Mario Mandzukic continued his outstanding form for Croatia in Euro 2012, netting the equaliser against Italy in a 1-1 draw in Poznan.
The Group C match was a typical game of two halves, which saw Italy, who dominated the first, take the lead through a brilliant freekick from Andrea Pirlo in the 39th minute.
Croatia, however, came out the stronger team in the second half, and deservedly found the equaliser in the 72nd minute. Left-back Ivan Strinic played a nicely weighted cross, which was misjudged by the otherwise excellent Giorgio Chiellini, allowing Mandzukic to take a first touch to bring it under control and smash it past Gianluigi Buffon off the post.
The draw leaves Croatia with four points from two games as Italy are third with two points. Spain top the group on six points. Croatia next face formidable Spain while Italy take on Ireland.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli questioned his side's killer instinct, after they failed to finish off several chances in the first half. "Of course you are a bit bitter because when a side plays football, creates a lot of goalscoring chances, they need to put a game to bed, to kill off the game.
"You need to be more clinical in front of goal, show more determination when you get in their half and get near their goal. If you can't win the game, you don't kill it off then you are going to have regrets.
"Football is unique in that you can have one cross and it can ruin everything you have built up over the game, so of course there is a lot of regret.
"But we're still convinced we can get through. Mathematically we are not out of it. We need to play well, but we have wasted an opportunity here."
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said he was happy with the point. "All I will say is that I'm very optimistic for the next match.
"I'm really satisfied we've four points from the two games. It could be even better but four points is optimal, realistic and now we have a real chance to go through."
Bilic also criticised referee Howard Webb, who, the Croatian coach felt, favoured the Italians. "I don't agree with coaches who don't comment on referees. This is very important for my job. I'm sure that was a clear penalty on Jelavic, and the referee was not good.
"Then there was a foul before the Italy free-kick (from which Pirlo scored).
"The referee was really not...I didn't like his performance. I think he was a referee who helped the Italian team a lot.
"I'm just someone commenting, I'm not going to talk about revenge, but was the referee good? No, he was not good for the Croatian team."
