The Passion of the Croats (R)

[MiamiAce]

This is easily the best match of the tournament. I was stunned to see how well Croatia played and outplayed the defending Euro champions. Croatia played with so much passion as their ever-chanting fans were driving their energies like a unified heart. I though it was all over when Croatia went up 2-1 and as they kept threatening to score another, but the most silly error by a Croatian defender allowed the French to score a tieing goal. Not to take anything away from France but perhaps they were lucky for receiving an own-goal and an error-goal from the Croats, yet thats the way it goes. The Croats and French were dueling it out to the very end. Croatia had the best opportunity to break the tie, in injury time at the end of the game, a clear 2-yard shot in front of the French goal for Ivica Mornar! The ball somehow managed to skim by the left post. I now remember how Croatia made it to the semifinals of World Cup 1998 (which ironically they lost to France 1-2)... they're tactic is 'play with passion all the way through'.

[sendorange]

They went for it in the second half, but considering how flat they were in the first half and in the Swiss game they certainly had the energy to spare. It's also really worth bearing in mind that a draw or a defeat meant absolutely no difference to them and their qualification hopes. After Switzerland's 3-0 loss to England only a win against France would let Croatia go into the last game against England needing only to avoid defeat to get through. A draw or loss still meant they would need to win that last game to qualify. Hence Baric saying before the game he was considering resting his best players against France.

Croatian fans can take confidence from it though, the players did well and showed some real quality, particularly attacking.