Euro 2020 Match 4: Croatia Follow Swiss Path to Deliver Draw Against Wales

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Euro 2020 Match 4: Wales v Croatia

Croatia Follow Swiss Path to Deliver Draw Against Wales

June 15, 2020

Wales 2 Croatia 2

 

 

Croatia came from behind to salvage a point against Wales, following in the footsteps of Switzerland in today’s earlier match.

 

Wales and Croatia travelled to the Stade de Suisse in the hopes of wrestling control of Group B. Wales were the danger side early, but it was Luka Modrić who shot at goal first as he wandered slightly unopposed into the box. His left footer, however, missed to the left of goal.

 

Instead, down the other end, Welsh talisman Gareth Bale headed home the opening goal after Ben Davies worked down the left wing to cross perfectly to Bale’s head.

 

Marcelo Brozović had his shot blocked soon after, but Wales soon countered; a through ball finding Aaron Ramsey alone, and he fired as the Croatian goalkeeper, Simon Sluga, advanced. The ball smacked the inside of the post and swirled over the line. The score, now two-nil inside seventeen minutes, meant Wales were easily on top of their rivals, and seeking the best opportunity to grip first place in the group.

 

Ivan Perišić came to the fore for Croatia as a lone ranger for periods of the half, where he needed his shot to be blocked to halt gaining a goal back. Wales, instead, dominated across the field, particularly across the right wing with Ramsey the danger player. Ramsey, in fact, set up Bale for what seemed his second goal, only for the goalkeeper, filling in for the match, to make a crucial save.

 

Croatia had their best chance late in the first half, with Bruno Petković hitting the post from his header; the cross came from the right wing. The steely defence of Wales ensured the ball was cleared.

 

After the break, Brozović shot for goal for the second time, but it was too high. Down the other end, halftime substitute Rhys Norrington-Davies had a ping a goal, only to miss the mark.

 

Croatia seemed to have no ideas or sense of team cohesion for long periods of the match. Eventually, their collective adjustment of spreading the ball in midfield seemed to resonate not only with those on the bench, but their supporters as well. This placed Wales under some pressure, and with Tin Jedvaj advancing through the defence, his foot was clipped, earning the Croatians a penalty. Player of the Match Modrić made no mistake as he sent the Welsh goalkeeper, Wayne Hennessey, the wrong way.

 

With seven minutes remaining, Croatia had to first hold on in defence, before advancing down the right wing. A through ball found Brozović, whose control on the ball could not be described as either a shot or a pass. Nevertheless, the ball ended up at the feet of substitute Mislav Oršić, who had Hennessey out his usual position and a straightforward shot on goal.

 

Croatia did as Switzerland had done; scoring two late goals to level the match. Wales, though, will rue the decision to bring on young players off the bench, even with the confidence of a two-goal lead.

 

Group B, the tightest of groups out of the first two, means whoever wins their next match will be in the box seat to advance to the Round of 16.