In a heart-stopping finale at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Italy scored a stunning equalizer in extra time to deny Croatia a spot in the last 16 at Euro 2024. The match was a thrilling encounter that saw both teams give their all, with Luka Modric's goal putting Croatia ahead, only for substitute Mattia Zaccagni's beautiful strike in the final minutes of added time securing a draw for Italy.

The Croatian team was left heartbroken, with coach Zlatko Dalic expressing frustration over the added time, feeling it was excessive. "You can't have eight minutes of added time after that game, it's nonsense," Dalic said. "There weren't so many breaks in play, or so many fouls to justify that." He also lamented the lack of respect for his team, saying, "I don't want to cause a fuss, but I think Croatia needs to be acknowledged and respected. We played for almost three hours."

Despite the draw, Croatia's hopes of advancing to the next round are slim, while Italy will face Switzerland in the last 16. The match was a fitting tribute to Modric, who may have played his last major tournament, and Italy's never-say-die attitude was exemplified by Zaccagni's late equalizer.

The drama unfolded in the final minutes of the game, with Modric scoring a rebound after his initial penalty was saved by Italy's excellent goalkeeper, Donnarumma. Croatia was poised to qualify for the next round, but Italy had other plans. Zaccagni's stunning strike sent the Italian bench into delirium, and the team will now face Switzerland in the next round.

Croatia's golden generation of footballers may have seen their last hurrah, but Italy's young team will march on, fueled by their determination and never-say-die attitude. The match will be remembered as one of the greatest encounters in Euro 2024, with both teams giving their all in a thrilling spectacle that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.