SPORTS: ITALY 1 1 CROATIA (BBC)

Thursday, June 14, 2012

ITALY 1 1 CROATIA (BBC)

Italy1

Pirlo 39′

Croatia1

Mandzukic 72′

FT 90 +7
HT 1-0

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By Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport

Mario Mandzukic's second-half equaliser earned Croatia a vital draw against Italy to leave Group C wide open.

Croatia knew three points in Poznan would clinch their last-eight spot following an impressive opening 3-1 win against Republic of Ireland.

Player comparison between Mandzukic and Balotelli

The Italians appeared in total control after taking the lead through Andrea Pirlo's wonderful first-half free-kick.

But Mandzukic's third Euro 2012 goal means the Italians may now need a big win over Ireland to progress.

That will depend to an extent on Spain's fortunes against the Irish in the group's evening kick-off.

For their part, Croatia appeared happy with a point after struggling to match a slick Italian side who dominated the first half thanks to a midfield masterclass from the evergreen Pirlo.

Much of the pre-match talk had centred on the midfield battle between veteran Juventus star Pirlo and his Croatia counterpart Luka Modric. But the Tottenham playmaker failed to match Pirlo, who dictated the game and set up waves of Italian counter-attacks.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli had stuck with the 3-5-2 formation used against Spain, which meant no room in his starting XI for Sunday's goalscoring substitute Antonio Di Natale.

Pat NevinBBC Radio 5 live

"If, at the end of this game, Italy find themselves with just two points from two games they really have just got themselves to blame. They go a goal up and their natural thing is to sit back. You can't depend on that and expect teams never to score against you."

Instead Mario Balotelli retained his place, and he was heavily involved in the early stages as Italy settled quickly.

The Manchester City striker had a trio of golden opportunities before the quarter-hour mark but failed to beat Stipe Pletikosa in the Croatia goal after slightly hesitating on each occasion.

Fittingly, it was the 33-year-old Pirlo who opened the scoring, his free-kick dipping over the Croatian wall and past a helpless Pletikosa from 20 yards.

But Italy seemed to run out of energy in the final third of the match as Slavan Bilic's men upped the tempo in search of an equaliser.

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Pirlo free-kick opens scoring

Croatia are the tallest squad in Euro 2012, with an average height of 6ft 1in, and they looked to use their aerial advantage, full-backs Ivan Strinic and Darijo Srna pressing forward to supply crosses for strikers Nikica Jelavic and Mandzukic.

And it was a pinpoint Strinic delivery that enabled Mandzukic to control before firing into the roof of Gianluigi Buffon's net off the post.

Ultimately Italy, who had failed to win their second group match in each of their last five tournaments, paid the price for not making their early dominance count.

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (3) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)

Italy

01 Buffon
02 Maggio
03 Chiellini
19 Bonucci
05 Motta Booked (Montolivo - 62' Booked )
08 Marchisio
13 Giaccherini
16 De Rossi
21 Pirlo
09 Balotelli (Di Natale - 69' )
10 Cassano (Giovinco - 83' )

Substitutes

12 Sirigu
14 De Sanctis
04 Ogbonna
06 Balzaretti
07 Abate
15 Barzagli
18 Montolivo
22 Alessandro Diamanti
23 Nocerino
11 Di Natale
17 Borini
20 Giovinco

Croatia

01 Pletikosa
02 Strinic
05 Corluka
13 Schildenfeld Booked
07 Rakitic
08 Vukojevic
10 Modric
11 Srna
20 Perisic (Pranjic - 68' )
09 Jelavic (Eduardo - 83' )
17 Mandzukic (Kranjcar - 90' )

Substitutes

12 Kelava
23 Subasic
03 Simunic
04 Buljat
06 Pranjic
15 Vrsaljko
21 Vida
14 Badelj
16 Dujmovic
19 Kranjcar
18 Kalinic
22 Eduardo

Ref: Howard Webb

Att: 37,096

MATCH STATS

Shots

159

On target

Corners

Fouls

1220

Live Text Commentary

90:00+6:01Full time

Full TimeThe referee brings the game to a close.

90:00+5:33

Ivan Strinic takes a shot. Gianluigi Buffon makes a save.

90:00+2:25

Andrea Pirlo crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance made by Ognjen Vukojevic.

90:00+2:25Substitution

SubstitutionNiko Kranjcar comes on in place of Mario Mandzukic.

90:00+2:25

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mario Mandzukic on Riccardo Montolivo.