da supremo： Mario Mandzukic’s second half equaliser earned Croatia a well earned point against Italy in Poznan to leave Group C poised on a knife-edge.
da cassino： Slaven Bilic’s side knew a win over the 2006 World Cup winners at the Municipal Stadium would confirm their passage to the quarter finals after their impressive win over the Republic of Ireland last Sunday. But they struggled to assert the same authority as they did in their opening game as the Italians took control of the game and took a deserved lead six minutes before half time courtesy of a glories Andrea Pirlo free-kick. But Mandzukic’s third goal of the tournament kept their hopes alive although they’ll have to beat Spain to be certain of a place in the last eight.
On the balance of play the performance of Cesare Prandelli’s side merited maximum points as they dominated from the outset with Mario Balotelli going close to breaking the deadlock inside three minutes. The Manchester City striker received Emanuele Giaccherini’s pass from the left before swivelling and firing just wide from 12-yards. Balotelli then had a shot blocked and Claudio Marchisio saw his blistering long-range strike shave the crossbar.
Stipe Pletikosa then had to be alert to thwart Balotelli and it took until the 20th minute for Croatia to give Gianluigi Buffon something to do in the Italian goal. Darijo Srna whipped a right wing cross into Nikica Jelavic and any touch would have taken it past Buffon who was able to safely prevent the ball from flashing across the penalty area. Marchisio was then denied twice by Pletikosa as Italy started to crank up the pressure in search of the opening goal.
It came in the 39th as Ivan Rakitic fouled Balotelli on the edge of the area. Pirlo stepped up to curl a wonderful rich-footed free kick over the Croatian wall from 20-yards and inside Pletikosa’s right hand post. Luka Modric went close to drawing his side level just after the break before a series of niggling fouls saw a stream of free kicks cool the games tempo. Italy soon got back into their groove and Balotelli again went close fizzing a shot just wide.
Those missed chances came back to haunt the striker as Croatia took advantage of a rare sight of goal to level proceedings. Ivan Strinic’s pass was missed by Giorgio Chiellini allowing Mandzukic a clear sight of goal to control and finish confidently past Buffon. That seemed to lift Bilic’s side who finished the game stronger but couldn’t find the winning goal that would have taken them to the knock-out stage and leaves them having to beat the world champions to ensure their progression