Italy beat England to win Euro 2020 but have looked far from defending champions so far in this tournament. They had to come from behind against Albania in their opener and were then deservedly beaten by Spain.

As a consequence, boss Luciano Spalletti made changes for this game, but once again they were largely second best.

They had a good spell after weathering a strong start by Croatia when they had a number of chances, but after Luka Modric’s strike they saw plenty of the ball without truly threatening.

But, to Italy's credit, they kept going until the very end, even though they would probably have progressed as one of the best third-placed sides.

Long after the final whistle their fans were still celebrating in the stands and they will hope this will be the spark that brings them to life at Euro 2024.

Image source, Getty Images

Out of the six groups, the four teams with the best records that finish third will qualify for the knockout rounds.

At present, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia have the best records of those teams sitting in third.

If Slovenia lose heavily against England later today, and Denmark beat Serbia, then that could open the door for Croatia, who have two points and a goal difference of -3.

It will then depend on how the final games in Group F pan out as to whether Croatia progress further in the tournament. Luka Modric and his team-mates would need wins for Turkey against Czech Republic and Portugal over Georgia to make it through.

So this is how Group B finished.

Spain's 1-0 win against Albania rubber-stamped their place at the top of the table with a perfect record. They will face a third-placed side in the last-16.

Italy, meanwhile, will kick off the round of 16 against Switzerland on Saturday at 17:00 BST.

Croatia finished third and must now wait to see if their two points and goal difference of -3 is enough to see them qualify for the knockout rounds, but it seems unlikely.

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic questioned the amount of additional time that allowed Italy to score their last-gasp leveller.

"You can't have eight minutes of added time after that game," the 57-year-old said.

"It's a nonsense, there weren't too many breaks in play, there weren't too many fouls to justify that."

Once the dust has settled, then the post-mortem will begin on this Croatia side. For now, they wait for confirmation of their fate as the remaining group games are played.

"I hold my hands up, I am the one to blame if we haven't made it through," added Dalic.

"I simply want to thank my players for everything they've done, it didn't work out and that's the way it is."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Luka Modric looked to have written another gripping chapter in what has been a fairy-tale career with Croatia after reacting quickest to fire in the opening goal against Italy.

Three points would have secured a last-16 tie against Switzerland, but Mattia Zaccagni's stunning last-gasp leveller ensured there would be no Hollywood ending for the Real Madrid midfielder.

So have we seen the last of Modric on the international stage? BBC Sport's pundits seem to think so.

"It is hard to watch as we're wondering is this Luka Modric's last game for Croatia?" former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said on BBC One.

"It is hard to take and he has been such a great player."

Ex-England and Manchester City defender Micah Richards added: "He has everything that you want from your midfielder - character, skill, flare. It's a sad day for him because it looks like he was going to be the hero and now it’s all gone away."

"Highly likely," Alan Shearer said on BBC One, when asked if it was Modric's last appearance for Croatia.

"What a player, what a guy. You have to feel for him the way it has ended for him and his team."

Read more on Modric here.

Luka Modric posing with the player-of-the-match award following Croatia's draw with Italy is a heart-breaking image, in many ways.

As Henry Winter described, the pain was etched on the 38-year-old's face as he sat on the bench after being substituted late in the game, waiting for the final whistle to blow before a place in the last 16 and a potential extension of his international career was ripped from his grasp with the final kick of the game.

The Real Madrid midfielder has had a brilliant career - including a Ballon d'Or, a World Cup runners-up medal, six Champions Leagues and four Spanish league titles - but this is probably one award he will not cherish.

Image source, Getty Images

In more than two decades as a professional footballer, Luka Modric has experienced it all.

He has enjoyed the sport's highs and suffered its lows, and he felt both of those against Italy in Leipzig on Monday night.

When Croatia needed him most, the 38-year-old stepped up, recovering quickly from the disappointment of seeing a penalty saved to put his side ahead just moments later.

That goal had them going through to the last 16 of Euro 2024 before, with Modric now off the pitch, Italy broke their hearts with a 98th-minute equaliser that instead sent the defending champions through.

Two points in Group B is unlikely to be enough for Croatia to progress as one of the best third-placed teams, and the look on Modric's face when the full-time whistle was blown suggested he knew it was over.

"I don't know what to tell you, football is sometimes cruel," said Modric, who turns 39 in September, so would be in his 40s by the time 2026 World Cup comes round.

Image source, Getty Images

You just know how hard Croatia were playing.

The camera just kept panning to [Luka] Modric on the bench - his face bears the suffering of his 36 years and all the 1000+ games, 126 goals he’s contributed down the years.

That is the essence of sport, the essence of football. That heartbreak and joy in just a few seconds.

You look at the lessons he left on the pitch. 33 seconds between missing that penalty and Donnarumma making the save.

He could have retreated into himself, he could have gone off in a huff. But he was alive when Donnarumma made that second save and then he went and scored.

Mattia Zaccagni scored in the final minute of stoppage time as Italy broke Croatia’s hearts with a late equaliser that ensures the defending champions progress to the last 16 of Euro 2024.

Luka Modric had thought he had won it for Croatia to send them through as runners-up in Group B when he slammed a shot into the roof of the net early in the second half.

That came after he had seen a penalty saved, but the swift response to that setback looked like it would be enough for the Croatians.

But Italy levelled in stoppage time when Zaccagni curled home in the 98th minute to ensure they go through with group winners Spain.

It was a cruel blow for Croatia, who had been minutes away from progressing but two points is now unlikely to be enough to finish as one of the best third-placed teams.

The result means Italy will play Switzerland in the last 16 on Saturday, 29 June.

Read Gary's full report here.

Image source, Getty Images

Refresh your memory of last night's amazing Group B finale with our highlights below.

Check out the brilliant bit of refereeing for the advantage played in Italy's last-gasp equaliser too...

Right, time to recap what turned out to be an exciting, emotional end to Group B...

Remember, you can follow every match on BBC Radio 5 Live, including build-up to England's game throughout the day, which starts now on 5 Live Breakfast.

Click on this link or use the Listen Live icon at the top of this page.

You can also get all the reaction to Monday's games via this link to the latest edition of Football Daily at the Euros.

And, because we like to spoil you, there is a bonus episode of Football Daily today featuring an in-depth interview with former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard, who has plenty of interesting insights into life in an England camp.

Stick with us throughout the day for all the build-up to England's game against Slovenia (kick-off 20:00).

Before that, we have the culmination of matches in Group D from 17:00.

Here are today's fixtures and where you can watch them:

Group D

Netherlands v Austria - BBC One

France v Poland - BBC Two

NB: Both games kick off at 17:00

Group C

England v Slovenia - ITV1

Denmark v Serbia - ITV4

NB: Both games kick off at 20:00

England may have qualified for the knockout rounds, but the result in tonight's game against Slovenia in Cologne could be key to determining their chances of progressing further.

Win the group and they will play a team that finishes third in the last 16.

Finish second in the group and England will play hosts Germany in the next round.

Drop down to third and the Three Lions will face a last-16 tie against either Portugal or the winner of Group E, which includes Belgium, Romania, Ukraine or Slovakia.

Image source, Getty Images

England have qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2024 with a group game to spare after Spain beat Albania 1-0 on Monday.

Victory for Luis de la Fuente's side also means the Netherlands and France progress from Group D into the knockout phase.

The Three Lions finish their Group C campaign tonight against Slovenia in Cologne but are already guaranteed to be in the next phase.

Gareth Southgate's side have four points after a 1-0 win against Serbia and then a 1-1 draw with Denmark, but Albania's defeat ensured England would, at least, be one of the four best third-placed teams.

England will win Group C if they beat Slovenia, while they could still come top if they draw and Denmark fail to beat Serbia.

If England draw and Denmark win the two nations will be split for first and second place on overall goal difference, then overall goals scored, then disciplinary points.

England cannot finish lower than third in Group C.

Read the full story here.

Welcome to another day of Euro 2024 as we build up to England's final group game against Slovenia.

The good news is that the Three Lions are already assured of a place in the knockout stages following Monday night's results.

We will explain those permutations in a moment.

There will also be reaction as Italy join Group B winners Spain in the last 16, with Mattia Zaccagni's late equaliser against Croatia securing their progress.

Image source, Getty Images