Group Elimination C: Thursday, 14 June 2012 - Poznan - City Stadium

Group C continues with the “Blues” taking on the “Blazers” on June 14 at the Poznan City Stadium

Italy

Stepping out of a 1-1 draw against Spain during their Group C opener has proven one important fact, it’s a must win for Italy. Sure, not losing to the world’s best team is a feat all by itself but Italy needs is a victory this time around or they can end up getting booted out of the tournament. Coach CesarePrandelli has stated that their game against Croatia is crucial. Midfielder Daniele de Rossi with his well-known “sweeper” role can prove effective with the help of a powerful line-up of Andrea Pirlo, Antonio di Natale and others can take their team to victory.

Croatia has proven many critics wrong and their victory over Ireland has shown that they are a formidable team. The same style of play they used against the Spaniards should not be used against Croatia for they need to attack and take control of the game. This is not their nature as proven in the past and it can lead to an upset with Croatia.

Croatia

Croatia just came out on top by beating Ireland 3-1 during their opener for Group C. Coach SlavenBilic’s boys scored with the first few minutes in both halves and dominated the Irish throughout the match. The Blazers have a strong weapon in the form of three midfielders: Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic and Ivan Rakitic. Their combinations were very impressive and their relentless attack proved to be the driver.

Croatia, however, does have a weak spot and it’s their defense which the Italians can exploit. Although being on the offensive is not the Italians’ strongpoint, a change in formation and play can destroy the Croatians.

Prediction: Italy wins 1-0

The Italians have a solid team and their defensive line is near perfect. The Croats can put the game to their favour if they were to score early but once again the Italians have a powerful barrier. Plus exposing the Croatians’ defensive weakness can prove fatal.

Euro 2012 Highlights: Italy and Croatia Deadlocks 1-1

Italy sat back and paid for it Thursday in a 1-1 draw with Croatia at the European Championship.

Andrea Pirlo gave Italy the lead with a curving free kick in the 39th minute but Mario Mandzukic was left unmarked to equalize in the 72nd.

Having opened with a 3-1 win over Ireland, Croatia has four points in Group C. Italy has two points after its opening 1-1 with defending champion Spain.

In the final round of group matches on Monday, Italy faces Ireland and Croatia meets world champion Spain.

Italy had numerous other first-half chances from Mario Balotelli, Claudio Marchisio and Antonio Cassano, but the Azzurri lacked finishing quality.

At the start of the second half, Italy rarely threatened, instead choosing to absorb Croatia's attacks. The tactic backfired when Ivan Strinic launched a long pass from the left flank to Mandzukic, who had time to control at the edge of the box and shoot in off the post.

Mandzukic, who appears on his way out from German club Wolfsburg, scored twice against Ireland.

For his goal, Pirlo placed the ball over Croatia's three-man wall and just inside the near post. Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa could only get a weak hand on it once the ball was already inside his net.

Italy remains winless against its Mediterranean neighbor in all six meetings since Croatia declared independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. The Azzurri are also now winless in their second matches at their last six major tournaments.

Before the match, Croatian fans burned a European Union flag and paraded around Poznan's main old town square with posters of a convicted war criminal. Police, some in riot gear, monitored the situation, but did not intervene.

Already being investigated for fan behavior in the first match, Croatian supporters again threw flares on the field several times in the second half. After Croatia scored, the smoke was so intense that Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon complained he couldn't see and the match was briefly suspended.

On a damp and cool evening at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan, Croatian fans outfitted like their red-and-white checkered flag vastly outnumbered Italian supporters.

Both sides used the same lineups from their opening matches, and it was Italy that created the better chances early on, mainly through Balotelli.

Cassano placed a perfect pass at Balotelli's feet in the 11th minute, but the 21-year-old Manchester City forward hesitated a moment too long and couldn't get a shot off. Still, the ball found its way to Marchisio, who sent a long shot just over the crossbar.

In the 16th, Balotelli wasted another opportunity with a shot directly at Pletikosa.

Croatia didn't really threaten until fullback Darijo Srna appeared to surprise Buffon with a long shot from the far right flank in the 20th.

Marchisio was stopped twice by Pletikosa in the 37th. Another set piece from Pirlo nearly produced a second Italy goal in the 43rd, but Cassano headed just over the bar following a corner.

Balotelli had another decent chance in the 61st but sent a long-distance effort high. For the second consecutive match, Balotelli was replaced by Antonio Di Natale, this time in the 69th.

After Croatia's equalizer, Italy's only real chance to restore the lead came with a long, powerful effort from Montolivo that was blocked by Pletikosa in the 71st

EURO 2012: Italy vs Croatia Timeline

• 90+5' - Full-time! The final score is 1-1.
• 90+5' - Niko Kranjcar for Croatia drives towards goal at Municipal Stadium Poznan. But the finish is unsuccessful.
• 90+4' - Howard Webb has blown to resume play in Poznan.
• 90+4' - Mario Mandzukic (Croatia) does not seem to be able to continue. He is replaced by Niko Kranjcar.
• 90+3' - Mario Mandzukic is down and play has been interrupted for a few moments.
• 90' - 5 minutes of injury time will be added to the Second half.
• 89' - Ivan Strinic for Croatia gets in a strike but fails to hit the target.
• 89' - Howard Webb blows against Italy's Antonio Di Natale for offside.
• 86' - Gordon Schildenfeld for Croatia has been booked by Howard Webb and receives a first yellow card.
• 85' - Italy have been awarded a corner by Howard Webb. Andrea Pirlo steps up to take it.
• 83' - Italy make their Third substitution with Sebastian Giovinco replacing Antonio Cassano.
• 83' - Eduardo is replacing Nikica Jelavic for Croatia at Municipal Stadium Poznan.
• 80' - Riccardo Montolivo (Italy) has received a first yellow card.
• 77' - In Poznan Italy's Christian Maggio is caught offside.
• 76' - Riccardo Montolivo gets his shot on target but fails to score for Italy.
• 75' - Howard Webb blows against Croatia's Nikica Jelavic for offside.
• 72' - That's a fine assist from Ivan Strinic.
• 72' - Goal! Mario Mandzukic equalizes to bring the score to 1-1.
• 69' - Antonio Di Natale is on a sub for Mario Balotelli for Italy.
• 68' - Slaven Bilic (Croatia) is making a First substitution, with Danijel Pranjic replacing Ivan Perisic.
• 63' - Thiago Motta for Italy is back on the field again.
• 62' - Cesare Prandelli (Italy) has taken off Thiago Motta who seemed to be grimacing with pain earlier. A possible injury. Riccardo Montolivo is the replacement.
• 61' - Italy's Mario Balotelli misses with an attempt on goal.
• 61' - Play has been resumed.
• 60' - Play has been temporarily suspended for attention to Thiago Motta for Italy who is writhing in pain on the pitch.
• 57' - In Poznan Ivan Rakitic for Croatia takes a corner from the Left-hand flag.
• 56' - Italy's Thiago Motta has been booked in Poznan.
• 56' - Ivan Strinic (Croatia) gets in a strike but the shot is blocked by a defender.
• 54' - Italy's Christian Maggio is whistled for offside at Municipal Stadium Poznan.
• 53' - Corner awarded to Croatia.
• 53' - Important block from the Italy defence as Nikica Jelavic fires in a strike for Croatia.
• 51' - Emanuele Giaccherini for Italy gets in a strike but fails to hit the target.
• 51' - Corner awarded to Italy.
• 51' - Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) goes for goal but the shot is blocked by an alert defence.
• 49' - Croatia are coming forward and Luka Modric gets in a strike, it misses the target, however.
• 47' - Luka Modric for Croatia drives towards goal at Municipal Stadium Poznan. But the finish is unsuccessful.
• 46' - Howard Webb has blown to start the second-half.
• 45+1' - The first-half has ended.
• 45' - Croatia push forward through Mario Mandzukic, whose finish on goal is saved.
• 43' - Italy attack but Antonio Cassano's header doesn't find the target.
• 42' - Italy have been awarded a corner by Howard Webb. Andrea Pirlo steps up to take it.
• 39' - Goal! Italy have got their heads in front thanks to a Andrea Pirlo strike.
• 38' - Italy's Claudio Marchisio gets in a shot on goal at Municipal Stadium Poznan. But the effort is unsuccessful.
• 37' - Italy's Claudio Marchisio is on target but unsuccessful.
• 34' - In Poznan Italy attack through Mario Balotelli. The finish is off target, however.
• 33' - Italy's Antonio Cassano breaks free at Municipal Stadium Poznan. But the strike goes wide of the post.
• 33' - Claudio Marchisio (Italy) is given an opening but the shot is blocked by a defender.
• 27' - Ivan Perisic (Croatia) strikes at Municipal Stadium Poznan but his header is cleared.
• 27' - In Poznan Darijo Srna for Croatia takes a corner from the Right-hand flag.
• 18' - Howard Webb has awarded Italy a corner. Andrea Pirlo takes the kick from the Right.
• 16' - In Poznan Italy drive forward through Mario Balotelli. His shot is on target but it's saved.
• 11' - Italy's Claudio Marchisio gets his shot away but it misses the target.
• 11' - Italy drive upfield and Mario Balotelli gets in a shot. The strike is blocked by a Croatia defender.
• 7' - At Municipal Stadium Poznan Andrea Pirlo (Italy) takes a corner from the Right.
• 6' - Nikica Jelavic gets his shot on target but fails to score for Croatia.
• 3' - Italy are pushing forward but Mario Balotelli's finish is wide of the goal.
• 1' - The first-half is now underway.

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