The 2006 World Cup has come to an end for yet another Werder star. On Thursday evening Ivan Klasnic and Croatia despeartely needed a win in their final group game against Australia...
The 2006 World Cup has come to an end for yet another Werder star. On Thursday evening Ivan Klasnic and Croatia despeartely needed a win in their final group game against Australia...
The 2006 World Cup has come to an end for yet another Werder star. On Thursday evening Ivan Klasnic and Croatia despeartely needed a win in their final group game against Australia but in a highly dramatic match, the Croatians allowed the Aussies to equalise in the 78th minute. The game finished 2:2 and one point was enough for the battling 'Socceroo's' to secure second place in Group F. Guus Hiddink's side will now face Italy on Monday in Kaiserslautern. It was to be a similar faith for the Croatians who suffered an early out in the 2002 tournament.
The Europeans took the lead twice in front of 52,000 at a capacity filled Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadium in Stuttgart. With only 117 seconds on the clock. Darijo Srna screwed a 23 meter free-kick into the top corner of the net. It was the first goal for the Croatians after a 286 minute goal drought. A penalty,taken by Craig Moore, for had ball in the 38th minute put the Aussies back in the the game but Berlin's Nico Kovac restored the lead for his side in the 56th. Harry Kewell snatched a deserved equaliser for the Socceroo's in the 78th minute to make the final score 2:2.
Croatia finished the game with Dario Simic (85') and Josip Simunic (90') both seeing red as did Australia's Brett Emerton (87'). 30,000 red and whíte atired fans saw their side start much more brightly than in their previous games against Brazil (0:1) and Japan (0:0). Hiddink brought keeper Zeljko Kalac for Mark Scharzer and the Croatian rooted keeper couldn't have had a worse start, picking Srna's free-kick out of his net after less than two minutes. During the first half, the third place side from 1998 sat back and were punished for their passive play. The Oceanic side took control and put the Croatians under immense pressure with Mark Viduka up front a constant threat. A hand ball by Tomas gave Australia a penalty which Craig Moore used to equalise.
In the second half of now 'All-Or-Nothing' game the Croats attempted to play more and were rewarded when Robert Kovac hit a low drive which the Aussie keeper stunningly allowed to bounce over his hands in the 56th minute. The Socceroo's threw everything into attack and eventually got a deserved equaliser in the 78th minute when Harry Kewell buried from close range - when from a seemingly offside position. A wild closing phase saw three red cards and curiously Croatia's Josip Simunic picking up three!!! yellow cards before his red after the final whistle.
