Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic faced late heartbreak as a 98th-minute equaliser earned Italy a thrilling late draw against Croatia at EURO 2024.The City duo now faces an anxious wait to know if they will advance to the knockout stages after finishing third in Group B with a 1-1 draw.
After scoring only one point in their first two games, the World Cup semi-finalists needed to win to go to the last 16.
Gvardiol and Kovacic both started, and teammate Luka Susic nearly put his country up early on, but Gianluigi Donnarumma turned his ferocious 25-yard shot wide.
Italy needed a point to seal second place, and Dominik Livakovic made an even greater save by tipping over Alessandro Bastoni’s close-range header.
After going 0-0 at halftime, Croatia had a huge opportunity to move ahead eight minutes later when they were awarded a penalty for handball against Davide Frattesi.
Donnarumma saved Luka Modric’s low spot-kick at full stretch, but the veteran midfielder made up for it in less than 60 seconds.
Donnarumma made another fantastic save to deny Ante Budimir from close range, but Modric moved quickly to the lost ball to put Croatia ahead.
Italy tried for an equaliser, with Bastoni just missing with a header and Gianluca Scamacca coming inches close from connecting with a low cross.
But there was one final twist: Mattia Zaccagni curled in a spectacular shot with nearly the last kick of the game to rescue the point.
They will now face Manuel Akanji’s Switzerland on Saturday at 17:00 (UK), while Croatia must wait to see if they will advance as one of the four best third-placed teams, albeit with two points and a -3 goal differential, their chances look slim.
Rodrigo was banished for Spain’s 1-0 triumph over Albania in Group B after receiving two yellow cards in their first two games.
After winning both games, Spain was already guaranteed of first place and made ten changes, with former City winger Jesus Navas elected captain, making him the oldest player to represent his country at the age of 38.
Ferran Torres, another former City forward, scored the game’s sole goal with a low strike in the 13th minute.