UEFA EURO CUP 2012 - DAY 7: Italy fell back to its old defensive tactics Thursday — and the price was a costly 1-1 draw with Croatia

POZNAN, POLAND—After all the talk about an attacking approach to football, Italy fell back to its old defensive tactics Thursday — and the price was a costly 1-1 draw with Croatia.
The Italians let a first-half lead slip away and now may need help to advance to the European Championship quarterfinals.
Andrea Pirlo gave the Italians the lead with a curving free kick in the 39th minute, but Mario Mandzukic was left unmarked to equalize for Croatia in the 72nd.
At the start of the second half, Italy rarely threatened, instead choosing to absorb Croatia’s attacks. The tactic backfired when Ivan Strinic launched a long pass from the left flank to Mandzukic, who had time to control at the edge of the box and shoot in off the post.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli was left wondering if there was a physical problem with his squad.
“After an hour our physical level drops,” Prandelli said. “We’ve got to figure out how to manage our energy in the next match. We’re lacking freshness in that phase of the match.
“We (drew) with a very physical and athletic squad, but we played much better (than Croatia).”
Italy had numerous other first-half chances from Mario Balotelli, Claudio Marchisio and Antonio Cassano, but the Azzurri lacked finishing quality. Balotelli, in particular, appeared hesitant and missed one opportunity after another. And this time, second-half replacement Antonio Di Natale never really had a chance to score.
“If you can’t finish it off, of course you’re going to have regrets,” said Prandelli, who will likely be questioned for sticking with Balotelli up front.
Having opened with a 3-1 win over Ireland, Croatia has four points in Group C. Italy has two points after its opening 1-1 draw with defending champion Spain.
“Probably the whole country was not expecting this,” Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said. “We have a really good chance of going through.”
In the final round of group matches Monday, Italy faces Ireland and Croatia meets world champion Spain.
“I am still convinced we can go through, but we have certainly wasted an opportunity here,” Prandelli said.
For his goal, Pirlo placed the ball over Croatia’s three-man wall and just inside the near post. Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa could only get a weak hand on it once the ball was already inside his net.
“I’m happy for the goal but it’s a shame for the team performance, because we could have won the game,” Pirlo said. “We had chances to finish the game off in the first half but couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.”
Italy remains winless against its Mediterranean neighbour in all six meetings since Croatia declared independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. The Azzurri are also now winless in their second matches at their last six major tournaments.
Before the match, Croatian fans burned a European Union flag and paraded around Poznan’s main old town square with posters of a convicted war criminal. Police, some in riot gear, monitored the situation, but did not intervene.
Already being investigated for fan behaviour in the first match, Croatian supporters again threw flares on the field several times in the second half. After Croatia scored, the smoke was so intense that Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon complained he couldn’t see and the match was briefly suspended.
On a damp and cool evening at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan, Croatian fans outfitted like their red-and-white checkered flag vastly outnumbered Italian supporters.

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Spain’s 4-0 oustanding victory eliminates Ireland

Fernando Torres scored a goal in each half Thursday to help give Spain a 4-0 win over Ireland

GDANSK, POLAND—Fernando Torres scored a goal in each half Thursday to give Spain a 4-0 win over Ireland and eliminate the Irish from the European Championship.
David Silva and substitute Cesc Fabregas also scored second-half goals as the defending champions improved to four points in Group C, the same as co-leader Croatia.
Spain dominated the tempo and scoring opportunities through its quick combinations. Torres, who scored in the Euro 2008 final, put Spain ahead early after dispossessing Richard Dunne inside the area and scurrying past Stephen Ward before sending an angled shot over goalkeeper Shay Given in the fourth minute.
“We wanted to win, to make a better impression than we did against Italy,” Torres said. “You have to enjoy every moment, every game. I started again, scored two goals and enjoyed playing again with my teammates.”
The goal marked the start of Spain’s assault on the Irish, who had started well with Simon Cox forcing Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas into a tricky save in only the second minute.
But Spain’s combination passing got better, leaving Ireland in a constant chase. Spain midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso exploited every crack through the middle with pinpoint passes that were either spoiled by poor finishing, blocked shots or saves.
“For the vast majority of time, we were chasing shadows,” Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews said.
Silva was a continuous threat inside the area before finally converting early in the second half. The Manchester City forward gathered the ball inside the area in the 49th before showing some patience by rolling a left-footed shot around two defenders and through Dunne’s legs and out of the reach of Given.
Given still made clutch stops on shots from Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Alonso, who pushed forward alongside fullbacks Alvaro Arbeloa and Jordi Alba as Spain looked for goals.
While Ireland enjoyed a brief spell of chances in the second half, with Casillas stretching to save a shot from Robbie Keane in the 75th, it was Torres who showed his late season turn in form at Chelsea would continue at Euro 2012. Torres ran on to Silva’s pass and held off Dunne’s pressure to shoot around Given in the 70th.
Fabregas, who scored against Italy while playing in an unlikely attacking role, received Silva’s corner at the near side and sent a shot off the inside of the far post to complete the rout in the 83rd.
Ireland will play its final match against Italy, which has two points and needs of a victory to advance to the quarterfinals.