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Mattia Zaccagni scored a dramatic last-minute goal to secure a vital point for Italy against Croatia in the Euro 2024 match on Monday. This late equalizer broke Croatian hearts and kept Italy’s hopes alive in the tournament.
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Italian striker Mateo Retegui expressed immense satisfaction after the match. "It was a great satisfaction, we are very happy because we played against a team of great quality, demonstrating all our personality after the defeat against Spain," he said. Retegui emphasized the team spirit, stating that while strikers aim to score, the priority was to draw and progress.
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Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori, who played a crucial role throughout the match, shared his joy, saying, "I cannot explain my feelings right now because I'm so happy. We deserved this goal a lot. We have to keep going on this path."
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Goalscorer Mattia Zaccagni described his feelings after scoring, saying, "It was an indescribable emotion. Scoring the goal that helped the team to qualify, I'm so happy. Calafiori gave a fantastic ball, and the hug from the entire team was amazing."
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Croatian defender Marin Pongracic expressed the team's disappointment, stating, "It's hard to find the words after this. We are all very disappointed. This was like a big final match for us. We wanted that win more than anything else."
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Italy's coach Luciano Spalletti praised his substitutes for their crucial role, saying, "The guys who came on are giants in terms of what they showed. Those that played for 10 mins were absolutely crucial."
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Croatian star Luka Modric labeled the outcome "cruel and merciless" after Croatia was all but eliminated from Euro 2024. He noted the team's relentless effort and the unfortunate nature of conceding a late goal.
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Croatia’s coach Zlatko Dalic highlighted the importance of respect and recognition for his team, criticizing the eight minutes of added time. He acknowledged the players' effort and the fans' unwavering support.
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When asked about his goal’s similarity to Alessandro Del Piero’s famous 2006 World Cup semi-final strike, Zaccagni expressed his admiration, saying, "Alex was my idol. I had his poster in my room and we spoke before the Euros."
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Italy demonstrated remarkable resilience by coming from behind to avoid defeat for the second time in this tournament. Coach Spalletti emphasized the need for improvement but praised the team’s fighting spirit, saying, "We have superior qualities than what we have seen. We need to do more."