Italy vs Croatia: EURO 2012 live scores, blog
Roar Guru By Matt Bungard, 15 Jun 2012 Matt Bungard is a Roar Guru & Live Blogger
- Tagged:
- euro 2012, football, Italy football, live blog
Croatia head in to this morning’s clash with Italy knowing that taking the three points here will be enough to see the Balkan nation into the quarter-finals of the tournament. Join us from 2am AEST as we bring you live scores and blog of the important Euro 2012 clash.
Slaven Bilic’s farewell tour began brightly with a comfortable 3-1 over the Republic of Ireland, and at around 4am in Poznan, we’ll know if they become the first team to stamp their ticket into the next round.
Italy fought for a tough point in their opening match of the group against favourites Spain, and arguably could have come away with all three were it not for a couple of skittish moments in front of goal – Mario Balotelli being the chief offender.
It was be interesting to see if Donadoni sticks with the Manchester City man who divides opinion so, or if he wants to give a start to the goalscoring hero of Game 1, Antonio Di Natale – whose well taken goal was a lesson to all the misfires we saw in front of goal in this one (especially you, Fernando Torres).
They will try to take down a Croatian team led by Manchester United/City/Chelsea/PSG-bound Luka Modric, deadly marksman Nikica Jelavic and a supporting cast full of talent, and alarmingly bereft of vowels in their surnames.
Regardless, this promises to be a high quality encounter between two of Europe’s top nations, and I’ll be glued to the TV screen and computer screen bringing you updates. I hope you will be too.
Join us just before 2am for all the team news, line-ups and formations.
The Crowd Says (74) | Page 1 of Comments
The Roar Live Blog: Latest comments displayed at the top of the page | Click here to jump to leave a comment
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- euro 2012, football, Italy football, live blog
3:52am
Matt Bungard said | 3:52am | Report comment
FULL TIME
ITALY 1
CROATIA 1
3:55am
Matt Bungard said | 3:55am | Report comment
A much, much better second half from the Croatians. Italy were a bit average in the second half and that one golden chance for Mandzukic made them pay. A draw is also the best result for the Irish, and for the neutrals, as it means we can’t have any dead rubbers on the final day.
The media will no doubt attack Mario Balotelli again and I can’t see the youngster getting a third straight start with another disinterested performance. That said, no Italians were above criticism in the second stanza.
I’ll see you all again shortly for the second game of the night. Feel free to drop me a tweet @TheMattBungard or @TheRoarSports
3:52am
Matt Bungard said | 3:52am | Report comment
96th min, 1-1
Kranjcar from distance!! It’s beaten away by Buffon and that should be enough..
3:50am
Matt Bungard said | 3:50am | Report comment
94th min, 1-1
Mandzukic is carted off, and Kranjcar will come on for the dying seconds
3:48am
Matt Bungard said | 3:48am | Report comment
91st min, 1-1
Italy on the attack but too much congestion to get a shot away. Poor communication from the Azzurri there.
3:46am
Matt Bungard said | 3:46am | Report comment
Five minutes of added time…enough for a hero?
3:45am
Matt Bungard said | 3:45am | Report comment
90th min, 1-1
Strinic with an ill-advised shot from a tight angle, it’s out for a goal kick.
3:45am
Matt Bungard said | 3:45am | Report comment
89th min, 1-1
Croatia are piling on the pressure, Italy doing enough to clear it away before something opens up
3:42am
Matt Bungard said | 3:42am | Report comment
86th min, 1-1
Schildenfeld in the book as he was adjudged to be holding back Giovinco.
3:40am
Matt Bungard said | 3:40am | Report comment
85th min, 1-1
Srna takes no chances there as he hoofs it away for a corner…but it comes to nothing for the Italians.
3:39am
Matt Bungard said | 3:39am | Report comment
83rd min, 1-1
Jelavic off, Eduardo on.
3:39am
Matt Bungard said | 3:39am | Report comment
and at the same time, Italy will bring on Giovinco and take off Cassano.
3:38am
Matt Bungard said | 3:38am | Report comment
82nd min, 1-1
Croatia forward on the counter, Jelavic in acres of space but he elects to pass instead of shoot and turns the ball over.
3:36am
Matt Bungard said | 3:36am | Report comment
80th min, 1-1
Yellow card for Montolivo as he clattered into the back of Mandzukic
3:35am
Matt Bungard said | 3:35am | Report comment
79th min, 1-1
Great souvenir for a bloke in the crowd as Howard Webb deems that ball unusable and it’s punted into the stands
3:33am
Matt Bungard said | 3:33am | Report comment
77th min, 1-1
Flag is up against Maggio, but he flashed it wide from a good position anyway.
3:32am
Matt Bungard said | 3:32am | Report comment
76th min, 1-1
Montolivo with a long range effort that’s parried away by Pletikosa
3:31am
Matt Bungard said | 3:31am | Report comment
75th min, 1-1
Jelavic was clean through there but he was well offside, and flagged as such.
3:30am
Matt Bungard said | 3:30am | Report comment
74th min, 1-1
More smoke engulfs the field from the flares. Idiots.
3:28am
Matt Bungard said | 3:28am | Report comment
72nd min
AND THERE’S THE EQUALISER!!! MANDZUKIC!!!!
3:29am
Matt Bungard said | 3:29am | Report comment
Wow. That really came out of nothing. A lovely ball from Strinic, Mandzukic took a touch and lashed it in off the upright. Croatia are level, and that’s the reward for a much more proactive second half!!
3:25am
Matt Bungard said | 3:25am | Report comment
70th min, ITA 1-0
Balotelli is off now, he was again a bit underwhelming. Goal scorer from the first game, Antonio Di Natale, is on.
3:24am
Matt Bungard said | 3:24am | Report comment
68th min, ITA 1-0
The long throw from Srna bounces in the area, and in the end is calmly headed back to Buffon by Bonucci.
3:23am
Matt Bungard said | 3:23am | Report comment
68th min, ITA 1-0
Time for a Croatian sub: Perisic off for Pranjic.
3:21am
Matt Bungard said | 3:21am | Report comment
65th min, ITA 1-0
Maggio tries to use his pace to go around Strinic, but a great tackle does just enough.
3:18am
Matt Bungard said | 3:18am | Report comment
63rd min, ITA 1-0
First change of the match: Thiago Motta is off, Montolivo is on
3:17am
Matt Bungard said | 3:17am | Report comment
61st min, ITA 1-0
Balotelli’s first involvement of the second half is a rasping drive that’s not far over the bar!
3:16am
Matt Bungard said | 3:16am | Report comment
60th min, ITA 1-0
Srna jumped very late on Thiago Motta and caught him with an elbow to the back of the head. The Brazilian-Italian is down for treatment.
3:13am
Matt Bungard said | 3:13am | Report comment
57th min, ITA 1-0
Thiago Motta goes into the book for holding Jelavic, luckily for the Italians it was before the corner was swung in.
3:12am
Matt Bungard said | 3:12am | Report comment
56th min, ITA 1-0
The long throw is cleared out of the box, but only as far as Strinic who drills one from distance, off an Italian body and out for another corner.
3:11am
Matt Bungard said | 3:11am | Report comment
55th min, ITA 1-0
Nice interplay by Mandukic, Srna and Jelavic but it’s broken up again…and just a throw-in.
3:09am
Matt Bungard said | 3:09am | Report comment
53rd min, ITA 1-0
Jelavic wins a corner for Croatia, the tempo of the second half has been very upbeat so far.
3:06am
Matt Bungard said | 3:06am | Report comment
50th min, ITA 1-0
Bonucci with a long range effort, it deflects off of Perisic and away for a corner
3:07am
Matt Bungard said | 3:07am | Report comment
Giaccherini with a long range effort that goes miles over.
3:05am
Matt Bungard said | 3:05am | Report comment
49th min, ITA 1-0
Modric with another effort from a similar area, this time there’s too much power and it’s over the bar.
3:03am
Matt Bungard said | 3:03am | Report comment
47th min, ITA 1-0
Modric finds himself in some space, shoots from about 20m but doesn’t get a clean enough contact and Buffon dives to his right to make the save
3:01am
Matt Bungard said | 3:01am | Report comment
Underway in the second half!!
2:46am
Matt Bungard said | 2:46am | Report comment
HALF TIME
ITALY 1
CROATIA 0
2:48am
Matt Bungard said | 2:48am | Report comment
Pirlo’s moment of brilliance divides the sides at the break, but not even the most ardent Croatia fan could deny that the Italians deserve to lead. They’ve had all the shots, all the chances and Croatia look completely out of sync with each other. Modric, especially, has struggled.
There will need to be a remarkable turnaround in the second half if they’re going to take anything from this one. See you soon.
2:46am
Matt Bungard said | 2:46am | Report comment
46th min, ITA 1-0
Croatia came forward on the counter and a very ambitious first time shot from Mandukic is held at the near post by Buffon.
2:42am
Matt Bungard said | 2:42am | Report comment
42nd min, ITA 1-0
Another corner for Italy…
2:42am
Matt Bungard said | 2:42am | Report comment
and it’s just over the bar!! Cassano nodded it goalwards at the near post and it was half a metre over the top. Close to 2-0 there.
2:41am
Matt Bungard said | 2:41am | Report comment
41st min, ITA 1-0
Croatia looking to push the tempo now. A nice ball in from the left but again it’s calmly dealt with by the Italian defenders.
2:38am
Matt Bungard said | 2:38am | Report comment
38th min, 0-0
Now a free kick to Italy right on the edge of the box, it’s all happening..
2:39am
Matt Bungard said | 2:39am | Report comment
AND PIRLO HAS SCORED!!!!! SUPERB FREE KICK!!!!
2:40am
Matt Bungard said | 2:40am | Report comment
Pure class from the great man – it snuck right in between two of the players in the wall, dipped away from Pletikosa and right into the bottom corner!!! Great stuff and Italy have the lead!!
2:37am
Matt Bungard said | 2:37am | Report comment
37th min, 0-0
SUPERB DOUBLE SAVE BY PLETIKOSA!!
2:38am
Matt Bungard said | 2:38am | Report comment
It came to Marchisio in the area after a great pass from Cassano, adjacent to the penalty spot he hit it with his left foot, it was smothered by the keeper and the rebound was also parried away by Pletikosa. Biggest chance so far.
2:34am
Matt Bungard said | 2:34am | Report comment
34th min, 0-0
Balotelli fakes one shot, then pulls the trigger on the second go. It’s just wide again.
2:34am
Matt Bungard said | 2:34am | Report comment
33rd min, 0-0
Cassano goes close!! Played in by Bonucci of all people he found some space in the right hand channel of the box and his shot was across the face of goal and out for a goal kick
2:33am
Matt Bungard said | 2:33am | Report comment
33rd min, 0-0
After a very ugly goalmouth scramble, it breaks for Marchisio on the edge of the box whose shot it charged down for a corner
2:33am
Matt Bungard said | 2:33am | Report comment
but again, the set piece comes to nothing
2:32am
Matt Bungard said | 2:32am | Report comment
32nd min, 0-0
Strinic with a body check on Balotelli, but again no card from Howard Webb.
2:29am
Matt Bungard said | 2:29am | Report comment
30th min, 0-0
Sublime skill from the previously quiet Cassano, he beats a couple and skips into the box but his cutback is intercepted at the last moment by Modric.
2:29am
Matt Bungard said | 2:29am | Report comment
29th min, 0-0
Marchisio gets a bit cute with the through ball there and it’s out for a goal kick. He might’ve had a shot from there, especially given his earlier effort.
2:27am
Matt Bungard said | 2:27am | Report comment
27th min, 0-0
The free kick is deflected off the wall and out for a corner…the header drops to Jelavic but it’s soft and straight to Buffon
2:26am
Matt Bungard said | 2:26am | Report comment
26th min, 0-0
Strinic sends one in from the left, it’s nodded away and then on the other side of the pitch Srna is fouled. Free kick in a good area here!
2:23am
Matt Bungard said | 2:23am | Report comment
24th min, 0-0
Mandzukic into some space down the right, his cross is easily dealt with, though.
2:20am
Matt Bungard said | 2:20am | Report comment
20th min, 0-0
It’s Jelavic in the thick of things again as he just fails to get onto that cross to the near post – any touch would have made life very tricky for Buffon
2:20am
Matt Bungard said | 2:20am | Report comment
19th min, 0-0
A cross from the left, Jelavic goes down in the are as the ball is heading that way and Howard Webb deems it a free kick AGAINST the Everton striker! He was jostling with Chiellini but that seems a fair enough call
2:18am
Matt Bungard said | 2:18am | Report comment
18th min, 0-0
Another corner for Italy as Balotelli beats his man, loses the ball and then pressures the mistake
2:18am
Matt Bungard said | 2:18am | Report comment
It’s partially cleared by the Croatians before a Thiago Motta handball relieves the pressure.
2:16am
Matt Bungard said | 2:16am | Report comment
16th min, 0-0
Balotelli again! He stings the palms of Pletikosa with that drive. It was hit firmly but far too centrally.
2:15am
Matt Bungard said | 2:15am | Report comment
15th min, 0-0
A nice ball in from Strinic but Mandukic can’t leap high enough to get a head on it!
2:15am
Matt Bungard said | 2:15am | Report comment
14th min, 0-0
It was a superb pass from Pirlo that found Balotelli in the area, but his lay-off to Cassano was lazy and intercepted by Schildenfeld
2:11am
Matt Bungard said | 2:11am | Report comment
11th min, 0-0
Balotelli has a shot from 15 yards that is blocked away by Corluka, the rebound comes out to Marchisio who is inches away from a screamer!!
2:09am
Matt Bungard said | 2:09am | Report comment
9th min, 0-0
Jelavic turns well to get away from Chiellini but he’s caught on the way past the Juventus man and a foul is given. I’ve seen yellows for that before..
2:07am
Matt Bungard said | 2:07am | Report comment
7th min, 0-0
An off-balance clearance from Perisic sees the games first corner – Pirlo swings it in, but it comes to nothing.
2:07am
Matt Bungard said | 2:07am | Report comment
6th min, 0-0
Jelavic stretches to reach a flick on from Perisic but he can’t get much contact on that one
2:04am
Matt Bungard said | 2:04am | Report comment
5th min, 0-0
Mandzukic in late on Chiellini who goes down making the most of it…just a foul, though.
2:03am
Matt Bungard said | 2:03am | Report comment
3rd min, 0-0
Balotelli flashes just wide with the game’s first shot!!! He turned away from one defender and hit a left footed drive inches wide of the near post with Pletikosa beaten.
2:00am
Matt Bungard said | 2:00am | Report comment
We are underway!!!!
1:51am
Matt Bungard said | 1:51am | Report comment
Hey everyone, we’re about 15 minutes away from kick-off. Both teams are unchanged from their first match of the tournament:
Italy (3-5-2):
Buffon
Bonucci, De Rossi, Chiellini
Maggio, Marchisio, Pirlo, Thiago Motta, Giaccherini
Cassano, Balotelli
—
Croatia (4-1-2-1-2):
Pletikosa
Srna, Corluka, Schildenfeld, Strinic
Vukojevic
Rakitic, Perisic
Modric
Jelavic, Mandzukic
1:58am
Matt Bungard said | 1:58am | Report comment
So, Balotelli keeps his place against all the speculation. No shocks from the Croatian side of things. We’ve had the anthems, not long until the kick-off..