In a must-win game for Croatia, 36-year-old Luka Modric seemed to turn back the clocks as he became the oldest goal scorer in European Championship history with a stunning strike against defending champions Italy. Despite a valiant and gritty performance, Modric and his side ultimately fell short in the dying minutes of the match, with a late equalizer from Italy substitute Mattia Zaccagni securing their place in the Round of 16 at the expense of Croatia. The result was a gut-wrenching blow for Modric and his team, who put everything on the line in a game where only a victory would have kept their hopes alive.
Croatia vs. Italy: Modric Scores Historic Goal but Italy Advances
In a captivating Euro 2020 Group B encounter, Croatia and Italy battled it out for a berth in the Round of 16. The match featured a memorable goal from Croatian legend Luka Modric and a dramatic late equalizer that propelled Italy to victory.
Modric's Historic Goal
At 36 years of age, Modric became the oldest player to score in European Championship history. He unleashed a stunning strike from outside the penalty area, giving Croatia an early lead. Modric's goal was a testament to his incredible skill and longevity.
Italy's Gritty Performance
Despite conceding the early goal, Italy displayed resilience and determination throughout the match. They pressed Croatia relentlessly and created numerous chances. Substitute Mattia Zaccagni proved to be the hero, scoring a late equalizer in the 90th minute to secure their passage to the knockout stages.
Croatia's Gut-Wrenching Defeat
The result was a heartbreaking blow for Croatia, who had played valiantly and given it their all. They ultimately came up just short of the victory they needed to keep their tournament hopes alive. Modric, in particular, was visibly devastated by the outcome.
Background
Croatia and Italy have a long history of competitive matches. In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Croatia emerged as the surprise package, reaching the final where they faced off against France. Italy, on the other hand, failed to qualify for the tournament.
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