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Euro 2012 day 11 analysis: Ivan Rakitic miss leaves Croatia short

Last updated on .From the section Euro 2012comments35

Croatia's Ivan Rakitic says he will have "sleepless nights" after failing to score with a second-half header against Spain on Monday night.

With the game goalless and entering the final half hour, the midfielder burst into the Spanish penalty area but could not direct his header past Iker Casillas after being picked out by a wonderful Luka Modric pass.

At that stage, the goal could have put Slaven Bilic's side into the quarter-finals, at the expense of the World Cup winners and European champions.

It proved to be a costly miss, with Spain's Jesus Navas tucking home an 88th-minute winner to send the Croatians crashing out.

Nevertheless, there were signs in the game that Vicente del Bosque's team have weaknesses that other teams can exploit.

Croatia's display in numbers

Luka Modric and Xavi
  • Despite missing the best chance, Rakitic was Croatia's busiest player with 53 touches, their most frequent crosser (six crosses) and shooter (two shots)
  • Luka Modric was Croatia's leading passer with 35 passes and set up two chances
  • Croatia limited Spain to 793 balls played (passes, headers, crosses, clearances and set-pieces) with the European champions completing 863 against Italy and 956 against Republic of Ireland
  • Although Spain had 14 shots to Croatia's six, the two teams created three chances each
  • Croatia hit the target with 50% of their shots compared to Spain's 43%
  • Xavi has completed more than 100 passes in each of Spain's group games
  • Fernando Torres and Iker Casillas played their 11th European Championship match, more than any other Spanish player

Alan Hansen on Match of the Day

Alan Hansen

"You have to feel really sorry for Croatia because they played so well for so long while Spain did not play as well as we've seen them before.

"The fluency wasn't there, the ball retention wasn't there and, at 0-0 in the second half, Croatia had a good penalty shout turned down. Ivan Rakitic also failed to convert the best chance of the game.

"For the penalty, Sergio Busquets pulled Vedran Corluka and there are 19 bodies in front of the referee so he can't see it. But if he does, it's a penalty kick. It's all about small margins."

David Moyes on Match of the Day

David Moyes

"Up until the last 10 minutes, Croatia were always in with a chance, but they just didn't do enough when they got the ball.

"I thought Slaven Bilic got it just about right. His side made one or two chances and had probably the best one.

"In the end, when they were open and got a bit tired, Spain got the goal. But the champions could have easily gone out of this competition.

"Luka Modric could have been a Spanish player tonight. He was terrific.

"Croatia did a great job. They had to defend for long periods. But Spain's style is one that teams are getting used to. Croatia's performance will give other sides confidence to have a go at them."

What people said about Rakitic's miss:

"I'll have several sleepless nights after missing a great chance to give us the lead but we have no regrets because we left it all out there on the pitch." - Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic

"They had an excellent opportunity but that is why Iker Casillas is there and he dealt with it very well." - Spain manager Vicente del Bosque

"We knew we'd have two or three opportunities. It's not easy when you play against Spain. You have to score when you have the chance." - Croatia boss Slaven Bilic

Give your views on Croatia's performance on Twitter at #bbcfootball

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35 comments

  • Comment posted by U14357769, at 07:57 19 Jun 2012

    Apart from a few flashes from the Croats, this has been the most boring group of the Euros

    1. The Italians settling for two draws, then "go for it" in the last match
    2. The Spanish playing with a back four and six midfielders - and
    3. The Irish didn't even turn up for any of their games. Very poor

    Still. Plenty of good games elsewhere, and more to come

  • Comment posted by TheLastMinuteMan, at 14:37 19 Jun 2012

    @18 best keeper in the tournament would be buffon not casillas. Casillas is no better than hart although both are excellent.

    @8 If the ball had hit his collarbone without any help from the big old raised arm it would have kept travelling the way it was passed with a deflection instead it came back towards navas.

    @6 Germany will be lethal on counter against spain defence without puyol

    :why?:

  • Comment posted by U15312253, at 12:54 19 Jun 2012

    I'm not sure it's hype, They battle hard under a lot of pressure, gutsy performance. Torres came up against some good defending and was found wanting.
    Xavi again was resolute and professional. Sometimes you just have to win ugly,

  • Comment posted by Silk, at 10:31 19 Jun 2012

    Following on from that, Rakitic missed an absolute sitter that any decent centre forward would have burried (he had time and the whole goal to aim at, and him headed it straight at the keeper) and had that gone in, Spain wouldn't have won.

    I'd say any top side will fancy their chances against the Spanish. They are good, but vulnerable at the back, as Croatia showed.

  • Comment posted by U13777050, at 10:19 19 Jun 2012

    Pity that Croatia didn't make the cut but you have to say that Modric didn't do his chances of a move to Spain any harm with that performance. That's assuming the rumors are to be believed and Darth Levy is willing to sell.

  • Comment posted by Eat_The_Rich, at 09:45 19 Jun 2012

    Forza Azzurri!!!

    That's all.

  • Comment posted by U15303856, at 08:19 19 Jun 2012

    Spain go into the knock-out stage and will feel that they can really push on now and raise the level of their game as they never really seemed to extend themselves in the last two. I feel that they will be watching tomorrow, wanting England to top the group, as playing them will be a harder barrier to break down than the French defense.

    http://noeasyfootballblogsatthislevel.blogspot.co.uk/

  • Comment posted by U12451096, at 08:10 19 Jun 2012

    I do not know about the penalty, for like the referee I too haven't seen it. But I definitely think Iniesta got away with his share in that lone goal in a definite off side position. And without his bit, there was no goal. A line judge can have little excuse.

    I think Spain were destined to progress, what with Raikitic chance.

  • Comment posted by TheLastMinuteMan, at 07:38 19 Jun 2012

    Thought croatia played brilliantly and maybe could or should have gone through. Should have had penalty but ref was standing miles away for some reason.

    Also thought iniesta's touch for goal was handball,especially when you see it close up,if he doesnt put his arm out he's never going to control that ball and if spain didnt get that goal who knows ???

    Think its time for llorente,need strikers on

  • Comment posted by waldovski, at 04:23 19 Jun 2012

    As a neutral, I'm glad all the big guns have made it so far. Everyone supports the underdog until a Croatia-Ukraine QF happens and then they switch off.

  • Comment posted by SportsFan, at 01:49 19 Jun 2012

    Croatia had the chance to win the match and knock Spain out of Euro but they did not take it. I doubt whether Spain will win the Euros with the way they have been playing so far in the Euros

  • Comment posted by Yelsred, at 17:31 19 Jun 2012

    I see my comment was removed so let's what happens to this one. I'm glad that a country whose FA has been fined for racism by its supporters has not progressed beyond the group stage. Now all I've staed is a fact so let's see if that falls foul of the moderators.

  • Comment posted by robc2, at 17:19 19 Jun 2012

    Just because a country gets fined for racist chanting by a few brainless people doesn't mean the entire country is racist.
    UEFA need to sort their priorities out though fining bendtner 4 nothing in my eyes and not punishing croatia enough.
    Also it was a penalty he got the ball but the sheer pace the challenge was made at would have been a foul and booking anywhere else on the pitch.

  • Comment posted by U15168892, at 16:33 19 Jun 2012

    Am I the only person in the world who saw the coin thrown towards the end? In the 83rd/84th minute, Spanish corner (can't remember who took it) you could clearly see a coin hit the ground just behind the Spanish player. The steward even turned to look up into the cowd....

  • Comment posted by robc2, at 16:11 19 Jun 2012

    Thought that Spain were extremely lucky last night they dawdled in possession of the ball walking pace.
    As for the miss he should have headed it down and if they had scored I couldn't see spain equalising against that defending.
    Also Croatia should have had 2 penalties 1 when Ramos flew into Mandzuckic and when Corluka got ragged all over (stoke style).
    Fed up of pundits getting off on Spain.

  • Comment posted by myscarface, at 15:47 19 Jun 2012

    Brilliant performance by Croatia and they should have had a penalty as well. Modric was majestic and I loved the way he and Iniesta exchanged shirts and hugs at the end, true respect from one great player to another. Spain will be champs as they can even win games when having an off day.

  • Comment posted by U15312253, at 14:51 19 Jun 2012

    @26 Buffon is a shot stopper, not very good at crosses, although very good at marshalling defence.
    Casillas is great all round, has been for years.
    Hart is up and coming but a fantastic prospect with a lot to learn, could do with being a bit more commanding in the box.

    Will the Lions be tamed tonight? We'll just have to wait and see.....

  • Comment posted by U15235555, at 14:47 19 Jun 2012

    Feel sorry for Croatia, deserved something from the tournament, they've acquitted themselves very well over their last 3 games. I worry what might happen to them now Bilic is gone mind, are there any more talented, young and hungry Croatian coaches out there? As for Spain, they don't look the force they once were. They play lots of lovely passing and possession play, but not much end-product.

  • Comment posted by U15312244, at 14:45 19 Jun 2012

    What a shame for Croatia. But Spain did not look all that great and England are likely to meet them in the last eight if they can overcome Ukraine. England will fancy their chances against Spain who they beat at Wembley in a friendly not long ago and who are not looking as good as the teams from 2008 and 2010.

    http://jedidiahgore.blogspot.it/2012/06/ukraine-desperate-for-england-scalp-in.html

  • Comment posted by U15312244, at 13:15 19 Jun 2012

    A real shame for Croatia, but Spain are a good side and found that bit of class in the end. I don't think they've got it in them to win this time though, I think England could beat them

    http://jedidiahgore.blogspot.it

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