Eduardo breaks down the left flank attempts a delivery that is blocked for a throw. Kranjčar shoots! Buffon saves! The referee blows and this exciting game comes to an end 1-1.
90' +5
Pirlo's delivery from the free kick lacked the necessary height and is cleared by the defense.
90' +4
N. Kranjčar enters the game and replaces M. Mandžukić.
Mandžukić is unable to continue this game and Kranjčar comes in to replace him.
90' +3
Mandžukić is called for a foul on the left flank for a tackle on Montolivo.
90' +2
Mandžukić controls a long switching ball from Rakitić. A timely sliding tackle ends the danger for Italy as Mandžukić is dispossessed.
90' +1
5 minutes to be added on here.
90'
A team has yet to lose when leading at half time, as Italy did in this game.
89'
Strinić takes a shot from the top corner of the area! Strinić's shot is well off target.
88'
Srna with a cross that is headed Chiellini. Croatia not settling for a draw!
86'
G. Schildenfeld gets yellow.
Schildenfeld is given the yellow for a tackle on Giovinco. Pirlo delivers the kick into the box! Cleared by the Croatian defense!
Minute
Description
85'
Italy takes the corner short and the resulting cross is too high for those waiting in the box. Croatia awarded a goal kick.
84'
A cross in by Giovinco is dangerously close to Pletikosa's net. The ball is cleared for an Italian corner.
83'
Eduardo da Silva enters the game and replaces N. Jelavić.
S. Giovinco enters the game and replaces A. Cassano.
Both coaches making changes as they look to take the lead in the final minutes of this game.
81'
Modrić plays a creative ball to the back post that is just out of the reach of Mandžukić, who is pressing for a second goal.
80'
R. Montolivo gets yellow.
Montolivo, the substitute is given the yellow for jumping into the back of Mandžukić.
78'
Croatia are competing at a third successive UEFA European Championship; they have missed only one of the last five – UEFA EURO 2000.
77'
Maggio is called for off side as he found himself alone with Pletikosa. Close call for the Croatian defense!
76'
Montolivo takes a shot from 25 yards that dips right in front of Pletikosa who knocks the ball clear.
75'
Play is re-started from a drop ball and the Italians go on the attack. A promising counter attack by the Croatians is stopped for off side.
74'
Play has stopped as they wait for the smoke to clear from a flare set off in the stadium.
72'
M. Mandžukić has scored a goal for Croatia! Assist by I. Strinić.
MANDZUKIC SCORES!!! Mandžukić controls a long ball to the back post by Strinić and blasts the ball into the roof of the net from point blank range. We are level here again!
70'
A. Di Natale enters the game and replaces M. Balotelli.
The same change is made here by Italy that was made in their match against Spain. Di Natale comes in for Balotelli.
68'
D. Pranjić enters the game and replaces I. Perišić.
A long throw into Italy's penalty area is headed by Bonucci into Buffon's arms.
67'
The Croatians are pushing hard for a goal, and hurrying the Italian defense and trying to force mistakes from the Italian back four.
66'
Modrić is called for a handball as he attempted to control a high ball at the top of the Italian area.
64'
Pirlo, who scored in the first half from a free kick, has been dangerous from set pieces for Italy. All five of Pirlo’s goals for Italy since July 2006 have been from set pieces, three free kicks and two penalties.
63'
R. Montolivo enters the game and replaces T. Motta.
Montolivo comes on for Motta who was shaken up by the earlier tackle by Modrić.
61'
BALOTELLI SHOOTS FROM 25 YARDS! Balotelli's shot is just over the Croatian goal. It was a rocket!
59'
Modrić concedes a free kick for a foul on Bonucci as he competed for a header in the Italian penalty area.
57'
The corner results in a goal kick to the Italians.
56'
T. Motta gets yellow.
Croatia take a long throw into the box. Strinić takes a shot from the top of the area! The shot is blocked for a Croatian corner. Motta is given a yellow for a foul in the box before Croatia take their corner.
55'
Giaccherini blocks Jelavić's cross for a Croatia throw in deep in the Italian area.
54'
The corner is defended successfully by the Italians.
53'
Croatia is waiting to take their corner, as Webb has words with players of both sides inside the Italian area.
52'
The Croatians have changed formation. They have gone to a 3-5-2, as they push for an equalizer.
51'
Giaccherini takes a speculative shot after the Italian corner was well defended by the Croatians. Giaccherini's is well over the net.
49'
Modrić shoots from outside the 18 yard box! Modrić is over the goal, to the relief of the Italian fans and players.
48'
Cassano is dispossessed in the Croatian box and the Croatians are off on the counter!
47'
Modrić shoots from the top of the area! Modrić's shot is saved by a diving Buffon to the bottom corner of the Italian net.
46'
Croatia kick off and hope to use the next 45 minutes to come back from a 1-0 deficit.
45' +2
Webb blows the whistle and Italy go into the break leading by a goal from Pirlo.
45' +1
Mandžukić takes a shot from a tight angle to the right of Buffon's net! Buffon makes the save!
45'
Srna is called for a foul on Balotelli near midfield.
43'
Perišić clears for an Italian corner to be taken by Pirlo. Cassano connects with his head at the near post! The header is just over the Croatian goal.
42'
The most recent competitive meeting between these two came in the 2002 World Cup finals, Croatia was victorious over the Italians 2-1.
40'
Pirlo has just scored this tournaments first goal off of a free kick.
39'
A. Pirlo has scored a goal for Italy!
PIRLO SCORES! Pirlo takes the shot from 20 yards out of the free kick and curls the ball into the near post. Pletikosa gets a touch, but Pirlo finds the net for Italy. Italy leads 1-0!
38'
Balotelli win a free kick at the top left corner of the area. Pirlo is set to take the kick.
37'
Cassano plays a through ball into Marchisio in the area! MARCHISIO SHOOTS! Pletikosa saves! Another shot! PLETIKOSA SAVES AGAIN! Pletikosa keeps the Italians of the score sheet somehow!
35'
Vukojević goes down and play stops for a foul by Cassano. Another promising Italian attack comes to an end.
34'
Balotelli with a shot from 25 yards that goes wide to the left of the goal.
33'
Marchisio with a shot at the top of the box that Schildenfeld blocks for a corner. CASSANO WITH A SHOT! Cassano's shot goes across the face of goal for a Croatian goal kick.
31'
Jelavić and Mandžukić with some creative passing in the middle of the pitch as they went on the attack, the final pass is just off target and Italy collects.
29'
Marchisio attempts a through ball into Giaccherini who was unprepared for the delivery and the ball rolls over the goal line for a goal kick.
27'
Srna blasts the free kick into the Italian wall and the Croatians win a corner. Srna takes the corner and Perišić heads toward goal! Buffon saves as the header was directly into his arms.
26'
Strinić delivers a cross that is headed by the Italian defense. Giaccherini concedes a free kick just outside the area to the right of the goal.
25'
Balotelli is called for a foul on Strinić as both competed for a ball in the air.
24'
Italy has the slight advantage in possession, but their attacks have failed to give them the advantage on the score board.
22'
Maggio is called for a sliding tackle on Perišić. Referee Howard Webb has been kept busy in the opening minutes of this match.
21'
The Croatian defense will need to be on guard against deliveries in the air, something they had trouble with against Ireland. Italy posses a threat in the air, they had the best cross completion rate in the opening day of EURO 2012 with 33% of their crosses finding a teammate.
20'
A delivery to Jelavić into the six yard box! Buffon saves as Jelavić nearly deflected the ball past the keeper.
19'
Jelavić is called for a simulation foul inside the Italian area.
18'
Another corner taken by Pirlo is cleared by the Croatian defense.
17'
Croatia were briefly on the attack, before Italy clears.
16'
Balotelli with a blistering shot from the top of the area! Pletikosa punches Balotelli's forceful shot to his defenders who clear the danger.
15'
A curling delivery into the Italian area nearly finds Mandžukić, but its just over the attackers head.
14'
Balotelli takes a long delivery from Pirlo into the Croatian box! Balotelli attempts a back pass that is cut out by the defense.
12'
So far most of the play taking place at midfield, where Italy has stacked their formation with 5 midfielders.
11'
Balotelli receives a cross from Cassano at the top of the area. Balotelli's shot is blocked by the defense! MARCHISIO SHOOTS! Marchisio's attempt is just inches too high.
10'
Croatia have never lost their second game in a major finals tournament. They have won 4 and drawn 2. The Italians are looking to give them their first loss, while the Croatians want to add a 5th win to their tally.
9'
Chiellini is called for a foul on Jelavić at center field as Croatia attempted a counter attack.
7'
Italy delivers a cross into the penalty area and Perišić clears just over his own cross bar with a misplaced clearance. Pirlo's resulting corner is cleared by Croatia.
6'
Strinić takes a long throw into Italy's box that Jelavić attempts to volley. The volley lacked power, and Buffon collects easily.
4'
Mandžukić is called for a late challenge on Chiellini as the Croatians go on their first attack.
3'
Balotelli receives a cross into the center of the penalty area. Balotelli turns and shoots! Balotelli's shot is just wide as Italy threatens first.
2'
Neither coach has made a change to their starting line-up from their opening matches.
1'
The Italians kick off and this Group C clash is underway!
Welcome to Municipal Stadium in Poznan, Poland for match day two in Group C. Howard Webb of England will be officiating this clash between Italy and Croatia. Both teams will be fighting for a vital three points in a group that features EURO 2008 champions, Spain.
Your line-ups for this match are as follows: For Italy; Buffon(GK) (C), Chiellini, De Rossi, Bonucci, - Maggio, Thiago Motta, Pirlo, Marchisio, Giaccherini – Balotelli, Cassano. For Croatia; Pletikosa(GK), Strinić, Čorluka, Schildenfeld, Srna(C) – Vukojević, Modrić, Perišić, Rakitić – Jelavić, Mandžukić.
The players on the field warming up, as the fans fill the stadium. This promises to be an exciting environment, as the fans are tossing a giant inflatable EURO 2012 ball around the stands.
It's a cold cloudy day here in Poznan, but the rain has let up before kick off.
The national anthems have played and the kick off is moments away!
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