Mattia Zaccagni grew up with posters of Alessandro Del Piero all over his bedroom walls — and last night he followed in the footsteps of his idol.
With just seconds left in Leipzig, Italy were crying out for a hero as they trailed Croatia 1-0 and Zaccagni rose to the occasion.
The substitute secured Italy the draw they needed to reach the last-16 of Euro 2024 with virtually the last kick of the game, curling the ball into the top corner to finish off a flowing counter.
It brought back memories of Del Piero’s brilliant breakaway goal against Germany in the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup and Zaccagni has now rewritten himself into Azzurri folklore, too.
“I’m speechless, I’m over the moon,” he said. “Del Piero was always my idol, I had his posters on my wall as a child.
“Before we went off to Germany, he met us in camp and since then we were able to talk via Instagram too and it was so exciting. I hope he messages tonight!
WOW! 😮
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 24, 2024
Mattia Zaccagni equalises right at the death for Italy who now qualify through to the round of 16! 🇮🇹#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #CROITA pic.twitter.com/MyNiDgoCmE
“I honestly hadn’t even realised it was the last kick of the game. When the ball came to me, I didn’t think twice.”
Zaccagni’s goal sparked wild celebrations and he said after he was “wrecked” as his team-mates mobbed him.
Manager Luciano Spalletti went charging off down the touchline — not quite in the manner of Jose Mourinho but enough to get him booked.
The emotion was understandable as, before Zaccagni’s goal, Italy’s hopes of retaining their Euros crown were hanging by a thread.
Luka Modric put Croatia ahead in the 55th minute, moments after he missed a penalty, and with the score at 1-0 they were going through to the last-16 and Italy were third in Group B. Zaccagni’s goal flipped all that and now it is Croatia who face a nervous wait to see if they can sneak through as one the four best third-placed teams.
“This is the beauty of football,” said Italy midfielder Jorginho. “When you see things are tough, but you keep believing, you believe in your teammates and keep fighting, you never give in and finally are repaid.”
Italy will face Switzerland in the last-16 on Saturday and, if England top their group, a showdown in the quarter-finals could follow.
It would be a repeat of the last Euros final, which Italy won on penalties, but Jorginho believes the squad must improve if they are to retain their crown.
He said: “We had more control in the first half, made a few mistakes playing out from the back and situations where we could’ve hurt them. That is something we need to work on.”
Amid the Italian celebrations, it was impossible not to spare a thought for Modric. At 38, this could be the last time he graces the international stage and he was the man of the match last night. Sadly for him, it was not enough.
“I don’t know what to tell you, football is sometimes cruel,” he said.
