In the final round of Group B of the European Championship group stage, Italy drew Croatia in stoppage time to finish second in the group to reach the round of 16. The match not only saw Luka Modric set the record for the oldest goalscorer at the European Championship, but also allowed the Italian team to show amazing resilience in a life-or-death situation. After the game, well-known football commentators Zhan Jun and Huang Jianxiang expressed their opinions, admiring Modric's legendary performance and expressing concern about the prospects of the Italian team in the knockout round.
After the start of the game, the first half of the two teams could be described as unremarkable. The plot of the second half was surprisingly exciting.
In the 70th minute, Croatia won a penalty kick opportunity, which was taken by captain Luka Modric. Although his first shot was saved, he netted in the 72nd minute to become the oldest goalscorer in European Championship history. This goal not only shows Modric's individual strength, but also his sense of responsibility and determination as a team leader.
The Italians did not admit defeat. In the final moments of stoppage time, Zaccagni scored a goal to make it 1-1. The goal not only ensured Italy finished second in the group, but also showed the team's tenacity in the face of adversity. Italian coach Spalletti's "big gamble" at the last moment, the tactical adjustment of the stacked attacking players, finally paid off.
After the game, Zhan Jun posted on social media, highly praising Modric's performance, calling him a "legend". At the same time, he also pointed out the shortcomings of the Croatian team, saying that the team lacks fast attackers, a little mediocre in attack and a lack of experience at the back. As for the Italian team, Zhan Jun believes that the team lacks sharp wingers, and Chiesa Jr. is not in the same form as it was three years ago. He expressed concern about Italy's prospects against Switzerland in the round of 16.
Huang Jianxiang analyzed the match from another angle. He pointed out that it was rare for Italy to win a tournament with a flat score. He also expressed his regret for Croatia and Luka Modric. Huang also made an interesting hypothesis: if someone told the players on the pitch that Spain had won 1-0 against Albania, would the Italians still be so desperate for a draw? Because even if you are third in the group, as long as you have 3 points and a goal difference of -1, you will have a chance to enter the semi-finals.
As for the prospects of the Italian team in the knockout round, Huang Jianxiang's expectations are not high. He believes that for the current Italian team, it is already satisfactory to reach the semi-finals, and it will be a surprise if they can break into the quarterfinals. This judgment is based on his assessment of the current strength of the Italian team, which believes that even against an opponent such as Switzerland, Italy may not be able to win.
With the group stage over, the European Championship is about to enter an even more intense knockout stage. Can Italy continue their European Championship journey by beating Switzerland in the round of 16? Where will Luka Modric's Croatian team go from here? We'll see the answers to these questions!