian and Croatian players.