Late Drama in Leipzig: Croatia Held to 1-1 Draw by Italy, Face Euro 2024 Elimination Threat

In a thrilling finish in Leipzig, Croatia faced a tense 1-1 draw against Italy in their final group-stage encounter at Euro 2024. Croatia, under Dalic's guidance, began strongly, controlling possession early on but struggled to convert dominance into clear chances. Meanwhile, Italy, managed by Spalletti, capitalized on counter-attacks, managing 0.64 expected goals throughout the match.

The deadlock was broken in the second half when Italy took the lead. Despite Luka Modric missing a penalty, he quickly redeemed himself by scoring moments later for Croatia. However, in the dying moments of the game, Italy mounted a relentless effort. A dynamic run from Calafiori set up Zaccagni perfectly, who calmly found the top corner to equalize.

Despite Croatia's efforts amounting to 1.45 expected goals, they couldn't secure the win they needed. As a result, they finished third in their group, facing the imminent threat of elimination. Italy, finishing second, secured their passage to the next round of the tournament.

Here is the final standings for Group B: