Croatia lack the invention to bypass 10-man Swiss

Croatia - 0 Switzerland - 0: This is precisely what Sven-Goran Eriksson would have hoped for. A draw between two of England's fellow group members and little sign that either side will be serious contenders. Croatia, in particular, ought to feel disappointed that they failed to make the most of the numerical advantage they held for almost the whole of the second half.

The stage seemed set for Croatia to secure victory when Switzerland's Johann Vogel was dismissed shortly after the interval for a second booking. Otto Baric's team had looked the better side up to that point. Yet Switzerland defended well, broke dangerously at times and deserved a point. Croatia's lack of invention was shown up in the outcome.

Vogel saw red, having received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away after he had been cautioned early on for a foul.

Croatia, meanwhile, felt they were denied two clear penalties - at least one was a dive - but also ought to be angry with themselves for their inability to punish Switzerland.

Lacking a playmaker from central midfield in the mould of Robert Prosinecki, Croatia tend to funnel their attacks out wide, where Ivica Olic and Portsmouth's Ivica Mornar started. Olic got into several good positions on the left without making the most of the opportunities. His decision-making or delivery was often below par and he was withdrawn at half-time.

With Mornar making little headway down the other flank, Dado Prso largely anonymous and his strike partner Tomo Sokota twice wayward with shots, it was from set plays that Croatia's best moments arrived.

Niko Kovac headed over from a Nenad Bjelica corner and Croatia ought to have scored shortly from a free-kick taken by the same player after which Switzerland's attempts to play offside failed miserably. Josip Simunic allowed Jorg Stiel to save his free header and Olic put the rebound over via the bar.

Switzerland had only one sustained spell of pressure. Two of their midfielders, Vogel and Raphael Wicky, were getting through decent graft and Vogel was tending to use the ball sensibly. But striker Hakan Yakin was catching the eye only sporadically.

Otherwise Switzerland's efforts brought only one real opportunity when a Simunic mistake allowed Alexander Frei a shot which Tomislav Butina saved.

Stephane Chapuisat departed early in the second half, though that was largely because Switzerland chose to play with only one striker after going down to 10 men.

But Switzerland might twice have scored on the break. Benjamin Huggel saw a shot bounce wide off Butina and Hakan Yakin had an effort blocked.