Luka Modric's history-making goal for Croatia proved fruitless as Mattia Zaccagni's last-gasp screamer sent Italy through into the last 16 of Euro 2024 after a 1-1 draw.
Modric became the oldest player to score at the Euros when he slammed in from close range in the 55th minute - just 33 seconds after missing a penalty - and Croatia seemed all set to progress in second place from Group B, but Italy substitute Zaccagni had other ideas.
With a sumptuous side-footed finish deep into the final throngs of stoppage time, Zaccagni claimed a point for the Azzurri, ensuring the holders will face Switzerland in the round of 16 on Saturday.
Croatia, on the other hand, with just two points from their three matches, seem destined to miss out on one of the best third-placed finishes.
Zlatko Dalic's team completed 329 passes in the first half – only against Scotland in June 2021 (337) have they completed more passes in a half at the Euros – but bar Luka Sucic's fizzing effort, they hardly tested Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Indeed, Dominik Livakovic was the busier of the two goalkeepers, and he had to be at his best to deny Alessandro Bastoni an opener.
Yet, the pace swiftly picked up in a frantic couple of minutes after the break, when Italy substitute Davide Frattesi was penalised for handball following a VAR review.
After seeing his penalty saved by Donnarumma, Modric stayed alive to lash home on the rebound when a cross was worked back into the area, with Italy's goalkeeper having excellently denied Ante Budimir.
Bastoni should have restored parity just after the hour, only for the defender to head over after meeting a corner unmarked.
Gianluca Scamacca failed to meet Federico Chiesa's teasing cross as Croatia looked all set to head through, but there was to be one last twist.
Having come on in the 81st minute, Zaccagni showed great composure to produce a piece of magic and send the holders through.
A fond farewell?
That might well be it for Modric, not just at the European Championship but at major tournaments as a whole. If it is the way he goes out, after his 16th appearance at the Euros, then he has done himself proud.
At 38, he made history, etching his name into the Euros record books.
By the time he left the pitch in the 80th minute, Modric had played a team-leading 23 passes into the final third and won possession on six occasions, another team-high.
He looked distraught at the end, and at 38, surely that is the end for him at the European Championships, and maybe even major tournament football?
Donnarumma pulls through
Donnarumma was the star of the show for Italy at Wembley three years ago, with his saves in the shootout win over England.
The three seasons that have followed have not been the best for the former Milan goalkeeper, who has made some high-profile errors for Paris Saint-Germain.
Yet, he was on excellent form in Leipzig, making that exceptional penalty save and then an even more impressive stop to thwart Budimir, only to see Modric pick up the pieces when no defender reacted.
Having become the youngest goalkeeper to play 10 matches at the Euros in the history of the competition (aged 25 years and 120 days), Donnarumma did not deserve to be on the losing side, and Zaccagni's moment of brilliance ensured that was not to be the case.
Silva delighted with Jimenez form as Fulham's good run continues
Fulham boss Marco Silva is delighted to see Raul Jimenez back to his best, after his 50th Premier League goal gave them all three points against Nottingham Forest.
The Mexican has struggled for regular goals since a serious head injury he suffered playing for Wolves against Arsenal in November 2020.
But Jimenez, who joined Fulham in July 2023, has started this season superbly and has now scored three goals in three successive matches, and he proved the difference against Forest with a well-dispatched penalty.
Silva told BBC Sport: “It's great to see him back at that level again after that bad incident when he was at Wolves. It was tough for him to come back.
"In an important moment of his career, when he was struggling for goals, we showed trust in him, and believed in him. He got used to scoring before the incident but we trusted him.
“From the first moment at this club he showed his hard work and his quality. It's nice to see him score and be decisive for us."
Silva also revealed that Jimenez had apologised for taking the ball off designated penalty taker Andreas Pereira prior to scoring from the spot.
He told Premier League Productions: “Pereira was the penalty taker for the moment. It is not Andreas' fault but it is clearly the fault of Raul.
"It is already decided. It is already sorted. It is not going to happen again. Has Raul apologised? Yes. He had to because he knows the rules and how important discipline is in our squad."
Jimenez is now just four goals away from Javier Hernandez's record as the most prolific Mexican player in Premier League history.
He said: "Yes, why not break records and set new ones. He [Hernandez] was a very good player in English football and now it's my time and I want to keep scoring.
“The most important thing is the three points. It's early in the season, and we have a long way to go, but being there is good for us. We want to make history for Fulham and know we can achieve more."
Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo admitted his side were not at their best, though they still had chances to get back into the match, as they fell to their first defeat of the season.
“Not the best game from us,” Nuno said to BBC Sport. “But we still created near the end and had opportunities to score, we have to bounce back in the next one.
“I’m disappointed for the fans – we are sad, but we have to go again.”
Nuno refused to be drawn on the penalty decision, with VAR intervening after an infringement between Murillo and Pereira, replays showing the defender scraped his studs along the latter’s calf.
He said: “If we start speaking about the referees, I don’t know if it’s the best thing. I hope they improve. I don’t want to go much further than that.”
Palmer acknowledges 'I should have had five or six' despite record-breaking quadruple
Cole Palmer said "I should have had five or six" goals, despite his history-making quadruple during Chelsea's victory over Brighton.
The Blues forward became the first player to score four goals before half-time in a single Premier League game, as the hosts came from behind to prevail 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer took his tally for the season to six for Enzo Maresca's side, who climbed to third place and within a point of Manchester City and Arsenal.
Although, the England man was a little disappointed not to add to his haul, having also hit the post, been denied by the offside flag, and sending a decent second-half opportunity wide.
"I try and play every game the best I can," he told Match of the Day. "I should have had five or six!
"When I missed the first chance, I was upset, but with the way they played and their high line, I felt we'd get more chances.
"The manager set up a good game plan, we knew how to attack them with first-time passes in behind. Brighton are a good team, they pass the ball well. They play similar to us. Three points are what we needed, and that is what we got."
Palmer also addressed comparisons made by former Arsenal and England forward Theo Walcott between him and ex-Gunner, Dennis Bergkamp.
"I know he is a legend in the Premier League, but I didn't really watch him, I was too young," he added. "I have seen clips. He was a top player, so thank you, Theo!"
Maresca hopes Palmer can maintain his impressive performance levels, while also revealing his belief that Chelsea are "ahead of my expectations" after stretching their winning streak to four matches.
"I told [Cole] he could have scored two or three more," the Blues boss said. "He is a top player and just has to continue in the same way.
"A very good win, we could have done better in some moments of the game, but overall, we deserved to win.
"The two goals we conceded can happen. The important thing is the team continues in the same way, creating many chances. We are happy.
"I was more focused on the way the team progressed rather than results. We are ahead of my expectations in the way we want to play."
Arteta lauds 'unbelievable' Arsenal mentality in Leicester win
Mikel Arteta labelled his Arsenal side as "unbelievable" after the Gunners left it late to snatch all three points against Leicester City at the Emirates.
A dominant first-half display was rewarded with goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, only for the visitors to turn the encounter on its head after the break.
James Justin's deflected header halved the deficit after the break, before the Foxes full-back struck a stunning volley that crashed in off the post.
But Arteta's side eventually prevailed in second-half stoppage time, with Wilfried Ndidi's own-goal and Kai Havertz's fortuitous effort sealing a memorable victory.
Despite squandering their early advantage, the Gunners head coach showered praise on his players as preparations now turn to the Champions League on Tuesday.
"I'm very happy with the performance," he said. "I think we were unbelievable today. We deserved to win with many more goals.
"Starting the second half the way we did, conceding the first goal made things harder and then, with the equaliser, the team showed unbelievable character to keep pushing, creating chance after chance.
"We suffered more than we should have, but this is football. [I am] really happy with the team."
Arsenal were made to work for their victory after registering 36 shots, their joint-most on record (since 2003-04) in a single Premier League game.
But Ndidi’s own goal was the 16th 90th-minute winning own-goal scored in Premier League history, with Arsenal benefitting from five of these - more than any other side.
However, the Gunners' display showed the winning mentality instilled in them since Arteta's appointment, something he highlighted as a standout from the victory.
"We felt it should have been many more, and it wasn't, and suddenly it is 2-2, but we had to deal with a very good team with difficult circumstances, and we stayed really composed," he said.
"We had a lot of clarity, understanding what we had to do, and we kept doing what we had to do, and we earned the right to win it."
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
