Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of the Euro 2012 Group C clash between Croatia and Spain.
Qualification to the knockout stages is up for grabs for three teams tonight, with both Croatia and Spain level on four points.
Meanwhile, Italy must defeat the Republic of Ireland in the other game to have any chance of progressing.
FULL TIMEIt has ended 1-0 in Gdansk, meaning that Spain and Italy have qualified from Group C.
FULL TIMEBilic's reign as Croatia manager has ended in disappointment after failing to qualify for the knockout stages. He is now off to pastures new with Lokomotiv Moscow.
90 minsItaly have doubled their lead over Ireland thanks to Balotelli. That seems to have wrapped things up for Group C.
89 minsA goal looked likely to happen as Croatia committed men forward and left themselves short at the back... and the wait for a 0-0 draw in this year's tournament goes on!
88 minsthat goal looks to be sending Bilic's boys out of the competition. Spain are top, with Italy, still leading against Ireland, qualifying in second place.
87 minsGOAL! Croatia are heading out here after Iniesta springs the offside trap and squares the ball to Navas who rifles into an empty net!
87 minsCroatia have poured men forward leaving the,selves exposed at the back.
86 minsRakitic delivers and Corluka causes Casillas a nervy moment. The Spanish fans will be relieved to not see that one nestle in the net!
86 minsStrinic wins a corner from Ramos.
85 mins... same result. It was far too deep and Croatia clear, but Spain have the ball in Croatia's half once more.
84 minsThe clock is ticking and Croatia are getting desperate. Iniesta is played through by Fabregas but Pletikosa saves. Another corner...
80 minsThat was Vukojevic's last contribution to proceedings. He has been replaced by Eduardo. Can he make himself a hero?
79 minsCroatia break downfield and Modric floats a ball out to Vukojevic chests and shoots at Casillas, who deals well with the difficult bouncing ball.
79 minsA familiar pattern. Croatia clear the corner.
78 minsIniesta and Fabregas combine in the area, but Fabregas's shot is blocked and sent out for a corner.
76 minsthe clock is ticking for Croatia but they can't keep hold of the ball and Spain press surther up the pitch.
74 minsSpain win yet another corner. They have failed to make anything from set pieces so far. They have taken it short and the ball is eventually cleared.
73 minsSilva is coming off for Fabregas. He has played well tonight, Del Bosque may be saving his legs for later in the tournament.
72 minsFabregas is preparing to come on for the reigning champions.
70 minsthe two substitutes Jelavic and Perisic link up down the left and the latter delivers a ball that striker nearly gets his head to.
69 minsReplays show that Pique gets away with an elbow, which could have been a straight red card.
68 minsCroatia stand tall again. Spain are having no joy from these dead ball situations.
68 minsNavas runs at Strinic and drives the ball low into the area. It has been turned away for a corner.
67 minsJelavic makes his way onto the field in place of Pranjic. Perisic also comes on for Vida. Bilic has to go for this now.
65 minsCroatia need the ball and must get forward if they are to prolong their stay in this year's championships. Spain are doing their usual act of keeping the ball.
61 minsCroatia have opened up more in attack this half. The actions is back and forth.
60 minsDel Bosque is making a switch. Fernando Torres is making way for pacy winger Jesus Navas.
59 minsCHANCE! Modric skips away from Ramos down the right and delivers a wonderful ball into an unmarked Rakitic. However, the header is straight at Casillas.
52 minsIniesta nearly plays Torres through but the pass is just a few yards too long.
48 minsReferee blows up for a foul on Casillas by Corluka
47 minsSrna wins a corner for Croatia.
46 minsCroatia have the opportunity to launch the ball in from a long throw but Spain clear the danger.
45 minsWe're back underway in Gdansk.
HALF TIMEStatistics show that Spain have had 68% possession compared to Croatia's 32%. It's what you would expect, really...
HALF TIMEThe teams go in level at the break. Spain have looked the far more likely to make something happen, but still no score in Gdansk.
45 minsCorner for Spain in stoppage time, but again to no avail. 2 mins of added on time to be played.
43 minsSrna has been shown a yellow card after barging into Busquets while trying to win the ball in the air.
42 minsBetter delivery from Xavi but still Croatia clear the ball.
41 minsSilva has been Spain's most inventive player so far. He twists and turns inside the area and eventually wins a corner.
36 minsNews from Italy's game is that they are 1-0 up, meaning that Croatia are out as things stand.
34 minsSilva advances in a promising position down the right but Schildenfeld makes a great tackle.
32 minsSpain on top in terms of possession, as you would expect. They are starting to find a little bit more space now, but still no clear chances to speak of.
26 minsMandzukic appeals for a penalty but the referee waves it away! The big striker broke down the right and Ramos flew into the challenge, studs showing. He may have got away with that one! Corluka is booked for dissent, clearly unhappy with the decision. Mandzukic limps off, Jelavic could be introduced earlier than anticipated.
25 minsModric plays Pranjic through but Casillas saves well down low. The shot was on target, but never really testing the Real Madrid man.
24 minsPique decides to test Pletikos from way out, but it was always too high. Decent effort though.
23 minsRamos fires a shot in from long distance. The bounce does not fool Pletikos and he deals with the situation well.
22 minsTorres creates some space in the area, but the angle he shoots from is very acute and Pletikosa saves with his legs.
20 minsA foul on Silva gives Spain an opportunity to get the ball in the area. However, Xavi's delivery is below par once again. Very unlike the little master
20 minsCroatia seem to be breaking up play with fouls. Nothing major, just shirt pulling and little trips.
13 minsSpain are seeing plenty of the ball but Croatia have lined up in a solid formation. Potential masterstroke from Bilic to drop Jelavic. The Everton star could make a big impact from the bench later in the game.
11 minsSilva nearly engineers a chance for Iniesta with a beautifully threaded through ball, but the danger is snuffed out by Pletikosa.
8 minsSpain are trying to implement their game plan an knock the ball around but Croatia seem on up for it tonight.
7 minsMore flares at the Croatian end. They had bother with that in the last match against Italy. The smoke is interfering with play and we have a slight delay.
4 minsAnother poor delivery from Spain as Croatia easily clear their lines.
3 minAlba breaks down the left but the ball is headed clear for a corner. Torres was lurking...
3 minIt has been a busy start by both teams. this could turn out to be an exciting attacking encounter. With Spain, you're sure one team is going to be going for it!
2 minsCroatia break down field but any danger is averted by Iniesta.
1 minDiaappointing from Xavi...
1 minMandzukic puts in an early challenge on Busquets, and the referee blows for a foul. Xavi to deliver the ball into the box...
19.45Spain kick the match off here in Gdansk, kicking from right to left.
19.43Spain are unbeaten in competitive competition since losing 1-0 to Switzerland in the first match of their World Cup campaign in South Africa two years ago. This will prove to be a tall order for Sleven Bilic's men, but in Modric they have the quality to create chances and cause a shock.
19.40The teams are about to enter the pitch. Croatia are in their traditional white and red checkered strips, while Spain don their away strip.
19.39Both of tonight's teams are level on four points at the top of Group C, while Italy, who play Ireland, are on two points following two successive 1-1 draws. We could be in for an interesting night of dramatic twists and turns!
19.37Nikica Jelavic also starts from the subs bench with Mario Manduzkic continuing in attack for Croatia.
19.35Fernando Torres has retained his place up front for Spain following his two-goal showing in the 4-0 win the Republic of Ireland. Cesc Fabregas will once again start from the bench despite coming off the bench to net against Giovanni Trapattoni's men.
19.33Hello and welcome to the live text commentary for this crucial Group C clash between the top two teams Croatia and Spain.
Written by
Michael Penkman
Michael Penkman
