Euro 2024: Drama And Trauma In Group B, Late Goal From Mattia Zaccagni Sends Croatia Home (Image: x.com/EURO2024)

Mattia Zaccagni must  be the most hated person in Croatia now. What Red Bull Arena in Leipzig saw till the last moments of Italy vs Croatia game was sheer drama and trauma in equal measure. Mattia Zaccagni has denied Luka Modric another feather in his glorious crown with a late equaliser that helped the Azzuris surpass the Vatreni in points table and advance to the knockout stage from Euro 2024‘s Group B.

The scenes were not different at Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf. The surprise package appeared in the form of Albania this Euro denied glory by Ferran Torres in the first half of the game. A victory of the Albanians against Spain would have changed all the narratives and would have made things miserable for the Italians. But, after all football is football and it is all similar to life – it comes with glory, salvation, agony, misery, sorrow, zest and all the emotions you may experience in real life.

Luis de la Fuente’s Spain went to the third game with Daniel Vivian, Álex Grimaldo, Jesús Navas, Mikel Merino, Dani Olmo, Martín Zubimendi and Joselu after benching important players like Lamine Yamal, Álvaro Morata, Rodri and Dani Carvajal topped the Group B with 9 points winning all their matches against Italy, Croatia and Albania.

On the other hand, Albania, considered a giant killer in the game after a resurgent game under the new management that includes head coach Brazilian Sylvinho and assistant coach Argentinian Pablo Zabaleta and was brilliant in their all matches, did everything possible in Dusseldorf and troubled David Raya a lot through out the match. Though Albania’s adventure came to an end with their 1-0 loss to Spain, but the beautiful and organised game played will remain in every football fan’s mind for long.