Croatia vs Italy LIVE!

An added time goal from Italy's Mattia Zaccagni snatched a 1-1 draw with Croatia which was enough to earn them a place in the last 16 of Euro 2024 as Group B runners-up where they will face Switzerland, while Croatia must wait to see if they progress.

After a scoreless first half, Croatia's Luka Modric had a penalty saved in the 54th minute but less than a minute later he smashed home a rebound after Gianluigi Donnarumma pulled off another fine save from Ante Budimir. The goal brought defending champions Italy to life, and they pressed for the equaliser which would take them through and with time running out Zaccagni curled home a shot from distance to break Croatian hearts.

Spain top the group on nine points, Italy finish with four and Croatia are third on two points and must wait to see if they will progress as one of the best four third-placed finishers. Albania are eliminated after coming bottom of the group on one point after their 1-0 loss to Spain, a result which means England, France and the Netherlands are now guaranteed to finish at least among the four best third-placed teams. Read the game back below with our dedicated match blog.

Croatia vs Italy latest updates

• GOAL! Azzurri equalise win the final minute

• GOAL! Modric makes amends a minute later

• PENALTY SAVE! Donnarumma denies Modric

Full-time!

21:59 , Alex Young

99min: ...and that’s full-time whistle! Croatia are very, very likely to be eliminated.

They were SECONDS away from going through.

Italy goal

21:58 , Alex Young

It’s a remarkable, curling finish from just inside the area and bends it into the fair top corner!

GOAL!

21:57 , Alex Young

98min: IN THE FINAL MINUTE! ZACCAGNI WITH A STUNNER!

21:55 , Alex Young

96min: Fagiolo is now booked for a tackle on Brosovic. Less than two minutes to go.

21:53 , Alex Young

94min: Croatia are doing a wonderous job at time-wasting. That’s a not a dig, just expertly managing these final minutes.

21:52 , Alex Young

93min: Silly from Calafiori as he pushes over Juranovic to give away a yellow card and waste more time.

21:50 , Alex Young

91min: Eight minutes added on!

21:48 , Alex Young

89min: Jurnaovic is on for Kramaric.

21:47 , Alex Young

86min: So close! Chiese fizzes a ball across the penalty area for Scamacca, but the striker can’t get a toe on it!

Croatia are hanging on.

21:42 , Alex Young

82min: Croatia players are seemingly having a go at getting every player booked. That’s five players and four in the last 20 minutes.

21:39 , Alex Young

80min: Modric goes off to a deafening reception. Majer is on.

21:38 , Alex Young

77min: Scamacca is on for Raspadori.

21:37 , Alex Young

76min: Italy have lost a bit of momentum. Still plenty of time to go, though.

21:33 , Alex Young

73min: Another yellow card for Croatia as Ivanusec gets booked, he’s only been on for four mins!

21:31 , Alex Young

72min: Raspadori does, and send it into the wall and over.

21:31 , Alex Young

71min: Gvardiol with a clumsy foul, giving Italy a free kick about 25 yards out. Who fancies it?

21:29 , Alex Young

70min: Double change from Croatia. Perisic and Ivanusec are on for Susic and Kovacic.

A huge 20 minutes to come.

21:28 , Alex Young

69min: Wave after wave from Italy. Chiesa’s arrival has sparked Italy into life.

21:26 , Alex Young

67min: The ball falls to Darmian inside the area, but it’s on his left foot so takes a touch and then shoots, allowing Croatia time to block.

Incredible chance.

21:24 , Alex Young

65min: As it stands, Croatia are in second with Italy in third on three points - which could be enough to still qualify for the next round.

Italy are starting to push Croatia back.

21:21 , Alex Young

62min: Bastoni again! The defender misses another glorious chance!

21:19 , Alex Young

60min: Modric now booked for a late clunge on Fratessi.

21:18 , Alex Young

58min: Change for Italy as Chiesa replaces Dimarco.

21:16 , Alex Young

56min: Donnarumma cannot believe it. Two superb saves and still Modric gets the better of him.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!

21:14 , Alex Young

55min: Incredible!! Modric makes amends less than a minute later, firing home on the turn after Donnarumma saves from Budimir!

PENALTY SAVED!

21:13 , Alex Young

54min: Donnarumma denies Modric!

PENALTY TO CROATIA!

21:12 , Alex Young

53min: VAR give it! Oh my.

21:11 , Alex Young

52min: Huge, HUGE shouts for a penalty from the Croatia fans. Replays suggest it could be one...

21:10 , Alex Young

51min: Croatia on top again, much like the early stages of the first half.

21:07 , Alex Young

48min: Immediately more impetus from Croatia as Gvardiol feeds Budmir, who works it out wide for Stanisic to send in a cross which is overhit by about 40 yards. Absymal.

Second half!

21:04 , Alex Young

46min: Back underway and there is a Croatia change as Budimir replaces Pasalic.

Italy bring on Frattesi for Pellegrini.

20:55 , Alex Young

Changes at the break for Croatia. They have to roll the dice, as it’s not working in midfield at the moment.

20:48 , Alex Young

Goalless at the break, and Croatia need that to change.A job well done for the Azzurri, so far.

Half-time

20:47 , Alex Young

47min: That’s your lot.

20:46 , Alex Young

45min: One minute added on.

20:44 , Alex Young

42min: Croatia have had 60 per cent of possession so far, yet just one shot on target which came from distance.

20:41 , Alex Young

40min: Plenty of flares being lit in among the Croatia fans, but the players are set to ignite on the pitch. Italy look comfortable.

20:37 , Alex Young

36min: Pellegrini the next to test Livakovic, a snap shot on the turn inside the area. Perhaps he should have tried to find Retegui, but a decent effort.

Croatia not showing too much as half-time approaches.

20:36 , Alex Young

35min: Gvardiol gets away with another foul, and a booking, after a talking to from the ref.

SAVE!

20:35 , Alex Young

27min: Bastoni has to score! Point-blank header, six yards out... and it’s straight at Livakovic!

Super stop, but the Italy defender should not have given him a chance.

20:32 , Alex Young

31min: Oof, a fumble from Donnarumma almost gifts Croatia a chance inside the area until Dimarco hacks the ball clear.

Modric tries to recycle possession but is also snuffed out.

20:30 , Alex Young

30min: Half an hour gone and it’s a chance apiece for both teams.

20:28 , Alex Young

26min: Italy starting to turn the screw as they win another corner after a decent run from Raspadori.

20:26 , Alex Young

25min: Sucic gets booked.

20:25 , Alex Young

23min: Each time an Italian player comes to take a corner they are pelted by plastic cups from the Croatia fans. Eventually the set-piece is taken but it comes to nothing.

20:23 , Alex Young

22min: Corner comes in, sent back out then back in from Pellegrini, who finds Retegui in space in the area... and again his shot is deflected behind.

20:22 , Alex Young

21min: Oh, Retegui! The striker climbs highest at the back post and looks certain to at least test the keeper but Gvardiol gets in a crucial block for a corner.

20:21 , Alex Young

20min: ...after a long pause, Italy just play the ball backwards.

20:20 , Alex Young

18min: Chances at a premium so far, with just that Sucic chance of any note.

Italy have won a free kick some 35 yards from goal, though...

20:16 , Alex Young

14min: Word from the other game in Group B as Spain take the lead against Albania, that’s good news for Croatia.

20:14 , Alex Young

13min: Darmain required to slide and a clear the ball inches in front of Donnarumma after a smart low cross from Brozovic.

20:11 , Alex Young

10min: Croatia back in possession but they are quite cautious with it. Nervy.

20:08 , Alex Young

8min: Lovely move from Italy as Di Lorenzo tries to feed Retegui, but Croatia clear.

20:07 , Alex Young

7min: Pasalic flies in on Dimarco up the other end. Italy yet to find their feet.

SAVE!

20:06 , Alex Young

5min: Stunning save from Donnarumma! Sucic denied from 25 yards with a shot heading straight for the top corner.

20:05 , Alex Young

4min: First half sight of goal falls to Croatia, but Bastoni easily shepherds the ball out of play as Kramaric tries to get the better of him.

20:02 , Alex Young

2min: Croatia with the early possession. Calmly playing it around midfield and defence.

Kick-off!

20:00 , Alex Young

1min: Here we go!

19:58 , Alex Young

Deafening anthems.

19:54 , Alex Young

Here come the teams.

19:51 , Alex Young

This could be the final time this Croatia team play together, especially with Luka Modric.

The teams are in the tunnel.

Wayne Rooney backs Croatia

19:43 , Alex Young

Speaking to BBC One: “Croatia are very experienced and they have an older team. They knew what they are doing and they will make it hard for Italy tonight.”

19:39 , Alex Young

Sales of facepaint must have skyrocketed in Split.

19:27 , Alex Young

It appears that Croatia fans vastly outnumber their Italian counterparts. You feel Croatia will need all the support possible to get the job done.

Changes, changes, changes

19:14 , Alex Young

So, Croatia make four changes as Stanisic, Pongracic, Sucic and Pasalic come in. Perisic again finds himself on the bench.

Ante Budimir is unlucky not to start after coming off the bench against Albania and having a hand in two goals.

Italy have swapped out half their attack, with Chiesa and Scamacca making way for Retegui and Raspadori.

Dimarco was an injury doubt, but starts.

Team news in full

18:58 , Alex Young

Croatia XI: Livakovic; Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Sucic, Kramaric, Pasalic

Subs: Erlic, Majer, Labrovic, Perisic, Budimir, Petkovic, Ivanusec, Sosa, Pjaca, Vida, Juranovic, Ivusic, Marco Pasalic, Baturina

Italy XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Darmian; Barella, Jorginho; Raspadori, Pellegrini, Dimarco; Retegui

Subs: Buongiorno, Gatti, Frattesi, Scamacca, Vicario, Chiesa, Bellanova, Cristante, Mancini, Zaccagni, Fagioli, El Shaarawy, Cambiaso, Folorunsho, Meret

Italy XI

18:53 , Alex Young

...and the Azzurri.

Croatia XI

18:53 , Alex Young

But first.

18:51 , Alex Young

Big changes in the Italy XI. More to come shortly.

18:48 , Alex Young

Team news is imminent. Luciano Spalletti, Italy head coach, has arrived.

18:45 , Alex Young

Atmosphere is going to be something else tonight.

Latest odds

18:29 , Alex Young

Bookies may not believe Croatia are the bogey team for Italy their record suggests.

• Croatia: 43/20

• Draw: 41/20

• Italy: 6/4

(Odds via Grosvenor Sport.)

Head to head

18:23 , Alex Young

Croatia have been a major bogey team for Italy, who won their first meeting in 1942 but none since.

They played out a group-stage draw at Euro 2012 while the Croats were victorious in a surprise result at the 2002 World Cup.

• Croatia wins: 3

• Italy wins: 1

• Draws: 5

18:17 , Alex Young

Early birds.

What Croatia and Italy need to reach last-16

18:14 , Alex Young

Italy sit second in Group B after beating Albania but losing to Spain, so a draw is enough to avoid a humiliating early Euro 2024 exit.

Croatia, though, have it all to do as their fate is not in their own hands.

Their task is fairly simple: beat Italy and hope Albania do not beat Spain.

Albania have lost eight of eight against La Roja, but stranger things have happened.

Score prediction

18:00 , Alex Young

This is a very interesting one.

Croatia may only have one point, and have been largely underwhelming, but caused Spain real problems in the second half of their opening game. They then produced more fight against Albania before that late blow. Italy recovered well from an early goal to beat Albania but were simply overrun by Spain four days later.

Which version of these teams will show up in this final-game decider? Italy appear to have more about them but Croatia can beat most when they click. It should be thrilling.

Croatia 2-2 Italy

Italy team news

17:52 , Alex Young

Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti has named unchanged teams in back-to-back games, though may be pondering changes for the Group B finale.

Mateo Retegui is likely to replace Gianluca Scamacca up front.

Federico Dimarco is an injury doubt.

Croatia team news

17:45 , Alex Young

Croatia should make changes.

Osasuna striker Ante Budimir has surely earned a start after playing a key role in both goals against Albania after coming off the bench in place of Bruno Petkovic.

Mario Pasalic and Luka Sucic also shone after replacing Marcelo Brozovic and Lovro Majer at half-time, so should come into the starting team on Monday.

Ivan Perisic should also keep his place as well as fellow full-back Josip Stanisic, with Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol staying at centre-back with Josip Sutalo.

Where to watch Croatia vs Italy for free

17:37 , Alex Young

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One, with coverage beginning at 7.30pm.

Live stream: Fans can also catch the contest live online for free via the BBC Sport and BBC iPlayer app and website.

Welcome

17:29 , Alex Young

Good evening and welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Euro 2024 group game between Croatia and Italy.

It is primed to be a thrilling night as Group B concludes. Both team need points to make sure of their last-16 spot.

The Azzurri know a draw will be enough, but Croatia not only need to win but also require a helping hand from elsewhere.

Kick-off in Leipzig is at 8pm BST. Stick with us.