IVAN PERISIC SCORED one goal and made the other as Croatia overcame Wales 2-1 in Euro 2020 qualifying in Osijek on Saturday.
Zlatko Dalicโs side had lost their last Group E game against Hungary in March, but got back on track thanks to James Lawrenceโs first-half own goal and Perisicโs 48th-minute strike following some shambolic Welsh defending.
Lawrence was unlucky to put through his own net, failing to sort his feet out when racing back towards goal, and the Anderlecht defender was one of three Wales players whose failure to clear allowed Perisic to increase the hostsโ lead.
Substitute David Brooksโ deflected effort 13 minutes from time gave Ryan Giggsโ men hope of a comeback but they could not force an equaliser as the World Cup finalists held on for victory.
An eventful opening saw Perisic twice blaze over, either side of Harry Wilson volleying an even more presentable chance straight at Dominik Livakovic from Gareth Baleโs quick-thinking long throw.
Wales at 6๏ธโฃ's & 7๏ธโฃ's at the back!
โ Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) June 8, 2019
Ivan Periลกiฤ makes it 2-0 to ๐ญ๐ท.#CROWAL #Euro2020 #VMSport pic.twitter.com/e31zS28jAu
And Wales were made to pay for that miss in the 17th minute as Perisic got in behind down the left and drilled a low cross towards Andrej Kramaric that Lawrence deflected in.
Kramaric fired off-target as Croatia sought a second prior to half-time, although they were almost caught cold as Livakovic saved from Will Vaulks and then thwarted Ben Daviesโ rebound.
Within three minutes of the restart, Croatia doubled their lead as Wales gave the ball away and failed three times to clear their lines, allowing Perisic to rifle home.
Bale shot straight at Livakovic when well placed but the Croatia goalkeeper was completely wrong-footed when Brooksโ attempt flicked off Domagoj Vidaโs head and in.
Brooksโ weak effort in stoppage time proved the last chance for a dramatic leveller, though, as Wales were made to rue leaving themselves a mountain to climb in searing 30-degree heat.
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Lack of leadership is probably where Tipp have fallen down most since 2010. The likes of Mahony, Curran, Kelly, Cummins, Fanning were the type of players to take responsibility when the game was on the line. Conor OโMahonyโs intro last year v. Galway instantly galavanised Tipp and led to a fight back. Even if we eventually lost his influence on the game was noticeable. Of the 8 list above all are fantastic players, but for key men in the team most of them (Seamie and Barry aside) have tendency to be inconsistent, passive or go missing when the game is in the balance. Harsh to criticise your best players, but also hard to watch a team capable of winning All Irelandโs squander the opportunity year after year particularly when someone like EOSโs playing style made for the most exciting spectacles of total hurling when it came off. There are extenuating circumstances of course Brendan and Paudi have played out of position, Cahill and Bonnar have been disrupted by injuries and Noelโs troubles and comeback have been well documented but as their careers wear on you want to see them achieve the feats their talents are capable of.
How did Galway beat these guys last year.
They really are as unpredictable as โฆ well Galway!!
This should be a handy one for Tipp at the wk end.
Jeez I dunno, Cork are very quiet and this is set up nicely for them, they love Thurles and they turned it on against Kilkenny in the league, all depends on which cork turns up but they rarely fail to fire against Tipp, and they owe them one since 2014
Couldnโt agree more with you An_Neal_Bocht. We went down in 2010 as red hot favourites and got ambushed. Cork are too quite and as you say they love Thurles. Still reckon we will win but not by a cricket score.
Cork are terrible.
They might ambush someone later in the year but itโs +10pts in favour of Tipp on Sunday
Not ten I think it will be close enough the two teams need to proform
I wouldnโt be surprised to see Cork win this one. Pushed kilkenny all the way in a thriller and also went to Galways back yard and beat em in the relegation final. The pessure is all on Tipp, will they be able to handle it? They canโt be too confident going by whats happened in the last few years and all the close games theyโve lost.
Some man for the lists Jackie.