Italy have spent the last few years veering between ignominy and glory. When embarrassment beckoned, a glorious goal instead lent salvation. For the 43 minutes when they trailed, the holders confronted the possibility of an early exit, of expulsion at the first stage.
Instead, almost certainly, Croatia will be cast out of Euro 2024. The team which can excel over 120 minutes and penalties missed a penalty and went out to a 98th-minute goal. When it was shaping up as another classic night in the career of an all-time great, Luka Modric, he was instead upstaged by a newcomer to such occasions.
