By Anna Italia
Follow me in Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page
44% Ball Possession CROATIA and 56% Ball Possession ITALY
Croatia 1 – 1 Italy 
11′ Mario Mandzukic 36′ Antonio Candreva (pen)
Italy failing to defeat Croatia to claim the first position of Group H. Status quo remaining the same after Matchday 6. Italy are in the 2nd position with 12 points and a positive goal difference of +4 while Croatia are in the 1st position with 14 points and positive goal difference of +13.
Highlight of the match. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon becoming the first player to appear in 50 UEFA European Championship games, including qualifying. Buffon made his debut in this competition on 10 October 1998 with Italy beating Switzerland 2-0.
In the 7th minute, Referee Martin Atkinson giving a penalty to Croatia conceded by Italy defender Davide Astori after a foul on Croatia defender Darijo Srna. Immediately brilliant moment as goalkeeper Gigi Buffon saves forward Mario Mandzukic right footed penalty shot.
Referee Atkinson ruling out the goal of Italy forward Stephan El Shaarawy i the 11th minute for offside. Italian players protesting…
Oh no! GOAL… in the 11th minute, it is Mandzukic to redeem himself by scoring the opening goal defeating goalkeeper Buffon with a right footed sot in the upper right corner. Guys, Italy losing concentration for protesting the ruled out goal by El Shaarawy while Croatia continued playing and there it is the goal by Mandzukic.
First yellow card of the match is for goalkeeper Buffon for protesting.
Things not working out for Italy. In the 27th minute the first forced substitution. Defender Lorenzo De Silvestri is injured and replaced by defender Mattia De Sciglio. It seems De Silvestri suffering a knee injury.
Oops, Referee Atkinson giving this time a penalty to Italy in the 35th minute concededby Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic for a handball and getting a yellow card. Taking the penalty spot is Antonio Candreva and there he goes GOOOOALLLLLL yep, my friends, Candreva converting the penalty defeating Croatia goalkeeper with a right footed shot.
Click the video to watch the goal by Antonio Candreva against Croatia.
In the 44th minute, Referee Atkinson giving a yellow card to Croatia forward Ivica Olic after a foul on Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci bringing him down.
First half ending 1- 1 …..
Italy starting the second half with a forced substitution. In the 45th minute, injured goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is replaced by goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.
In the 72nd minute, Croatia with a forced substituion also for injury. Defender Sime Vrsaljko replacing Danijel Pranjic
Croatia ending the game with 10 players. Referee Atkinson giving the second yellow card to defender Darijo Srna after a foul on Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio.
- Stats Matchday 4: Euro 2016: Result Italy 1 – 1 Croatia, Goals by 11′ Antonio Candreva, 15′ Ivan Perisic
Here is CROATIA official formation – lineup by coach Kovač:
CROATIA (4-2-3-1): Subašić; Srna, Schildenfeld, Vida, Pranjić; Perišić, Brozović; Olić, Rakitić, Kovačić; Mandžukić.
Here is ITALY official formation – lineup by coach Antonio Conte:
ITALY (4-3-3): Buffon; De Silvestri, Astori, Bonucci, Darmian; Parolo, Pirlo, Marchisio; Candreva, Pellè, El Shaarawi.
==============================
Ticket option for Italy National team games
==============================
Here is the UEFA Euro 2016 Qualification Standing after Matchday 6. Group H teams includes Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Malta, and Norway. Matchday 7 will be played on 3 September 2015: Italy vs Malta. Italy are in the 2nd position with 12 points and a positive goal difference of +4
UEFA Euro 2016 Qualification Group H Standing
| UEFA Euro 2016 Qualification Up to Matchday 6, Friday 12 June 2015 |
P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Croatia |
6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 14 |
 Italy |
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 12 |
 Norway |
6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 10 |
 Bulgaria |
6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 |
 Azerbaijan |
6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 4 |
 Malta |
6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 1 |
Source: uefa.com
Croatia forward Ivica Olic challenging Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio
Italy forward Stephan El Shaarawy
Antonio Candreva
UEFA EURO 2016
Qualifying round
Group H
Croatia 1 – 1 Italy
Friday 12 June 2015
Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb, Croatia
20:45 CET
Referee: Martin Atkinson (ENG)
Assistant referees: Michael Mullarkey (ENG) and Stephen Child (ENG)
Fourth official: Simon Beck (ENG)
Additional assistant referees: Anthony Taylor (ENG) and Kevin Friend (ENG)
Official formations – lineups:
CROATIA (4-2-3-1): Subašić; Srna, Schildenfeld, Vida, Pranjić; Perišić, Brozović; Olić, Rakitić, Kovačić; Mandžukić.
Subs.: Vargić, L. Kalinić, Vrsaljko, Leovac, Lešković, Jajalo, Pjaca, Badelj, Kramarić, N. Kalinić, Sharbini.
Coach:. Kovač
ITALY (4-3-3): Buffon; De Silvestri, Astori, Bonucci, Darmian; Parolo, Pirlo, Marchisio; Candreva, Pellè, El Shaarawi.
Subs.: Sirigu, Padelli, Pasqual, Moretti, De Sciglio, Ranocchia, Soriano, Bertolacci, Vázquez, Sansone, Gabbiadini, Immobile.
Coach:. Conte
Match Stats
| Croatia | Match Stats | Italy |
| 1 | Goals | 1 |
| 7 (3) | Shots (on goal) | 5 (2) |
| 15 | Fouls | 8 |
| 3 | Corner kicks | 6 |
| 0 | Offsides | 3 |
| 44% | Ball Possession | 56% |
| 5 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 1 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 3 | Saves | 4 |
