Euro 2012: Italy 1-1 Croatia – Super Mandzukic To The Rescue As Croats Draw With Azzurri (Photos & Highlights)

Alan Duffy

14th, June 2012

6 Comments

By Alan Duffy

In-form striker Mario Mandzukic made it three in two games for Euro 2012, when he netted a precious equaliser for Croatia against Italy in Poznan. The result sees Group C still wide open ahead of the final match-day.

Italy started the brighter and Cesare Prandelli’s side were ahead before the break, courtesy of a superb Andrea Pirlo free-kick. Although, to be honest, ‘keeper Stipe Pletikosa should have done better.

However, after the break, Slaven Bilic’s side gradually forced their way back into the game, with Mandzukic eventually levelling the scores from cloe-range after defender Geiorgio Chiellini misjudged the flight of an Ivan Strinic centre.

Expect a dramatic final day in Group C.

Photos…

Highlights to follow…

Photos: PA

Posted in Euro 2012, Photos, Videos

Share this article: Email

6 Comments

  1. Terry Shedingham says:

    Did anyone else see De Rossi having a mare at Balotelli during the celebrations for Pirlo’s goal? Wonder what that was all about…

  2. SS says:

    @Teddy Shedingham

    What picture are you talking about??

  3. Terry Shedingham says:

    @SS
    It’s not in any of the pictures, I caught it during the live broadcast.

  4. Michael_D says:

    @Terry – I must’ve missed that but I did notice him walking away looking rather dejected after that score, which I took as him sulking. But if De Rossi had a go at him that might’ve also contributed…which, if it were a case of Mario being Mario that’s a shame because it was a beauty of a free-kick that Pirlo put away

  5. Joe says:

    Anyone notice the the two horrible offsides calls by the linesmen on Italy, when they were in fact onside? Robbed Di Natale of a breakaway very late in the match. And why did Webb award a free kick to Croatia after two of their own players took each other out, denying Italy a goal scoring opportunity? I’m not shouting conspiracy, but those were some very bad calls for no one to be mentioning.

  6. Terry Shedingham says:

    Italy would do well to leave Balotelli on the bench for their final game. He’s seemed like a liability in this tournament and starting with him again might hurt Italy’s chances of getting out of the group.

Leave a Reply to Terry Shedingham