WHAT A TACKLE! That looks to be a match-winning moment from Corluka, who despite having struggled with that head injury since midway through the first half, has saved his side in the final minute with a last-ditch sliding challenge to block off Balta’s path to goal.
90' +3
M. Pjaca enters the game and replaces M. Mandžukić.
While Fatih Terim is out on the pitch trying to increase the urgency of his Turkey side, his counterpart is making a third and final substitution, as Mario Mandzukic is replaced by Marko Pjaca.
90' +2
We’re into the second minute of four added on at the Parc des Princes, as Croatia look to shut up shop and inflict upon Turkey their first competitive defeat in over a year and a half.
90' +1
V. Şen gets yellow.
That’s reckless from Sen. The Fener winger is known for his fiery attitude, and he shows why there with a silly, petulant challenge on Modric in Croatia’s half - duly picking up a yellow card as a result.
89'
G. Schildenfeld enters the game and replaces I. Rakitić.
Mor has looked sharp since his introduction, and is the Turkey player looking most likely to spark something as we head towards stoppage time. This time, he looks to clip a cross into the path of Yilmaz, but the delivery is slightly overhit and Croatia are able to smuggle it clear.
A second change now for Croatia, as Ivan Rakitic - who like Perisic before him has put in a real shift in midfield - makes way for Gordon Schildenfeld, who will sit in defence.
87'
A. Kramarić enters the game and replaces I. Perišić.
And, indeed, that change has now been made, as Perisic makes his way from the field of play to a standing ovation from the Croatia faithful. It has bene a top-class performance from him this afternoon, and Hoffenheim forward Kramaric will now take up his vacated role on the left.
84'
A worry now for Perisic, who appears to have picked up a knock - though it may well just be cramp. The ex-Borussia Dortmund winger has put in a fine display today, but it appears that his race may be run, as Cecic seems to be preparing to introduce former Leicester City striker Andrej Kramaric into the fray for the final few moments.
82'
SAVE! Erkin powers a venomous left-footed strike towards the near post from the resulting free-kick, but Subasic is on his toes and gets across to make a rather easy stop.
80'
I. Strinić gets yellow.
An opportunity now at the other end, as Mor - with pretty much his first touch - tees up Sen with an excellent back heel. The Fener winger drives towards the area, but is halted by Strinic’s desperate lunge - the Croat defender duly going into the referee's book for his troubles.
79'
It is hard to put into words just how vibrant the atmosphere within the Parc des Princes has been this afternoon, as Rakitic lofts his arms in order to get the entirety of the Croatia end to their feet in a roar of ovation as the ball goes out of play deep in Turkey’s half. From the resulting throw-in, the ball is worked into the area, where Brozovic manages to turn a looping header towards goal, which Babacan does well to tip over.
Minute
Description
78'
At the tender age of 18-years and 323 days, Emre Mor is the youngest ever player to appear for Turkey at the Euros, and is the seventh youngest player in the tournament’s history.
76'
There are choruses of boos ringing out from the Turkey end, now, as Croatia take their sweet time over taking a free-kick to allow Croluka the opportunity to return to the field of play. We look set to be in for a thrilling final 15 minutes at the Parc des Princes!
74'
End to end stuff in Paris, as Turkey race upfield and manage to string a meaningful attack together down the left, with Sen, Erkin and Calhanoglu all involved. It eventually results in a throw-in, but play has to be paused before they can take it as Corluka has to receive further treatment on that head injury.
73'
WHAT A MISS! How many chances are Croatia going to squander? It was another wonderful move, with Mandzukic the unlikely source of a fantastic cross from the right which Perisic meets, but the Inter man can only head his effort against the crossbar.
72'
That’s a waste from Calhanoglu, who despite having Sen and Yilmaz to aim for in the penalty area, elects to try his luck with a strike from distance, which he ultimately drags well wide. It has not been his day so far.
70'
A huge roar of appreciation now from the Turkish faithful, as the 18-year-old Emre Mor - who has signed for Borussia Dortmund following a rapid rise to stardom in Norwegian football after only making his senior debut in November - replaces Cenk Tosun. Like Wayne Rooney back at Euro 2004, will this teenage talent light up the tournament?
69'
E. Mor enters the game and replaces C. Tosun.
Just to prove Croatia’s dominance in the second half - as Mandzukic floats a header well wide of the target - Turkey have managed just two shots since the restart, both of which have bene blocked. Croatia still need a second to wrap this result up though, you feel.
67'
HOW HAS THAT NOT GONE IN? Well, it really should be 2-0 to Croatia, as Perisic - who has been in fine form this match - skips past Gonul and drills in a terrific cross to the back post. Brozovic stretches to meet it, but the Inter playmaker cannot manage to get the purchase to direct the ball into the back of the net from six yards out.
65'
B. Yılmaz enters the game and replaces A. Turan.
A second change now for the Turks, as their skipper Arda Turan - who has been poor this afternoon - makes way for Burak Yilmaz. The former Galatasaray forward has featured just twice for Beijing Guoan since his move to China back in January, and he was not deemed to have the match fitness to start today.
63'
However, as good as Croatia have been since the restart, Cacic will be desperate for them to increase their lead. As proved by England’s dominant but ultimately fruitless performance yesterday, it only takes one slip up for a side to come back into the game should the team in control fail to add to their lead.
61'
Just over an hour gone now at the Parc des Princes, and the Croatia fans are in full voice as they see their team play some wonderful stuff down on the pitch, which is now being bathed un some soft early-summer sunlight following the earlier drizzle. Brozovic is the latest Croat to go close to doubling their advantage, thumping a sweet volley goalwards from inside the box after been teed up by Mandzukic, but the strike whistles just over the frame of the goal.
58'
A bit of concern now for Corluka, as he has to make his way to the touchline to receive some more treatment on that head wound he sustained in the first half. As he does so, Turkey win a corner down on the left, but Subasic comes out confidently to claim the cross.
56'
Croatia are certainly turning on the style, now, with the introduction of the somewhat indisciplined Sen having led to Turkey losing their shape in midfield. This is allowing Modric and Rakitic the space they require to run the game for the Croats, meaning that Perisic and Srna are finding plenty of joy in the wide areas.
54'
WHAT A CHANCE! That’s a huge miss from Srna, who moments after going so close with that free-kick, squanders a golden opportunity to extend Croatia’s lead. The chance came about courtesy of a great run and cross from Perisic, with Babacan only able to parry the ball back out into the path of the Croat captain. He elects to take the effort on on his weaker left foot, and as a result can only drag his first-time strike wide of what was near-enough an open goal.
51'
CROSSBAR! That is so unlucky! What an effort that is by Srna, as the Shakhtar Donetsk full-back whips a wonderful strike up and over the packed Turkey wall. It beats Babacan all ends up, with the goalkeeper only able to watch as it clatters up off the woodwork and out of play.
50'
Superb play from Rakitic, who drives forward from just inside of his own half, utilising some sublime skill to beat three Turkey defenders before, just as he is about to enter the 18-yard box, he is brought down by Tufan. Can Croatia make the free-kick count?
48'
H. Balta gets yellow.
A second booking of the game now for Turkey, as Hakan Balta picks up a caution following a hefty challenge on Mandzukic. Moments later, Sen is perhaps fortunate to escape a similar fate after he does in aggressively on Srna.
47'
It’s been a fast start from Turkey, with Sen having taken up a position on the left - but seemingly with the license to drift inside. Turan and Calhanoglu combine well down the right to set up Gonul, who lofts in a cross towards the aforementioned substitute, who tries his luck with a volley that is blocked by Vida.
46'
V. Şen enters the game and replaces O. Özyakup.
Welcome back! The second half is upon us at the Parc des Princes, with Croatia getting us underway. There has been one change at the interval, with the impressive Oguzhan Ozyakup being replaced by Vokan Sen. The Fenerbahce winger will add some pace and guile, though Ozyakup will be understandably frustrated to go off having looked bright in the first half.
45' +1
CLOSE! It is a good cross from the corner, with Baita sprinitng to meet it at the near post. He connects with his header, but can only direct the effort into the side-netting from an acute angle.
45'
Can Turkey respond immediately, now, as they win a corner down on the left. Erkin will deliver it...
43'
STAT FLASH - That stunning Modric volley is the first goal that Croatia have scored from outside of the box in a European Championship. What a way to take the lead that was, and it has sent the Croatian masses into raptures at the Parc des Princes.
41'
L. Modrić has scored a goal for Croatia!
WHAT A GOOOAAAAALLLL!!!! STUNNING FROM LUKA MODRIC! Superb stuff from the Real Madrid playmaker who, from 25 yards out, latches onto a poor clearance and hammers a fantastic volley goalwards. Babacan looks set to make the save, but the strike dips and swerves in the air, leaving the Turkish goalkeeper helpless as the ball nestles in the left-hand corner.
40'
STAT FLASH - This is Croatia’s fifth appearance at the Euros, with the side having failed to qualify for the tournament just once in their history. However, they have never made it past the quarter-final stage.
38'
Unlucky! Finally, Croatia have managed to transfer their relative dominance into a shot on target, as Mandzukic - with his back to goal - spins and unleashes a low drive goalwards from just over 12 yards out, but Babacan is well placed to make a comfortable stop.
36'
A free-kick now for Turkey, as Calhanoglu is scythed down by Modric 35 yards out from goal. Calhanoglu steps up… but his effort is a dreadful one that soars well over the crossbar and into the stands.
34'
Another problem now for Croatia, as Mandzukic goes down holding his head following a collision with Calhanoglu. There will be no punishment for the Leverkusen playmaker, however, and rightly so, though you do feel that things could boil over here at the Parc des Princes if the official doesn’t manage to keep a lid on this affair.
31'
C. Tosun gets yellow.
The maiden booking of the game now, and it goes to Tosun, who picks up a yellow card for a stray elbow that caught the scalp of Corluka. As a result, the Lokomotiv Moscow defender has to make his way to the touchline to receive some immediate treatment, with blood gushing from the gash that has formed on his forehead.
30'
Good goalkeeping at the other end, now, as Barbican comes out confidently to punch Srna’s cross clear. The rebound falls out to Badelj on the edge of the area, but the Fiorentina man can only direct a strike a volley straight at the Turkey ‘keeper.
29'
WHAT A MISS! That was the chance for Turkey, as for all Croatia’s dominance, they are carved open by a sublime cross from Gonul. Tufan is the player who rises highest to meet it, but he can only direct his header straight down the throat of the grateful Subasic, with the Monaco shot-stopper able to hold onto the ball at the second attempt.
26'
Despite Croatia having seen more of the ball, they - like their opponents - have yet to register a strike on target, while only 22% of the action has taken place in Turkey’s defensive third.
25'
Lovely play from Ozyakup, who displays his quality with a sumptuous flick through his legs into the path of Turan. The Barca midfielder, who has been rather anonymous so far, immediately looks to feed a throughball into the feet of Tosun, but the pass is overhit and the Besiktas forward to get on the end of.
23'
Another opportunity for Croatia, and again it is Brozovic who is guilty of squandering it. This time the cross comes from the right, but the aforementioned midfielder - who had picked up a great position in the penalty area - could only slice his header well wide.
22'
CHANCE! Great play from Croatia, as Mandzukic capitalises on a mistake from Inan to knock a neat pass back into Badelj, who in tune lays it off to Perisic. The Inter winger bursts down the left at pace before whipping in a dangerous cross that finds his club teammate Brozovic, but he is unable to direct his attempted header on target.
20'
Turkey are pressing well, and not allowing Croatia an easy ride in regards to playing out from the back as they so often like to do, with the likes of Modric and Rakiti having had very little time on the ball so far.
18'
One notable absence from the Croatia line-up is Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren, with the ex-Lyon man having missed out on the squad due to a fall-out with the Croat coaching staff. And while Croluka and Vida are both accomplished defenders, they may well miss the assurance that an in-form Lovren could provide.
16'
Croatia are starting to up the pressure again now, with Srna managing to find a lot of space down the right. He eventually utilises this to pick out Mandzukic with a cross, but the Juve striker can only direct a tame header straight at a Turkey marker.
14'
Good defending from Topal, who despite plying his trade primarily as a defensive midfielder at club level, finds himself back in the centre-back berth from the off this afternoon, as the former Valencia man gets across to steward Brozovic out of play after the Inter playmaker latched onto a looping pass from Srna.
11'
The game has settled down somewhat now following that franetic start, with Turkey just beginning to find some rhythm and retaining the ball in midfield, with the Besiktas star Ozyakup starting to get in possession and dictate the tempo.
9'
That’s wasteful from Calhanoglu, who despite being something of a specialist, can only pick out Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic from a free-kick down on the right. However, with the talent of the former Hamburg midfielder from dead ball situations, you feel that a set-piece may be the best chance for Turkey to snatch a goal in this match.
7'
It has been a really sharp and crisp start to proceedings from Croatia, while the atmosphere in the Parc des Princes is raucous to say the least. Milan Badelj is certainly not the biggest star in Croatia’s midfield, but the Fiorentina man is a tidy operator, and he proves so by picking out Perisic with a lovely pass, but the former Wolfsburg man can only hook his attempted cross harmlessly out of play.
6'
STAT FLASH - Seven players starting today also featured in the memorable meeting at Euro 2008: Hakan Balta, Mehmet Topal, Arda Turan, Darijo Srna, Ivan Rakitic, Vedran Corluka and Luka Modric.
5'
Well, we thought it could be a full-blooded affair this afternoon, and it looks like it was right to expect just that, as Tufan dives in recklessly on Modric down on the right-hand flank. The Croat players immediately look to crowd the referee, but the experienced official does well to clam down the potential flashpoint, deciding to simply issue a word of warning to the aforementioned Turkish midfielder rather than a booking.
3'
CLOSE! Almost the perfect start for Croatia, as Rakitic - playing in a free role behind the striker this afternoon, which was his primary position when at Sevilla prior to his transfer to Barca - latches onto a superb cross from Srna, but he was just unable to direct his toe-poked volley on target.
1'
KICK-OFF! We are underway at the Parc des Princes, with Turkey getting proceedings up and running! We should be in for a cracker...
Hello and welcome, football fans, to our LIVE coverage of the Euro 2016 clash between Turkey and Croatia. We have had four cracking games so far, and now these two sides get Group D underway with what promises to be another enthralling encounter. Stick right here for all the action as it happens from the Parc des Princes.
Day two of the tournament was marred slightly yesterday by reports of trouble between Russia and England supporters in Marseille. However, there has been no such trouble in Paris, with both sets of supporters in full voice as they prepare harmoniously for the Group D opener.
In a group that also contains the Czech Republic and current holders Spain - who face off in Toulouse tomorrow - both Ante Cacic and Fatih Terim will have stressed the importance of their sides getting off to a winning start this afternoon. Both these teams come into the clash in fine form, with Croatia having won six of their last seven, while Turkey have lost just once, against England three weeks ago, since November 2014.
The team news is in now from Paris, so with just under 15 minutes before kick-off let’s check on the starting XIs. We’ll start off with Turkey…
TEAM NEWS - Turkey substitutes: Kaya, Calik, Sahin, Sahan, Kivrak, Koybasi, Yilmaz, Malli, Sen, Mor, Ozbayrakli, Tekin.
It’s a strong line up for the Croats, with Cacic making just two alterations from the side that thumped San Marino 10-0 last time out, with Inter playmaker Marcelo Brozovic and former Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka replacing Marko Pjaca and Gordon Schildenfeld respectively. On the bench, the coach is able to name the likes of Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic, Bayer Leverkusen youngster Tin Jedvac and Fiorentina front-man Nikola Kalinin - who netted a second-half hat-trick in the aforementioned hammering of San Marino.
For all the talent of Madrid and Barca stars Modric and Rakitic, it is perhaps Inter winger Perisic who provides the main attacking threat for Croatia, along with Mandzukic. The Croat No.17 got a move to Bayern Munich on the back of a set of superb displays at Euro 2012, and the now-Juventus forward is always a goal threat. As for Turkey, they will look to Barca playmaker Turan and Leverkusen star Calhanoglu to provide the spark going forward.
We are just moments away from kick-off now at a drizzly Parc des Princes, as the teams - led by referee Jonas Eriksson - make their way out onto the field to a huge roar of appreciation. First up though, it's the national anthems.
Croatia may well fancy themselves as dark horses to win this tournament. While all the focus has been on hosts France, the usual suspects of Spain, Germany and Italy, along with Belgium’s golden generation - Cacic’s side are able to boast a wealth of talent, with the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic all integral members of the squad. These two sides have met twice before in European Championships - with Croatia winning 1-0 in 1996 before Turkey claimed a penalty-shootout victory in 2008.
Turkey, meanwhile, have being on an extraordinary run under Fatih Terim, and also have a few gems at their disposal. Arda Turan has had a so-so maiden season at Barcelona, but the former Atletico Madrid playmaker is a key part of his national team’s set-up, while Hakan Calhanoglu has enjoyed a scintillating season at the heart of Bayer Leverkusen’s midfield. However, there may well be some extra bit from the Turks in today’s encounter, with Croatia having overcome them in their Euro 2012 qualification play-off.
So, just the one change from Terim - who in yesterday’s pre-match press conference praised the iconic culture of his nation - from the team that started against Slovenia in their last warm-up friendly, and that sees Burak Yilmaz, who now plies his trade in China, replaced up top by Besiktas' Cenk Tosun. Exciting youngster Emre Mor, who this week signed for Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, starts on the bench.
HALF-TIME! That’s it for the opening 45 minutes in Paris, where Luka Modric’s sublime volley has powered Croatia ahead against Turkey. It has been a game full of neat technical play from both sides, but up until the 40th minute, little in the way of end product. On the balance of play, however, Ante Cacic’s side are deserving of their lead at the interval.
Croatia started sharply, and almost found themselves ahead when Rakitic stole in at the near post to latch onto Srna’s cross. However, it was Turkey who managed the game’s first effort on target, with Tufan heading directly at Subasic from close-range, and the Turks were made to pay for squandering that gilt-edged chance when Modric hammered in a wonderful volley - becoming the first Croatian to score in two different European Championships in the process.
FULL TIME! It’s all over in Paris, where it has finished Turkey 0-1 Croatia at the Parc des Princes, courtesy of Luka Modric’s awesome first-half volley.
Overall, it was a top-quality performance by Croatia, who despite only managing the one goal controlled much of the proceedings and never really looked in danger of throwing away their lead. They were somewhat wasteful in front of goal, with Srna - who also hit the crossbar with a sublime free-kick - and Perisic both spurning gilt-edged chances in the second half, but in the end Modric’s strike proved enough to overcome a Turkey side lacking any cutting edge in forward areas.
While Cacic can reflect on a job well done by his side, Terim must now look at where his team must improve if they are to make it out of Group D. Current holders Spain are next up for them, and if key players such as Arda Turan and Hakan Calhanoglu fail to turn up for the occasion - as happened this afternoon - then they could well suffer a significant and embarrasing defeat.
Well, that’s all we’ve got time for now from the Parc des Princes. It was an enthralling if somewhat one-sided affair in the French capital, but Croatia were well deserving of their victory and can now be safe in the knowledge that they top Group D - at least until Spain take on the Czech Republic in tomorrow’s early kick-off. Until next time, thank you and goodbye!
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