Despite leading until the final minutes, Croatia’s lack of concentration cost them when they let Italy score, thereby accepting a draw and losing the right to decide their place in the round of 16 to their opponents.

 

At the start of the match, Croatia showed their ambition to win by attacking from the very first minutes. Coach Zlatko Dalic’s team almost celebrated a goal in the 5th minute after Luka Sucic’s dangerous long-range shot, but goalkeeper Donnarumma made an excellent diving save.

After the first few minutes of playing tight, Italy responded strongly with sharp attacks. The blue team chose to play cross-and-header with top-class passers, and one of them almost became a goal.

 

In the 28th minute, midfielder Barella received the ball outside the penalty area and made a cross for Bastoni to head in from close range. However, Livakovic also showed his class with a brilliant reflex to save Croatia from an obvious loss.

Livakovic made an excellent save. Photo: Getty

The two teams then played tit for tat with opportunities created, but could not convert them into goals, thereby ending the first 45 minutes with a draw.

Needing a goal to have any hope of progressing, Croatia pressed hard as soon as the referee blew the whistle to start the second half. After a series of missed chances, the Balkan team finally got what they needed.

Awarded a penalty in the 54th minute, Luka Modric was unable to overcome the brilliance of goalkeeper Donnarumma, but immediately after that, Croatia launched an attack, and Modric successfully took advantage of it with a close-range shot, thereby bringing an important opening goal for Croatia.

Modric opened the scoring for Croatia. Photo: Getty  

Conceding a painful goal, the defending champion had no choice but to attack, besides, coach Spalletti used all the cards that could create a breakthrough to find an equalizer.

However, Chiesa and Scamacca were both disappointed when they could not take advantage of good opportunities and encountered Croatia’s solid defense.

It seemed like they would go home empty-handed, but their determination to the end helped Italy score an emotional equalizer from Zaccagni in the last minute of injury time in the second half, thereby keeping a valuable point for Auzzuri.

Zaccagni earned a valuable point for Italy. Photo: Getty

One point helps Italy automatically qualify for the round of 16 when they have 4 points in Group B, and the opponent of the blue team in the next round is Switzerland.

Meanwhile, dropping 2 points caused Croatia to “shoot themselves in the foot” when Zlatko Dalic’s team only got 2 points, and finished in 3rd place in Group B. This result caused Croatia to lose the right to self-determination and have to rely on other opponents to have bad results, thereby hoping for a ticket to the next round.