Croatia vs Italy

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1. ⚽Croatia vs Italy

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⚽Croatia vs Italy

In the game between Italy and Croatia, a lot was at stake, which is why both teams initially focused on a strong defense. As a result, most of the game took place in the midfield. A draw would have been enough for Italy, while Croatia needed a win.

But in the 98th minute, Mattia Zaccagni broke Croatian hearts with his decisive goal. This secured Italy's second place in Group B and thus their advancement to the Round of 16 of Euro 2024.

Luka Modric made history as the oldest goal scorer in European Championships when he scored just 33 seconds after missing his penalty.

The Game Analysis:

Italy started with a more defensive formation, obviously aiming to be solid at the back and to score in decisive moments—a tactical approach traditionally rooted in the Italian style of play. They mostly played in a flexible 5-3-2 system, with the back five operating dynamically. When Croatian players moved into the half-spaces, the defenders followed them to effectively close the gaps. Both teams covered these spaces very well, making it difficult to create dangerous attacks. The flanks offered a bit more room, which is why the center became a defensive priority.

In possession, Croatia mostly played in a 4-2-4 or a 4-2-2-2 system. The forward players were very flexible, frequently switching positions, especially in the center.

Due to the solid coverage in the center by the Italian team, Luka Modric occasionally moved to the wing. Josip Stanisic then pushed forward to the flank position. This tactical variation, which has often been seen at Real Madrid in recent years, demonstrates Modric's ability to influence the game from different positions.

On the other hand, Croatia defended in a flexible 4-4-2 system, which often shifted to a 4-5-1 when necessary. They were also strong in securing the dangerous half-spaces and forced Italy to play mainly down the flanks. Both Italy and Croatia aimed to keep the playable space tight and compact.

In this scene, the midfield pressing is clearly visible, and it's evident how the playable space is kept very compact. Both teams practiced this midfield pressing intensively.

Both teams employed an aggressive pressing style when goalkeepers distributed the ball, as Italy and Croatia both had technically skilled players and aimed to build play cleanly from the back.

Due to the solid defensive work of both teams, there were few counter-attacking opportunities and aggressive pressing moments were rare. Often, they preferred to drop back and maintain their defensive positions.

After Modric's goal, the Croatians retreated slightly, allowing Italy more possession. However, Italy struggled to create clear goal-scoring opportunities.

Ten minutes before the end, the Croatians increased their pressure and made it difficult for the Italians to penetrate their penalty area. The equalizer came in the last action of the game, when Calafiori initiated the decisive goal with a powerful run.

In this scene, the center was momentarily undermanned: Budimir was still involved up front after a previous Croatian attack, and none of the defenders from the back five moved into the center in time. The ball moved through the middle, followed by a one-two pass involving Calafiori, and Gvardiol reacted a moment too late. The full-backs then shifted towards the center, opening up space for Zaccagni. He beautifully curled the ball into the net, reminiscent of how Del Piero once did

Football often shows its brutal side: on one hand, there is sorrow, on the other absolute joy and ecstasy. The extreme emotional swings make football a prime example of why it's the greatest sport in the world.

Italy secured their place in the Round of 16 as the second-place finisher and will face their neighbors, Switzerland, on Saturday. Switzerland is considered a tough opponent who performs well against strong teams. Who do you think will advance in this match?

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