Connor Roberts celebrates after Wales stunned Croatia with a stoppage-time equaliser. Jurij Kodrun - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Wales managed to secure a dramatic last-minute draw against Croatia in their opening match of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. The match, played at the Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb, saw Wales fight back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a crucial point.

The game got off to a slow start, with both teams struggling to create any clear-cut chances in the opening stages. It was Croatia who eventually broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, when Luka Modric found the back of the net with a stunning long-range effort. The Real Madrid midfielder’s shot beat Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, who could only watch as the ball sailed into the top corner of the net.

Croatia doubled their lead just before half-time, with Ivan Perisic scoring from close range after a fine cross from Ante Rebic. Wales were in danger of falling further behind, but they managed to hold on until the break.

In the second half, Wales came out with renewed energy and quickly got back into the game. In the 47th minute, Gareth Bale pulled one back for the visitors, scoring with a low shot from the edge of the box. The goal gave Wales a much-needed boost, and they continued to push forward in search of an equalizer.

Their persistence paid off in the dying minutes of the match, when Aaron Ramsey scored a dramatic equalizer in the 89th minute. The Juventus midfielder pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired a shot past Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic to level the scores.

The Welsh players celebrated wildly, while the home fans were left stunned. The draw was a great result for Wales, who had been written off by many before the game.

Speaking after the match, Wales manager Ryan Giggs praised his players for their fighting spirit. “I’m very proud of the boys,” he said. “To come back from 2-0 down against a team like Croatia is a fantastic achievement. We showed great character and belief, and we deserved to get something from the game.”

The result means that Wales have made a solid start to their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. They will now turn their attention to their next match, which will be against Slovakia at the Cardiff City Stadium.

In other Euro 2024 qualifying matches, England secured a comfortable 3-0 win over San Marino, with goals from Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and Jadon Sancho. The Three Lions dominated from start to finish and never looked in danger of dropping points against the minnows.

Scotland, meanwhile, suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Israel in their opening match. The Scots were outplayed by their opponents and struggled to create any meaningful chances throughout the game. The result puts pressure on manager Steve Clarke, who will be hoping for a better performance in Scotland’s next match against Albania.

Northern Ireland also suffered a defeat in their opening match, losing 2-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Irish took the lead through a Josh Magennis header, but their opponents hit back with two goals in quick succession to secure the win.

Despite the defeat, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill remained positive about his team’s chances. “It’s disappointing to lose, but there were some positives to take from the game,” he said. “We played some good football at times and created some decent chances. We just need to be more clinical in front of goal.”

Overall, the opening matches of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign have provided plenty of drama and excitement. With many more games still to come, fans across Europe will be eagerly anticipating the next round of matches.