Croatia wanted a win within the last group stage towards Italy.
That is the way it appeared to be, however Italy acquired the final phrase.
Croatia created a scorching likelihood straight away. Luka Sučić pulled over from distance and Gianluigi Donnarumma needed to stretch out and reply for a professional save.
– It isn’t the primary time we are going to see Croatian voices, they’re “on the improper foot” so to talk, stated TV4’s skilled commentator Jens Fjellström and continued:
– An excellent save (by Donnarumma).
Italy then took the lead following 21 minutes of play. Retegui reached the highest of a cross in a duel with Guardiol and headed in direction of the aim. The try went simply exterior the aim body following touching Gvardiol.
And Italy saved pushing. Nicolo Barella intercepted a second ball following a nook and despatched the ball into the penalty space, as an alternative of capturing. Within the field, Alessandro Bastoni needed to stand fully clear and nod, following which Dominik Livakovic responded with a pointy parry. Barella threw himself on the grass and will hardly imagine his eyes.
– I believe 90 p.c of everybody within the enviornment thought Barella would shoot and so did your entire Croatian protection. Bastoni put that ball in, however Livakovic was in the best place and saves very properly, stated Fjellström.
He continued regarding Barella:
– There’s something theatrical in him. It was the identical when he scored, it was like he did not imagine it was true.
Barella scored within the 2-1 win towards Albania.
Shortly following Bastoni’s likelihood, Croatia had an opportunity following the ball was kicked in from the left wing, however the Azzurri managed to reserve it.
The rating was 0-0 on the break.
– Croatia do very, very dangerous issues defensively, they don’t seem to be in sync and there are giant areas and above all between the complete backs and heart backs. When you have slightly extra high quality in Italy, you may punish Italy way more. It (defensive play) has been Croatia’s Achilles heel this event, the backline is stable, TV4’s skilled commentator Astrit Ajdarevic stated at half-time.
He continued in regards to the midfield:
– You need to say that you simply love Kovacic, Modric and Brozovic for the gamers they’re and the gamers they’ve been. However Italy can also be doing very nicely. They transfer them and make them run. Is there something worse? Modric and Brozovic haven’t got these legs anymore.
Shortly following the break, Croatia referred to as for a penalty following a sort out on Davide Frattesi’s arm. After VAR evaluation, the crimson and white have been awarded a penalty and Luka Modric stepped as much as the ball. The star squandered the golden alternative.
However he took revenge on himself. Simply over half a minute later, it was Modric who made it 1-0 by staying in entrance on a rebound that Gianluigi Donnarumma left when he responded to an amazing save moments earlier.
– What heaven and hell for Modric and Donnarumma, however on totally different paths, stated Fjellström.
Thus, Modric turned historic. He’s now the oldest goalscorer of all time within the EC at 38 years and 289 days.
The match went 1-0, however in stoppage time Mattia Zaccagni scored the equaliser.
– Oh my God, then. What a drama, stated Fjellström.
– Soccer is brutal. It is a brutal sport. The best way it ends is totally unbelievable, stated Ajdarevic.
Italian centre-back Riccardo Calafiori was blissful following the feat.
– It was dramatic within the last levels. A extremely robust match and ultimately we gained. The sensation is magical now, he tells TV4.
Have been you near giving up?
– By no means. I do not assume the others have been both. You may see that we have been very targeted and tried to win proper to the top, and never concede objectives. We did nicely.
With the outcome, Italy completed second within the group behind Spain. Italy will face Switzerland within the spherical of 16. Croatia, third within the group, is at risk of lacking out on promotion following two factors from three video games. The 4 greatest group threes advance to the spherical of 16. Group winners Albania are eradicated.
Startelvor:
Croatia: Livakovic – Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol – Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic – Sucic, Kramaric, Pasalic.
Italy: Donnarumma – Di Lorenzo, Calafiori, Bastoni – Darmian, Jorginho, Barella, Pellegrini, Dimarco – Raspadori, Retegui.