National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Roy Makaay started the match with the kick off. After 3 minutes, John Terry mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Croatia and the Mexico players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 3 played minutes Croatia got a freekick which was hit by John Terry. Mexico's supporters stood up full of expectation in the 4th minute of the game, when Arsenio Manuelo after an extraordinary solo performance found himself with a golden opportunity in front of Croatia's goal. Arsenio Manuelo was unfortunally a little to anxious and the ball went outside the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Geronimo Salomone in the 9th minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Nebojša Jerić to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Nebojša Jerić made an important save on a dangerous shot by Julien Zbydniowski in the 12th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 16th minute, Gareth Avalos managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Gareth Avalos was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nebojša Jerić breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Thanks to some nice moves Geronimo Salomone could shoot a difficult shot in the 18th minute, which Nebojša Jerić however easily saved by the left post. 19 minutes into the match, Croatia's goalkeeper Nebojša Jerić had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Isidro Oliviero. 20 minutes into the match, Croatia's goalkeeper Nebojša Jerić had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Isidro Oliviero. If Julien Zbydniowski had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Venancio Dolfo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Roy Makaay, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 35th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gareth Avalos to maneuver through the defense. Roy Makaay blasted a shot towards the goal in the 41st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Venancio Dolfo having to make a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Roy Makaay in the 41st minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Venancio Dolfo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 45thth minute of the game Roy Makaay who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Mexico's Venancio Dolfo was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball.

Croatia made a substitution. Nikola Vlašić replaced Marko Livaja. The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Geronimo Salomone stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Arsenio Manuelo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Croatia's Nebojša Jerić played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Isidro Oliviero in the 58th minute of play. In the 71st minute Geronimo Salomone shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nebojša Jerić saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 72nd minute, Nikola Haramina hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Croatia's Silvio Ham was substituted for Luka Mata. Mexico's Fernandinho Rivera was substituted for Everardo Dei. Nikola Haramina kicked well hit freekick during the 73rd minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gareth Avalos in the 74th minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Nebojša Jerić to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mexico's Venancio Dolfo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Roy Makaay in the 79th minute of play. After 84 played minutes Croatia got a freekick which was hit by Nikola Vlašić. 88 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Roy Makaay came free, but Venancio Dolfo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Roy Makaay let the left foot speak when in front of goal in the 90th minute shot 0-1 at rihgt post. Fernandinho Rivera recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 92nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The supporters of Croatia booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 94 match minutes in a wonderful position. Arsenio Manuelo didn't get a good kick on the ball.