Despite their best efforts until the final moments of the match, Luka Modric and his Croatian teammates could not secure all 3 points against Italy, leaving Zlatko Dalic’s squad unable to hide their disappointment.

Croatia took their fans on an emotional rollercoaster, lifting their spirits with a stellar performance before a steep drop into disappointment. Zlatko Dalic’s team held a secure lead against Italy until the final moments, but indecisiveness in defense led to a conceded goal, resulting in a final score of 1-1.

Luka Modric experienced a whirlwind of emotions throughout the match. The 39-year-old veteran was initially at fault for failing to beat goalkeeper Donnarumma from the penalty spot, but he quickly redeemed himself by scoring Croatia’s opening goal.The Real Madrid star, along with his teammates, put in a tremendous effort to fend off Italy’s attacks. When Modric was substituted, he received applause from his teammates and the fans present in the stadium.

Even after leaving the pitch, Modric continued to instruct his teammates on maintaining the lead until the final whistle, aiming for a direct qualification to the Round of 16.

However, a moment of brilliance from Zaccagni in stoppage time shattered the dreams of Modric and Croatia, leaving the Balkan team in deep disappointment.

After the match, Croatian players were in disbelief, unable to comprehend how they let the victory slip away in the final moments. The players’ faces showed a mixture of regret and frustration.The most disappointed was likely Luka Modric, who delivered an outstanding performance against the reigning champions. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a direct passage to the knockout stages.

The emotions of the Croatian fans present in the stadium were palpable, having experienced the highs of most of the match, only to be plunged into the depths of disappointment when the referee blew the final whistle.

A single point against Italy has left Croatia’s hopes of advancing to the Round of 16  hanging by a thread. With only 2 points and sitting in third place in Group B, Zlatko Dalic’s team must now rely on the results of other matches to determine their fate at Euro 2024.