Croatia kicked off UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group F with a comfortable victory against Latvia in Riga.
Mladen Petrić set the visitors on their way two minutes before the break, a lead which was doubled in the early stages of the second half by the head of Ivica Olić. Captain Darijo Srna confirmed Latvia's first defeat in five competitive home games with a third late on.
Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs surprised many inside the Skonto Stadions by leaving Vitālijs Astafjevs, Europe's most capped player, on the bench. The hosts could have done with his experience early on as Croatia quickly took the initiative, Niko Kranjčar and Josip Šimunić forcing Andris Vaņins into sharp saves.
Despite Latvia fashioning little aside from Aleksandrs Cauņa's effort on the quarter-hour mark, Starkov's team were defending capably and seemed set to end the half on level terms until Petrič struck from close range. Olič, having been denied by Vaņins before the opener, put the outcome beyond doubt six minutes after the restart with a perfectly-placed header.
Deflated, Latvia's response was limited to efforts from Maksims Rafaļskis and Māris Verpakovskis which failed to trouble goalkeeper Vedran Runje. Nikica Jelavić squandered a chance to increase the lead with just Vaņins to beat, leaving it to Srna to put the gloss on a comfortable night eight minutes from time
Showing posts with label Croatia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Croatia. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Croatia had to settle for a draw after the visitors' concerted rearguard action earned them a point in Zagreb.
Croatia were forced to settle for a goalless draw in Group F after a concerted rearguard action allowed Greece to escape Zagreb with a UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying point.
Greece had come from behind to draw 1-1 with Georgia four days earlier after conceding inside three minutes, but Fernando Santos's team started as they meant to go on at the Stadion Maksimir. On a frustrating night, Slaven Bilić's men dominated possession but struggled to break down a well-drilled defensive wall, with second-half efforts from substitutes Nikica Jelavić and Eduardo the closest Croatia came to breaking through.
The home side had begun brightly, moving the ball swiftly through Niko Kranjčar and Luka Modrić, the latter back after a thigh injury forced him to miss Friday's 3-0 win in Latvia. With the wing-backs providing attacking width and the impressive Danijel Pranjić often involved, Croatia looked intent on getting an early opener. However, a deflected Kranjčar effort after eight minutes, pushed for a corner by goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis, was as close as they would come before half-time.
Greece contained, harried and after 18 minutes went close to an opener when Georgios Samaras pounced on Vedran Ćorluka's miscontrol and chipped just wide. The chance was a rarity, though the game sparked to life at the start of the second period when substitute Jelavić and Georgios Tzavelas had efforts ruled out for offside and a foul respectively. Another Croatia replacement, Ivan Rakitić, also went close with a long-range shot tipped behind for a corner from which Ćorluka headed just wide.
Back came Croatia, chipping away at Avraam Papadopoulos and Sokratis Papastathopoulos and, as tiredness set in, chinks appeared in Greece's back line in the closing stages. Jelavić, Kranjčar and Pranjić were all unable to capitalise, however, while substitute Eduardo could not get enough on Rakitić's late inswinging corner.
Greece had come from behind to draw 1-1 with Georgia four days earlier after conceding inside three minutes, but Fernando Santos's team started as they meant to go on at the Stadion Maksimir. On a frustrating night, Slaven Bilić's men dominated possession but struggled to break down a well-drilled defensive wall, with second-half efforts from substitutes Nikica Jelavić and Eduardo the closest Croatia came to breaking through.
The home side had begun brightly, moving the ball swiftly through Niko Kranjčar and Luka Modrić, the latter back after a thigh injury forced him to miss Friday's 3-0 win in Latvia. With the wing-backs providing attacking width and the impressive Danijel Pranjić often involved, Croatia looked intent on getting an early opener. However, a deflected Kranjčar effort after eight minutes, pushed for a corner by goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis, was as close as they would come before half-time.
Greece contained, harried and after 18 minutes went close to an opener when Georgios Samaras pounced on Vedran Ćorluka's miscontrol and chipped just wide. The chance was a rarity, though the game sparked to life at the start of the second period when substitute Jelavić and Georgios Tzavelas had efforts ruled out for offside and a foul respectively. Another Croatia replacement, Ivan Rakitić, also went close with a long-range shot tipped behind for a corner from which Ćorluka headed just wide.
Back came Croatia, chipping away at Avraam Papadopoulos and Sokratis Papastathopoulos and, as tiredness set in, chinks appeared in Greece's back line in the closing stages. Jelavić, Kranjčar and Pranjić were all unable to capitalise, however, while substitute Eduardo could not get enough on Rakitić's late inswinging corner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)