Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic (L) vies with Italian midfielder Riccardo Montolivo.
Italy’s Euro 2012 hopes were in the balance after they let Croatia off the hook on Thursday, dominating the first half and taking the lead before tiring and being held to a 1-1 draw in their Group C match.
Midfielder Andrea Pirlo capped a majestic first-half performance by curling home a free kick in the 39th minute as Italy took the game by the scruff of the neck and created a hatful of opportunities.
But their failure to take other chances, with Mario Baotelli the chief culprit, cost them dear when Mario Mandzukic punished slack marking by firing an equaliser in the second half of a game marred by Croatia fans throwing flares onto the pitch.
Slaven Bilic’s team have four points from two games while Italy have two points. Spain, who have one point, face pointless Ireland in Gdansk later on Thursday.
Italy, whose open approach has provided a refreshing break from their traditional style of dour defence, had also let a one-goal lead slip against Spain, when they also started well but drew 1-1.
Coach Cesare Prandelli, whose team next face an Ireland side coached by his wily compatriot Giovanni Trapattoni, said they should have shown more of a killer instinct.
«When a side plays football, creates a lot of chances, they need to kill off the game but football is unique in the sense that one cross can ruin everything you’ve built up over the game,» he said.
«We’re still in this but we have wasted an opportunity here.
«There is a drop in our standard after the 60th minute,» he added. «We need to see how we can manage our energy levels… I don’t know why this is, when you’re analysing the game you are not looking for justifications.»
Italy stuck with their potentially brilliant but explosive pairing of Balotelli and Antonio Cassano in attack and, with Pirlo spraying passes around at will, they easily opened up the Croatia defence.
However, Balotelli, in particular, was guilty of wasting chances. Having forced Stipe Pletikosa into an early save with a snap shot, he wasted a tremendous chance when, after been picked out unmarked by Cassano, he dallied over his shot, giving the Croatia keeper a chance to make the save.
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