That brings an end to our live coverage of the Euro 2024 clash between Croatia and Italy. Until next time, this is your commentator, Sayantan Guha, signing off. 

We'll be back with more action from Euro 2024 tomorrow!

For Croatia, tonight was heartbreak like noother. Since Modric stabbed the opener in the 55th minute, Zlatko Dalic's side were clawing at every possible straw to retain the lead, to keep their hold on the second spot. They were bloody good at it. Almost. Until Calafiori blasted through the middle and with the penultimate kick of the night, pushed the ball into the path of Mattia Zaccagni. The final kick? Well, a bit simple. Just a casual whip of his magic boot and leather orb curled into the top corner.

At the 98th minute, there stood the Azzuri. Back on level terms. Back on the qualification spots. And, Croatia were inching closer to book their tickets back to Zagreb. After the final whistle, Modric was holding back tears. He had played his heart out, but it wasn't quite enough. 

90+8' ASTONISHING AZZURRI! CROATIA CRUSHED!

A second away from the knockout berths. Luka Modric could tear away into his shirt. Italian shoulders had seemingly dropped. But not Calafiori's. He rampaged through the midfield. He turned into an unlikely provider. Zaccagni had acres of space ahead of him, when the defender slipped him the pass. But he eyed a miracle touch. And it was a miracle touch. The Lazio man curled it into the bottom top corner, stabbing a dagger right through the Croatian hearts.

Croatia hadn't seen that goal coming. We hadn't seen that goal coming. But that's the Azzurris. Party spoilers. Bloody fighters.

90+6' Fagioli is cautioned by the referee for a clumsy challenge off the ball.

90+5' Spain have secured a victory in the other match. They are through with a perfect record. Albania are knocked out. Croatia are still second.

90+3' Calafiori is the latest man to go into the referee's book. 

90+1' A late lunge from Brozovic from behind on Bastoni. All too reckless here. But Croatia will grab anything that's not a goal. 

90' Eight minutes of additional time to be played on. Croatia won't enjoy seeing that board. 

89' Another change for Croatia. Kramaric, visibly charged up, makes way for Juranovic.

85' It has been a mess at the back for Italy, with them pushing bodies forward. But Calafiori has been a sweeping cover. Not perfect, but so far effective.

82' A reckless lunge from Stanisic on Zaccagni, and the Croatian full-back is immediately shown a yellow.

80' That's Modric's final touch for the night. He is replaced by Lovro Majer. 

80' Modric is a bit of a joke. Plays an outrageous outside-of-the-boot ball hugging the byline for Brozovic, who tracked the pass and then whipped in an inviting cross. Calafiori crucially heads it away to safety. Crucial block. 

78' Pongracic is in the referee's books now after a late challenge on Frattesi. 

76' Italy are recycling possession over and over again. They aren't tired. But they might steadily be running out of time. 

73' Tempers are flaring. Pongracic brings down Retegui in the Croatian half. 

Ivanusec who just came on has gotten into the referee's book for kicking the ball and delaying Italy' free-kick.

71' Gvardiol brings down Calafiori, and Italy have a free-kick opportunity from an interesting position. But the resulting attempt from Raspadori is deflected by the wall for a corner.

70' DOUBLE CHANGE FOR ITALY

Mateo Kovacic and Luka Sucic make for Luka Ivanusec and Ivan Perisic.

65' Chiesa has reignited the Italian attack. He's involved in everything going forward. Chances are still at slim but the intent from the Azzurri is evident.

61' There will be chances for Italy to affect the scoreline. Croatia aren't impregnable. Not by any margin. A chance falls at the head of Bastoni soon enough, but his effort is powered over the bar.

60' Modric receives a yellow card for a rough tackle from behind on Frattesi.

57' Attacking change for Italy. 

Dimarco is brought off and it's time for Chiesa. 

55' FOOTBALL IS NOT LIFE. FOOTBALL IS A BIT PURER. A BIT MORE SURREAL. A BIT MORE POETIC.

A second after being enveloped with eternal despair, Luka Modric raises his hands from the ashes and plants the goal that could alter Croatia's fate here. That's redemption faster than you can spell it. The little genius botches his penalty attempt but then makes a sterling effort to reach the area and turn over the rebound from an Ante Budimir header. Donnarumma is left stunned. Italy is left stunned.

If you have been failing to keep up, it's 1-0 now. For Croatia. Against all odds.

55' PENALTY MISSED!

Oh my word. Luka Modric's little genius has been denied. Donnarumma judged the penalty to perfection. A low effort and the Italian shot-stopper with all of his 6'5 frame parries it away. What could've been! How it is!

54' PENALTY GIVEN!

The referee has had a look and he points to the spot. Luka Modric is stepping up, the Croatian crowd is euphoric. 

52' SCREAMS FOR HANDBALL!

Croatia might have something here. Kramaric once again runs rings around his markers before whipping in a curling effort into the middle. But the ball strikes the arm of Frattesi. The Croats have surrounded the referee.

A potential penalty review here!

49' Plenty of urgency around how Croatia are operating. Kramaric, who has moved to left, makes the Italian defenders dance to the tune of his feints, but his cross is overcooked and flies over Budimir.

47' Budimir's introduction is a clear indication of Croatia's intent. They weren't enough of a threat in the area, and the lanky forward can aid that situation.

46' CHANGE FOR BOTH SIDES

Croatia: Pasalic makes way for Budimir. Italy: Pellegrini makes way for Frattesi.

46' SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!

Italy set the ball rolling. A draw works just fine for them. For Croatia, they need a win and have just 45 minutes to earn that.

We hope you haven't dozed off. Both teams have promised plenty. Yet, delivered very little. But there's an gentleman's agreement in place on some goal-mouth action coming your way soon. 

Croatia started the first half with redemption on their lips, and finished it with a sigh of relief. The Donnarumma save in the fifth minute was the closest Zlatko Dalic's men came close to troubling the scoreline. Italy slacked off at the start, but then grew into the night. A couple of half-chances kept them interested, but Bastoni failing to convert from a point-blank range sunk their hearts. Still 45 minutes are left. Both teams remain in the hunt for a knockout spot.

45' A minute to be played. Neither team interested to extend the half any further.

43' There's no late surge for either team, and we're closing in on the half-time whistle.

39' Croatia have possession. Plenty of it. But they aren't threatening the opposition backline enough. Italy are lacking the final touch. Bastoni will rue the miss if none of his teammates can find the back of the net.

36' Pellegrini finds himself in possession at the edge of the area. Takes a whiff, but his timid effort is comfortably collected by Livakovic.

34' Italy's midfield has continued to tick on masterfully thanks to Barella. He's covering every blade of grass here at the Red Bull Arena. 

31' A resurgent Croatia has managed to ring the alarm bells for Italy once again.

Modric break down the right and his low cross into the box is just parried away by Donnarumma. The rebound falls safely. But it could've spelt trouble if it didn't.

29' The possession tally still prefers Croatia, but since the fifth minute, Italy have been revived. But they need a goal soon for all their positional supremacy.

27' HOW HAS ITALY NOT SCORED?

The momentum has quickly shifted and it's Barella spraying the passes from the middle. His early cross from the right falls perfectly for Bastoni, who is hanging around at the far post. But the defender who scored in the opener can only direct his header down the throat of Livakovic. The Croatian shot-stopper manages to parry it away. 

A gilt-edge opportunity wasted.

22' Pellegrini delivers another outrageous ball from the other flank this time and Retegui brings it down as if he had glue on his boots. His shot, however, is blocked and rolls out for a corner.

21' ITALY'S FIRST SUBSTANTIAL ATTACK!

Calafiori turns into an unlikely creator as he drills a hooved cross into the area. Retegui, who has looked lively in the initial minutes, climbs high and meets the cross, but his attempt clips a defenders and flies for a corner. Just narrowly wide.

19' Pongračić concedes a free-kick for a foul on Retegui. 

15' Croatia launch a counter-attack from an opposition corner but the rugged old limbs of Modric gives in and Barella retrieves the possession.

13' Kramaric finds space on the right and delivers a low diagonal pass to Sicic. Calafiori steps in and calmly clears it away.

10' Croatia are displaying some of the best football of their summer. The midfield has especially seen a lot of the ball.

9' Italy are steadily trying to break down Croatia's tempo. Retegui finds a bit of room down the right, but he is chopped down instantly.

7' Croatia need three points here to keep their hopes of qualification alive. A draw will not be enough. And Zlatko Dalic has instilled that belief in his men to go and push for it.

5' Donnarumma tested early!

This early spell of possession will be giving Italy a bit of nightmare. Sučić whips a rising shot that pulls Donnarumma into action.

3' We're three minutes in and it has been all Croatia. Spalletti's men are scrambling for some touches on the ball here. 

1' KICK-OFF!

Croatia set the ball rolling and with intent.

NATIONAL ANTHEMS ARE UNDERWAY!

Both teams are out in the middle. The pre-match rambles are over. It's time for some footballing action.

Italy: Donnarumma, Darmian, Bastoni, Calafiori, Di Lorenzo, Barella, Jorginho, Dimarco, Pellegrini, Retegui, Raspadori.

Croatia: Livakovic, Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Mario Pasalic, Kramaric, Sucic.

Italy: LWWDWW

Croatia: DLWWWD

Luciano Spalletti [Italy]: "Croatia are not only a great team, but they are also very experienced. We'll have to be switched on to gauge when to speed up the tempo of the game, and when to calm down and control possession. I made a mistake in not making some changes between the first and second games. So this time, I think I need to make some."

Zlatko Dalić [Croatia]: "We haven't started the tournament well. We have not been at our true level. We are conceding goals too easily. In Qatar [at the 2022 World Cup], we conceded one goal in the group stage, and now we've conceded five in two matches. We don't have Ivan Perišić in the top form he was in in Qatar. Some players are two years older, and we are playing against strong opponents. But I think the main issue is that we have been conceding goals too easily."

WELCOME TO SPORTSKEEDA'S LIVE COVERAGE OF EURO 2024

Pre-tournament, Group B was touted to be the cliched group of death. Unsurprisingly, it has lived up to the billing. Spain have breezed through the park. But the rest, not quite. With one spot already booked, there's one more or possibly two that's up for grabs tonight. Italy haven't looked on song. They started with a narrow victory over Albania but against the Spaniards, Spalleti's men were rattled for most of the night.

Tonight, however, the Azzurri face another side struggling for form. Croatia were out of depth against the Spanish Armada in their opening fixture. Suffering a 3-0 defeat hurt their ambition. A 2-2 draw against Albania deepened it. But qualification is just three points away. That's how Zlatko Dalic and his men would look at it.

So, there's all the narratives needed for a classic. Let me, Sayantan Guha, your commentator for the evening take you through what promises to be an enthralling encounter.