Euro 2024, Mattia Zaccagni: backstory on the decisive goal

The words of Mattia Zaccagni

Mattia Zaccagni gave an interview to Uefa official channels in which he è returned to the last-gasp goal with Croatia that gave Italy the equalizer, later proving decisive for the passage to the round of 16 of Euro 2024. Without that goal, in fact, the Azzurri would not have qualified, finishing, on goal difference, behind Slovenia, as well as the Netherlands, Georgia and Slovakia in the top-third ranking.

"It was an intense few days – stressed the blue striker – "It was a very strong emotion. Of course, we did not think that we necessarily needed a draw. Fortunately è it came. Now we just think about preparing for a very important match against Switzerland. Can it be the shock? We have always known that the national team often suffers and then comes out in the moments that count. And now we expect just that from ourselves".

"The’action I experienced it normally, like any other action,” he continued. I did not even realize it was the’last action of the match. As soon as I saw Calafiori carrying the ball and that the Croatian defense was getting tighter and tighter, I stayed in my natural position and when the ball came to me, I didn’t think twice. The cheering è was fantastic, with the whole bench, with the whole staff, all the guys. Some of us è hurt our rib because è we were crushed by everybody. But è it was really exciting".

"Switzerland we have seen them play these days, è a tough team, a prepared team. It has many experienced players who also play in our league. We know we will have to have a great competition to put them in trouble and get to the quarters. They have shown that they are a good team in the’ensemble. We have already seen many videos of Switzerland. They are a very compact team, they play for each other and we will need a great competition to beat them" Zaccagni commented ahead of the challenge against the Swiss.