Tiring Italy let Croatia off the hook

Reuters: Italy’s Euro 2012 hopes were in the balance after they let Croatia off the hook on Thursday, dominating the first half and taking the lead before tiring and being held to a 1-1 draw in their Group C match.

Midfielder Andrea Pirlo capped a majestic first-half performance by curling home a free kick in the 39th minute as Italy took the game by the scruff of the neck and created a hatful of opportunities.

But their failure to take other chances, with Mario Baotelli the chief culprit, cost them dear when Mario Mandzukic punished slack marking by firing an equaliser in the second half of a game marred by Croatia fans throwing flares onto the pitch.

Italy, whose open approach has provided a refreshing break from their traditional style of dour defence, had also let a one-goal lead slip against Spain, when they also started well but drew 1-1.

Coach Cesare Prandelli, whose team next face an Ireland side coached by his wily compatriot Giovanni Trapattoni, said they should have shown more of a killer instinct.