- Mattia Zaccagni scored a late equaliser as defending champions Italy drew with Croatia in their final group game of Euro 2024
- Italy looked destined to finish third in the group after Luka Modric gave Croatia a lead early in the second half of the game
- Some defending champions have in the past failed to progress out of the group stages of the following Euro tournament
Mattia Zaccagni has become a hero in Italy with one kick of the football.
The midfielder, who came on as a substitute during Italy’s final group game of the tournament, broke Croatian hearts with his 97th-minute equaliser.
Source: Getty Images
Zaccagni scored with a beautiful, curled effort from the edge of the box after latching on to a pass from Riccardo Calafiori.
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The goal not only ensured that the Azzurri qualified for the knockout stages but also meant that the defending champions couldn’t be dumped out of the tournament in the group stage.
Sports Brief looks at three previous champions who weren’t so lucky and didn’t get out of the group stages.
Three defending champions eliminated early
Denmark
The Danes won the tournament in 1992, beating seven other sides to the continental crown.
Four years later they couldn’t repeat the feat in the expanded 16-team tournament, as they crashed out of the group stages.
They finished third in Group D, three points behind Portugal and a point behind Croatia.
Germany
Following on from their heroics at Euro 1996, much was expected from Germany at Euro 2000.
Boasting a squad mixed with youth and experience, and led by Euro 1996 hero Oliver Bierhoff, many were surprised when Germany finished bottom of Group A.
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The defending champions lost to England and Portugal and could only manage a draw against Romania. They also scored just one goal in their three games.
Their game against the English was also described as the worst in the entire tournament by Eurosport.
Greece
Euro 2004 is one that Portuguese fans will want to forget.
The European giants hosted the tournament but were beaten by Greece in the opening game and then again in the final.
No one gave the Greeks a chance, but they knocked out many giants en route to lifting the trophy.
By Euro 2008 their luck had run out and they lost every single group game. The Greeks scored just one goal in their three games, losing to Sweden 2-0, Russia 1-0, and Spain 2-1.
Modric makes history at European Championship
While Croatia faces a nervy wait to see if they still progress to the knockout stages, Modric does have something to be proud of.
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The veteran midfielder scored a goal against Italy to set a new record in the European Championships, Sports Brief reported.
The Real Madrid midfielder became the oldest scorer in the tournament’s history, netting a goal at the age of 38 years and 289 days.
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