More late drama at Euro 2024, except for Marc Cucurella and Spain

The third round of group games at Euro 2024 has gifted us all sort of late-late drama so far, with Germany netting a stoppage-time equalizer and Hungary scoring a 100th-minute winner yesterday (the latest regulation goal in tournament history), and today, Italy scoring with the very last kick of the game to ensure their place in the next round.

The only not to subscribe to this trend have been Spain, who recorded a perfunctory 1-0 win over Albania to finish the group stage with a perfect record and without conceding a single goal, even. They didn’t even need Marc Cucurella in this one, with the Chelsea man getting a rest after playing the full-90 in both of their first two games.

Armando Broja got 30 minutes off the bench for Albania but was kept off the scoresheet once again, finishing the tournament with zero goals unfortunately. He did get a decent look at the end, but was denied by David Raya.

But back to the drama.

Croatia came into the last group game needing a win to advance, and for nearly 98 minutes, they looked right on course to do so. Luka Modrić became the oldest goalscorer in Euros history when he made up for his penalty miss with a goal in the 55th minute, while Italy looked increasingly unlikely to score as the game wore on.

But then, someone named Mattia Zacagni stepped up to the plate, and delivered a tremendous finish on the stroke of full time to ensure Italy’s place in the second round, and (probably) send Croatia packing. While Italy may have yet advanced as a third-place finisher on three points, Croatia now have just the faintest mathematical hope remaining of doing so themselves. They would need Slovenia to lose by at least three goals to England, and would also losses from at least Serbia (v Denmark), Czech Republic (v Turkey), and Georgia (v Portugal). Not impossible, but far from guaranteed.

(Croatia’s draw also means that Hungary’s chances of advancing have improved tremendously. Grazie, Azzurri!)