National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Mateo Letica took the kick off in the first half of the match. Mateo Letica fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 4th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fethi Tanto having to interfere. If Krešo Kržak had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience was convinced that Mateo Letica's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Fethi Tanto was relentless in the 13th minute of the game. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Mateo Letica in the 20th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Fethi Tanto saved Italy from getting behind. Mateo Letica sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jasmin Đupić showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Camillo Giannico in the 23rd minute of the match. 27 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Alfredo Reggianini came free, but Jasmin Đupić reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 31st minute the ball was on its way in behind Italy's goalkeeper Fethi Tanto, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 31st minute, Krešo Kržak made a precise shot to the right of Fethi Tanto. Italy's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. 36 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Camillo Giannico came free, but Jasmin Đupić reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 38th minute of the match Italy got a corner. Croatia's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Emiliano Polmone ran over to the corner to take the kick. Jasmin Đupić showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alfredo Reggianini, who was totally free with the ball in the 40th minute. Jasmin Đupić made a fantastic save in the 42nd minute, when Gheorghe Hagi sent off a good shot on target. An unexpectedly hard shot by Camillo Giannico in the 43rd minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Jasmin Đupić to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Alfredo Reggianini to make the kick off. Jasmin Đupić showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Biagio Lopez, who was totally free with the ball in the 55th minute. After 57 minutes Croatia's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Emiliano Polmone who took care of the corner kick. The corner ended in Emiliano Polmone almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Croatia's Jasmin Đupić did a great save. Emiliano Polmone succeeded in the game's 57th minute to get real power on a long shot . Croatia's Jasmin Đupić hadn't the time to block the shot which was pasted into the goal, 2-1! Croatia's Jasmin Đupić played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Camillo Giannico in the 59th minute of play. Jasmin Đupić made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gheorghe Hagi in the 60th minute of play. Fethi Tanto showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mateo Letica, who was totally free with the ball in the 62nd minute. The supporters of Italy booed when Croatia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 63 match minutes in a wonderful position. Krešo Kržak didn't get a good kick on the ball. Fethi Tanto made a fantastic save in the 66th minute, when Grgur Kapor sent off a good shot on target. Fethi Tanto showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mateo Letica, who was totally free with the ball in the 69th minute. Italy made a substitution. Edmondo Orsini replaced Alfredo Reggianini. Italy's Armando Mazzetti was substituted for Camillo Giannico. Croatia's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Mateo Letica in the 73rd minute. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Italy's goalie and right to Zoltan Ljubičić. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Italy's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. When Zoltan Ljubičić fell near the penalty area in the 74th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Croatia's protests and gave Zoltan Ljubičić a yellow card for diving instead. In the 75th match minute, Croatia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zoltan Ljubičić to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Mateo Letica in the 79th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Fethi Tanto prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Krešo Kržak received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 83rd minute. Fethi Tanto tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Mateo Letica in the 85th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Fethi Tanto prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 86 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Gheorghe Hagi came free, but Jasmin Đupić reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 89thth minute of the game Gheorghe Hagi who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Croatia's Jasmin Đupić was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The Italy fans' excitement grew in the 89th match minute when Italy's Gheorghe Hagi looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 3-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Fortunato Gargano during the 95th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 96th match minute, Italy was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fortunato Gargano to maneuver through the defense. Italy's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.