2024-06-25 00:44:27
LEIPZIG. Let’s go to Berlin, let’s return to Berlin. And will probably be a kind of showdown as a result of we may have Switzerland up in opposition to us, the one which blocked our technique to the World Cup in Qatar.
We have been hanging by a thread, however within the 98th minute, within the final seconds of 8 minutes of added time, a ball and chain exit from Calafiori, chest out and head held excessive, triggered Zaccagni’s right-footed shot which he handed to Spalletti and his companions the ticket to fly to Berlin.
The blue part of the Leipzig stadium exploded, as did the celebration of the bench and the desperation of the Croatians. Luka Modric above all. It was he, after lacking a penalty, who gave the Croatians the lead within the tenth minute of the second half.
Thrilling ending, for everybody, on the finish of a hard-fought match. Ultimately the result’s proper, nice ache for the Croatians, it’s the European champions who transfer ahead.
It begins with Spalletti who, looking for the substance he known as for on the eve, adjustments three gamers in comparison with the 11 deployed within the first two matches and switches to 3-5-2. The brand new gamers are Darmian in protection, Raspadori and Retegui in assault, the excluded Frattesi, Chiesa and Scamacca.
Dimarco has recovered and returns to the position that established him at Inter, on the opposite facet there’s Di Lorenzo, the midfielders are Barella, Jorginho and Pellegrini. The Roma captain usually strikes ahead, responding to the necessity for fluid soccer desired by the coach and remodeling the system right into a 3-4-2-1, however exactly looking for tactical transformation, the 4-2- can also be seen 3-1.
Not a very good begin for the Azzurri, Croatia dribbles properly, a lot slower than Spain however properly and within the fifth Sucic throws a left-footed shot from 121 km which forces Donnarumma right into a nook. Italy waits, sly and sq.. If just a few seconds need to be misplaced between throws and corners he does it with none issues, annoying the Croatian followers who reply by throwing glasses onto the pitch.
Modric thrives on flashes, however with the ball at his foot, Barella eats him up on the run. Jorginho dictates the tempo, he’s the chief that Spalletti needs in the midst of the pitch, Calafiori features confidence and looks like a veteran, you discover him organising in midfield and in defensive closeouts, Retegui assaults the depth, briefly, Italy is there.
The Argentine tries 4 instances between the eleventh and twenty sixth, Pongracic (in a Gvardiol) marks him properly and soiled his conclusions. One of the best purpose, nonetheless, falls on the pinnacle of Bastoni who, on Barella’s cross, within the twenty seventh minute, highlights Livakovic’s reflexes. Modric could be seen (Donnarumma clears the realm on his cross shot), Pellegrini additionally tries, however the first half ends at 0-0.
Within the second half Pellegrini out, Frattesi in. Unfortunate alternative, as a result of it’s he who places his arm on Kramaric’s proper. Clear penalty: Donnarumma says no to Modric, however the motion continues and after one other miracle from the captain on Budimir, Modric would not miss the tap-in: 1-0 Croatia within the tenth.
Chiesa enters for Dimarco, Italy reacts instantly, crushes Croatia who, nonetheless, defends properly and solely dangers a header from Bastoni (excessive). Spalletti performs the playing cards Scamacca (Raspadori out), Fagioli (Jorginho) and Zaccagni (Darmian) for a determined 3-2-1-4.
We do not create a lot and the sport slips away with none main upheavals (on a late lunge by Chiesa Scamacca), however within the 98th minute the miracle occurs: Calafiori invents the play, Zaccagni turns the fitting foot underneath the intersection. Italian apotheosis, European champions within the spherical of 16.
2024-06-25 00:44:27