Wales earn dramatic last-gasp draw with Croatia in Euro 2024 qualifier

Wales have earned a dramatic 1-1 draw with Croatia in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier on Saturday night.

In the first game since the retirement of Gareth Bale, the Dragons struggled to make any kind of an impact against opponents who were fresh off the back of their third-placed finish at the World Cup.

Despite the dominance, however, Croatia were only able to score a solitary goal, Andrej Kramaric finding the back of the net just before the half-hour mark.

Deep into added-on time, it appeared that the Checkered Ones would comfortably get over the line, but Nathan Broadhead dramatically scored Wales' equaliser and his first international goal.

The end statistics were heavily in Croatia's favour, with eight of their 19 shots finding the target and Zlatko Dalic's side having 67% of the ball.

Exceptional from Kramarić ✨

Croatia take the lead after some fantastic skill and a classy finish by the Hoffenheim man 👏🇭🇷#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/j7dMrI3hsi

— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 25, 2023

Nevertheless, it took a fine strike from Kramaric to open the scoring, the Hoffenheim forward bullying the Wales defence before finding the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Aside from a brief period during the early stages of the second half, Wales did not look like earning a share of the spoils, Page opting to make substitutions when his side were showing a threat.

By the 70th minute, the experienced quartet of Aaron Ramsey, Harry Wilson, Daniel James and Kieffer Moore had all made way as Page placed his faith in unheralded members of the squad.

As perhaps anticipated, their replacements did not impact the game as Page may have hoped, yet Broadhead sensationally brought his nation on level terms in the third minute of added-on time.

SCENES AT THE DEATH! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿😱@IpswichTown's Nathan Broadhead rescues a point for Wales on his senior international debut 🌟

Hero on the night 🦸‍♂️#EURO2024 | @Cymru pic.twitter.com/w6FopFXkGY

— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 25, 2023

A long throw was flicked into the path of the Ipswich Town forward at the back post, and he was able to prod home from close range to spark ecstasy in the away end.

In the short term, that goal kept Wales off the bottom of Group D, but it has the potential to be a key moment should they pick up key results against Turkey, Armenia and Latvia, the latter facing Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday.