Croatia vs Italy: Zaccagni's Last-Minute Goal Sends Italy Through
Croatia Outperforms Italy in Key Metrics, but Italy's Late Goal Proves Decisive
In a thrilling Group B clash at the UEFA European Championship, Italy managed to snatch a dramatic victory over Croatia with a last-minute goal from substitute Mattia Zaccagni. Despite Croatia's dominance in terms of expected goals (xG) and shots on target, Italy's resilience and clinical finishing ultimately secured the win.
Croatia's Dominance in Key Metrics
Croatia entered the match as slight favorites and lived up to their billing in the first half, controlling possession and creating several scoring chances. They outperformed Italy in both xG (1.39 to 0.59) and shots on target (5 to 2). However, Italy's defense held firm, and they went into halftime with the match still goalless.
Second-Half Drama and Zaccagni's Heroics
The second half continued in a similar vein, with Croatia maintaining their dominance but struggling to find a breakthrough. As the match entered stoppage time, it seemed as though the points would be shared. However, Zaccagni had other ideas. In the dying seconds, he received a pass just inside the penalty area and drove a low shot into the bottom corner, sending the Italian bench into raptures.
A Third Meeting in the Group Stages
This was the third time that Croatia and Italy have met in the group stages of a major tournament. In 2002, Croatia emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, while Italy returned the favor in 2016 with a 1-0 triumph. The latest encounter between the two sides will go down in history as another unforgettable chapter in their rivalry.
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