Spain and Italy reached the playoffs, Luka Modric set a new championship record: how did the 11th day of Euro 2024 go?

Croatian national team midfielder Luka Modric set a European Championship record, becoming the oldest goal scorer in the history of the tournament. This was reported by a Lenta.ru correspondent.

The footballer scored a goal against the Italian national team in the third round match of Euro 2024 at the age of 38 years and 289 days. The midfielder missed the penalty kick in the 54th minute, but half a minute later he made a successful finishing move in the goalkeeper’s area. The Croatian captain led the team ahead, but failed to bring it victory. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) recognized Modric as the best player of the match.

Italy snatched a draw and advanced to the Euro playoffs

The meeting between Croatia and Italy took place at the Red Bull Arena Leipzig and ended with a score of 1:1. After Modric’s goal in the eighth minute added to the second half, the score was equalized by midfielder Mattia Zaccagni. Thus, Italy entered the Euro 2024 playoffs from second place, gaining four points.

The bronze medalists of the 2022 World Cup held one of the most unsuccessful Euros. In the first round, Croatia lost to Spain – 0:3, and then lost the victory over Albania in the fifth minute added to the second half – 2:2. Italy dealt with Albania in the first game – 2:1, after which it lost without a chance to Spain – 0:1.

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who saved Modric’s penalty, became the youngest goalkeeper in the history of the European Championships to play ten matches at 25 years and 120 days.

Italy had never beaten Croatia at the European Championships before. The teams regularly played in draws, and in 2002 the Croats even won. In total, the teams met each other ten times, and in these matches Italy won two, Croatia won three, and five matches ended in a draw.

Spain finished the group stage as leaders of Group B

Spain defeated Albania in the third match of the Euro group stage. The meeting took place in Dusseldorf at the Merkur Spiel Arena stadium and ended with a score of 1:0 in favor of the Spaniards. The only goal was scored in the 13th minute by midfielder Ferran Torres. Thus, Spain entered the Euro 2024 playoffs from first place in the group, gaining nine points. This was the only meeting between Spain and Albania at the European Championships.

In the 1/8 finals of the European Championship, the opponent of the Spanish national team will be one of the four teams that took third place in the group. The match will take place in Cologne on June 30. The Italian national team will play the day before in Berlin with the Swiss national team.

The Hungarian national team player who suffered a head injury will miss the rest of the Euro

Barnabas Varga will not be able to help the team due to a concussion. Varga received a head injury in the third round match of the Euro 2024 group stage against Scotland. In the 70th minute, the forward collided with Scots goalkeeper Angus Gunn. The player was carried off the field on a stretcher with an oxygen mask on.

During the collision, Barney suffered a concussion and lost consciousness. At the same time, he was already conscious in the ambulance, after which he was taken to a clinic in Stuttgart, where treatment was prescribed. It is noted that Varga should be discharged in two days.

The German national team player set a European Championship record

Toni Kroos set a record for the most accurate passes in a group stage at the European Championships.

Kroos beat his own record, set at the 2016 continental championship. Then he made 323 accurate passes. The top 3 is completed by Xavi, who played for the Spanish national team. In the group stage of Euro 2012, he made 317 accurate passes.