Perisic seals Group D for Croatia against Spain at Euro 2016

Croatia produced a superb performance against defending European champions Spain. Ante Cacic’s side deservedly won the match and finished top of Group D, sending the Spaniards into the hardest half of the draw. Spain would face Italy in the Round of 16, and if La Furia Roja reached the quarter-finals they would probably meet Germany. After that, Del Bosque’s players could come up against England or France.

The game in Bordeaux started very well for Spain. David Silva found Cesc Fabregas in the box, Fabregas passed to Morata, and the forward had no trouble scoring from about a metre out in the 7th minute. A few minutes later winger Nolito had a chance to double the lead, but his shot went wide. Croatia created their first chance in the 12th minute, when striker Kalinic tried his luck from distance and De Gea tipped the ball away. Perisic then had a chance as well, but his header missed the target.

Croatia grew in confidence and began to outplay their opponents. David De Gea made a terrible mistake that gave Ivan Rakitic a shot at an empty goal. The midfielder did not hesitate, but his effort struck the bar and the post.

Seconds before half-time, Ivan Perisic, the best player on the pitch, delivered a perfect cross and Kalinic flicked it in with his back heel to equalise – 1-1.

In the second half Ramos had the best chances. His header went inches wide, and in the 72nd minute his penalty was saved by Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic.

With 2 minutes of normal time left, Croatia launched a great counter-attack. Rakitic passed to Kalinic in the centre of the pitch, who carried the ball forward and laid it off to Perisic on the left. The Inter winger hit a powerful low shot into the net. 2-1 for Croatia!

The result meant Croatia would face the third-placed team from Group B (Slovakia), Group E (Sweden, Belgium or the Republic of Ireland) or Group F (where every team still had a chance of that place). A win would bring a quarter-final against the winner of Poland versus Switzerland, a far more attractive route than one through Italy, Germany, France and England. It would be no surprise if Croatia achieved something big at Euro 2016.

How the knockout stage unfolded

Croatia finished Group D with 7 points from three games, one ahead of Spain, with Turkey on 3 and the Czech Republic on 1. Perisic scored twice in the group, opening the scoring in the 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic before deciding the game against Spain.

The kinder half of the draw did not turn into a long run. Croatia met Portugal, who had finished third in Group F, in the Round of 16 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens on 25 June 2016. The game was goalless after 90 minutes, and Ricardo Quaresma scored the only goal in the 117th minute of extra time. Portugal went on to win the tournament, beating France 1-0 after extra time in the final.

Spain fared no better on the harder side. Italy beat the holders 2-0 at the Stade de France on 27 June 2016, with goals from Giorgio Chiellini in the 33rd minute and Graziano Pelle in stoppage time.

Perisic and Croatia after Euro 2016

Ante Cacic stayed in charge for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, but he was dismissed in October 2017 after a 1-1 home draw with Finland, and Zlatko Dalic took over. Croatia beat Ukraine away and then Greece in the play-off to reach Russia.

At the 2018 World Cup Perisic scored three times, including the equaliser in the semi-final against England, which Croatia won 2-1 after extra time, and the equaliser in the final against France in Moscow on 15 July 2018. France won the final 4-2, and Luka Modric received the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. Two years later Perisic was on loan at Bayern Munich and was part of the squad that beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the 2020 Champions League final.