Draw sees Croatia home over Turkey

EURO 2012 PLAY-OFF, SECOND LEGS: Croatia 0 Turkey 0:A HOME draw on a bitterly cold night handed Croatia a place in the Euro 2012 finals.

The success in Istanbul and Zagreb completed Croatia’s revenge over Turkey for a painful defeat in their Euro 2008 quarter-final, when the Turks won on penalties after equalising with the last kick of extra-time.

Turkey were a much improved side in Zagreb after a poor performance in the first leg in Istanbul, but Croatia comfortably held their own in front of a passionate 25,000 home crowd in the Maksimir stadium.

Facing the mammoth task of overhauling the first-leg deficit, Turkey threw men forward.

Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa kept out Kazim-Richard’s early close-range shot with a superb reflex save, but Croatia regained their composure and, after the break, the best chances fell to the home side.

Shots by Danijel Pranjic and Ivan Rakitic were saved, before Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric had a great chance from 10 metres blocked by a defender in the dying minutes of the game.

CROATIA:Pletikosa, Simunic, Schildenfeld, Vida, Pranjic, Rakitic, Vukojevic (Eduardo 87), Modric, Srna, Mandzukic (Jelavic 77), Olic (Perisic 61). Booked: Vida, Mandzukic.

TURKEY:Bolat, Toprak, Korkmaz,Inan, Koybasi, Balci, Hamit Altintop, Erkin (Tore 36), Kazim-Richards, Sahin, Bulut (Halil Altintop 71). Booked: Erkin, Balci, Hamit Altintop, Inan.

Referee:P Proenca (Portugal).