Croatia, Italy share the spoils

Italy drew 1-1 against Croatia in their Euro 2016 qualifying match in Split on Friday evening.

Croatia won a penalty within the opening six minutes when Darijo Srna was felled by Davide Astori, but Mario Mandzukic's spot kick was saved by Gianluigi Buffon.

Four minutes later, Stephan El Shaarawy thought that he had opened the scoring for Italy, but his goal was ruled out for offside.

Croatia countered quickly from the free kick, and Ivan Rakitic's low cross found Mandzukic who bundled the ball into the back of the net from six yards.

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Ivica Olic then nearly doubled the lead in the 18th minute, but his outstretched leg could not quite reach Ivan Perisic's low cross.

El Shaarawy should have scored on the half-hour mark when Graziano Pelle found him unmarked inside the area, but the AC Milan striker shot straight at Danijel Subasic.

The scores were levelled three minutes later though, as Mandzukic handballed inside the area and Antonio Candreva stepped up to coolly net with a panenka-style penalty kick.

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After a quiet start to the second half, it sprung to life on the hour mark. Candreva's cross from the right byline found El Shaarawy, but he headed over the crossbar.

Croatia tried their luck from long range towards the latter stages of the match, but Perisic and Rakitic could not hit the target with their attempts.

Srna was dismissed in stoppage time after picking up a second yellow card.