No repeat of the Euro 2004 result which led to Italy being knocked out, but this Italy team as in Euro 2004 ground out a victory. Fortunately, for them the Spanish armada also managed a victory, a labored one to say the least. While the Spanish continued with their possession based play, the Croatians looked to contain. Taking a piece of advice from the German players, the Croatians didn’t make it too c
omfortable for the Spanish to create neither did they spend their time running after the ball. It was controlled aggression on display by the Croatian players.
Spain though passed and passed, and until the 88th minute, their progression still wasn’t secure. While Italy’s victory would also send Spain through, the Croatians knew they were always in the game with only a goal needed. As Sid Lowe of the Guardian puts it rather eloquently “The situation was a strange one: the team who needed a goal were not seeking it; the team who didn’t, were. Yet not with much urgency.”[1]
While the Spanish players were short on tempo, there was no lack of effort and saves at the near post was to the extent Pletikosa, the Croatian goal keeper was tested. Croatia though could have snatched a victory themselves. Many will say, Rakitic and Perisic should have scored, but Casillas pulled off brilliant saves. For a goal keeper of the Spanish team, it requires concentration at an optimum level, as the game is so possession based in favor of Spain, that the goal keeper will only get a few touches of the ball.
The touches though were telling enough and Casillas was the epitome of concentration as the captain led from the front. Spain though was not incisive enough as they would have liked and the substitutes once again changed the course of the game. Like the World Cup 2010 final, Fabregas was again the creator, while Iniesta had finished that time for the Spanish. This time though he laid it off for Jesus Navas, who walked it into the goal. The chip pass to crack the Croatian defense showed the artist Fabregas is in constructing beautiful goals.
Enough said about the Spanish game, the Italians played with attacking intent as well, till they scored the goal. The Irish at the end were simply not threatening enough, as has been the case this whole tournament. Their only goal has come from their Central defender, so they can hardly have any complains. The Irish team though showed a lot of fight and Italy was comfortable only at the end when Mario Balotelli’s fine volley sealed the result.
While the celebration of Balotelli’s goal was muted (forcibly muted), it has relieved quite a lot of pressure from his shoulders, after failing to score in the first two games. Italy, though are steadily building up steam for the knock out stages and based on the performance on display, their opponents know that the task in not going to get easier.
The Irish team though will have a lot to do and spare a thought for the Croatians, who would probably be one of the best placed third teams if there was such a spot in this tournament. On the day when rumors flew of Luka Modric moving to Spain, he put on display a master class of mesmerizing and pin point passing. Probably he could walk into the Spanish squad with the ability he displayed. While Euro 2008 was the platform, Euro 2012 was the opera where he orchestrated the play beautifully.
Truly an undeserved exit, but an exit nonetheless as the fickle nature of the Euro 2012 continues where there is no easy games or easy opponents.
[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/18/euro-2012-croatia-spain-group-c [last visited on 19/06/2012]
Behind the Veil 