Italy Saves Itself During Euro With Dramatic Last-Second Goal Against Croatia

I’ve never been a huge soccer fan, but I must admit that I have been captivated by the 2024 UEFA Euro Championship and the 2024 Copa América. Mostly because it gives me something to bet on and watch in the middle of a weekday, but that’s beside the point. 

There has been incredible drama already during both tournaments, but Italy delivered the most incredible moment thus far. It entered Monday’s match against Croatia with three points after beating Albania and losing to Spain. All the team had to do was draw against Croatia to guarantee advancement to the Round of 16. 

Croatia, on the other hand, could only advance with a victory. Which it sure looked like it was going to accomplish. Italy conceded a penalty kick in the second half and, although the Croatians failed to score on the initial shot, kept with the pressure and scored shortly thereafter. 

That result held as the two teams headed into eight minutes of stoppage time and boy do the Croatians wish it had been seven minutes of stoppage time instead. 

With the final minute underway, Italy unbelievably rallied for a goal to tie the score. 

The ball never went back into play as the referee ended the match after the goal, making it a walk-off score for the draw and to send Italy into the next stage of play at the 2024 UEFA Euro.

Italy were on the brink of potential elimination from the 2024 UEFA Euro tournament, but scored an incredible stoppage time goal to draw with Croatia.

(Jürgen Fromme – firo sportphoto/Getty Images)

This wasn’t even the first heartbreak for Croatia in the tournament, either. The team held a 2-1 lead over Albania on Wednesday into stoppage time, as well. You can probably see where this is going… 

If Croatia had held just one of those leads, it would be on to the Round of 16. Instead, the players are headed home and Italy has survived the group stage.