Euro 2008: Croatia 1-0 Poland (Full Match Report and Video)

After Croatia were already almost guaranteed first place, they were just playing for a one hundred percent win record in this game. However the Polish needed a win and the other result between Germany and Austria to go their way to get through to the next round, but it was never going to be easy against the Croatians who had won their two previous games convincingly.

Croatia started well, putting the Polish defense under constant pressure, forcing save after save from Poland goal keeper Artur Boruc who in full truth had a truly excellent game, keeping everything that came his way in the first half out of his goal.

Poland never really created much of a threat in the first half, and Croatian goal keeper Vedran Runje seemed fairly bored, but still commanded his defense well when called upon.

In the second half Croatia really came alive, putting Boruc and his defense under relentless pressure, with the Polish manager Beenhakker going crazy on the touch line.It was inevitable when Croatia scored the first goal of the game.

It came on the fifty second minute, Klasnic (who has had two kidney transplants) calmly converted the ball in to the back of the net after Danijel Pranjic pulled the ball back from a surging run down the wing.

The Polish looked increasingly beaten as the game went on, and could do nothing to stop the Croatians maintaining their unbeaten run.

Overall a good performance by Croatia, who have put Poland out of the tournament for good. Tonight’s results mean that Croatia top the group with nine points, the first team to do so so far in the competition, Germany follow with six points and Poland and Austria are knocked out of the competition.

Final Score:
Croatia 1 – 0 Poland

Watch the GOAL:

Comments June 17th, 2008