Italy will look to secure a first win against Croatia since the latter’s independence when the sides meet in 14th Edition of European Cup at Municipal Stadium, Poznan, Poland on Thursday (June 14). This group C match will start at 21.30 hours (IST).
It will be the seventh international match between the two teams and first in European Cup finals.
Croatia have lost just one of their last six meetings against Italy, winning three and drawing two. They scored seven in conceded same number of goals in thes matches.
Italy have never beaten Croatia in a competitive game, losing their only meeting in major tournaments, 1-2 in the 2002 World Cup.
Alongside Brazil, Croatia are one of only two sides unbeaten in their last five meetings against Italy.
Italy are winless in their last four internaional games. This is their longest run without a win since August 2010, when they were winless for seven games in a row.
The Azzurri haven’t won any of their last five games in major international tournaments, four draws and a loss.
Antonio Di Natale’s goal against Spain in the opening match ended a 360-minute goal-scoring drought for the Azzurri.
Amongst the Azzurri in the squad at Euro 2012, Di Natale is the most prolific with 11 goals in 38 matches.
Croatia have won their last four games in the group stage of the European Championship finals, and have always scored in the last six.
Mario Mandzukic was only the second Croatian to score a brace in the Euro, after Davor Suker at Euro 1996 vs Denmark.
Three of Croatia’s last four goals in the European Championship finals have been headers.
The second match of the day will be played between Spain and Ireland at PGE Arena, Gdansk, Poland. This group C match will start at 00.15 hours (IST).
This will be the 25th international match between the two teams and first in European Cup final.
Ireland have won only four of their 24 official meetings against Spain, losing 13 and drawing seven. They scored 18 and conceded 18 goals in these matches.
Ireland have beaten La Roja just twice in their last 14 official meetings, both by 1-0. These two sides have met just once in major tournaments – Spain had the better on penalty shootout in the 2002 World Cup, 1-1 after extra-time.
Spain have keep a clean sheet in eight of their last 12 meetings against Ireland. The draw against Italy ended a six-game winning streak for Spain in major tournaments, all coming in the 2010 World Cup.
La Roja are unbeaten in their last seven games in the European Championship finals, five wins, two draws.
Ireland have won just one of their last eight games in major tournaments, 3-0 vs Saudi Arabia in the 2002 World Cup
Iker Casillas made five saves against Italy in the opening game, the same amount as he made in a total of seven appearances combined in qualifying.
Fourteen of Spain’s last 15 goals in the European Championship finals have been scored from open play, the other from a corner situation.
In their game against Italy, Spain made 733 passes, almost twice as many as Ireland did against Croatia (368).
EUROPEAN CUP FOOTBALL:
CROATIA V ITALY:
HEAD TO HEAD:
INTERNATIONAL MATCHES:
Played: 6
Croatia won: 3
Italy won: 1
Drawn: 2
Goals for Croatia: 7
Goals for Italy: 7
First meeting in
European Cup finals
SPAIN V IRELAND:
HEAD TO HEAD:
INTERNATIONAL MATCHES:
Played: 24
Spain won: 13
Ireland won: 4
Drawn: 7
Goals for Spain: 48
Goals for Ireland: 18
First meeting in
European Cup finals
