Croatia picked up three points on an overcast afternoon in Paris as a first half wonder goal from Luka Modric proved to be the difference in a game which Turkey struggled to impose themselves on in the opening twenty minutes before finally adapting to the pace of the game, with Modric and co proceeding to dominate the remainder of the fixture.
As you might imagine in game between these two passionate nations, it began in a feisty fashion as numerous late challenges were committed by both sides. None were worse however than a very late attempt to get the ball by Ozan Tufan on Luka Moderic, with referee Jonas Eriksson making quite clear to the midfielder that if it wasn’t only the fourth minute of play he would have entered the book for that lunge.
One thing was certain about the opening twenty minutes and that was that Turkey were well on top with Croatia only managing to give the ball away cheaply on the rare occasions they did get it in the oppositions half.
However, the Turks were wasteful with their chances and as we neared the half hour mark it was clear that Croatia had finally found their feet as a well struck volley from Milan Badelj proved. Directly after Croatia’s best opportunity of the game, Turkey had their best chance as Ozan Tufan failed to get a proper connection on a free header six yards out allowing an extremely grateful Danijel Subasic to dive on the ball and keep it from crossing the line.
Croatia weren’t rattled by this though and continued to parade their new found confidence as yet another inswinging corner caused trouble for the Turkish defence, allowing Mandzukic to pounce on the loose ball before smashing a low effort straight at Volkan Babacan in the Turkish goal.
Croatia had clearly seen what everyone in the stadium could see as it was the next corner that they swung in that resulted in them taking the lead. The ball wasn’t cleared once again by the Turkish backline before it eventually was bicycle kicked straight up in the air allowing Modric to connect with the perfect volley that riffled past Volkan Babacan in the Turkish goal to finally silence the noisy Turks behind the goal.
Moments later and that same crowd thought they had grabbed an immediate equaliser but instead Hakan Balta could only hit the side netting with his header from a well hit corner.
The second half started in much the way that the first had ended with Turkey dominating proceedings. Just over five minutes had gone after the ref had restarted the contest when Darijo Srna rattled the Turkish crossbar with a well struck free kick from 20 yards out that left keeper Babacan rooted to the spot.
Three minutes later and Srna really ought to have doubled Croatia’s lead, but instead he snatched at his effort inside the box when he had the goal gaping following Babacan’s forced diving punch clearance.
Perhaps a sign of how lacklustre Turkey had become was the decision by Manager Faith Terim to take off his captain Arda Turan shortly after the hour mark but it largely failed to make any impact at all.
Croatia then managed to rattle the crossbar for a second time as Rakitic rose unguarded to head off the woodwork with Babacan once again merely a spectator. Not long after and Mandzukic attacked a long throw with venom that forced Babacan to be alert and tip over his bar.
There was still time though for Turkey to have a good opportunity as a free from 25 yards out on the right hand side by Canar Erkin was dealt with professionally by the Croatian keeper. However, the Croatia performance in the second half and for the majority of the first more than deserved their victory as they, for the time being at least, sit atop of Group D with Spain and the Czech Republic to play tomorrow (Monday).
Turkey: Volkan Babacan, Gokhan Gonul, Mehmet Topal, Hakan Balta, Caner Erik; Ozan Tufan, Selcuk Inan, Oguzhan Ozyakub (Volkan Sen 46); Hakan Calhanoglu, Arda Turan (Burak Yilmaz 65); Cenk Tosun (Emre Mor 70).
Subs Not Used: Onur Kivrak, Harun Tekin, Semih Kaya, Ahmet Calik, Nuri Sahin, Olcay Sahan, Ismahil Koybasi, Yunus Maili, Sener Ozbayrakli.
Yellow Cards: Tosun (31), Balta (49), Sen (90+1).
Croatia: Danijel Subasic, Dariko Srna, Vedran Corluka, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Strinic; Luka Moderic, Milan Badej; Marcelo Brozovic, Ivan Rakitic (Gordon Schildenfeld 88), Ivan Perisic (Andrej Kramaric 86); Mario Mandzukic (Marko Pjaca 90+3).
Subs Not Used: Ivan Vargic, Lovre Kalinac, Sime Vrsaljko, Tim Jedvaj, Meteo Kovacic, Marko Rog, Nikola Kalnic, Ante Coric.
Yellow Cards: Strinic (80).
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden).
Attendance: 43,842..
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Mario Mandzukic (Croatia).
