Old draw spurs Croatia against Malta
Monday, September 13, 2010
Article summary
The disappointment of a 1-1 draw in the sides' last meeting will doubtless spur Croatia as Malta arrive for the final UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group F game of the year.
Article top media content
Article body
Croatia will be eager to erase the memory of their last game against Malta when the teams continue their UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group F campaigns with their fifth meeting overall.
Match background
• Croatia's record in four matches against Malta reads W3 D1 L0 (W2 D0 L0 at home).
• The nations last met in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, with their most recent fixture on 7 September 2005 resulting in a 1-1 draw at Malta's National Stadium in Ta' Qali. Niko Kranjčar put the visitors ahead, but Stephen Wellman struck back with a 74th-minute free-kick before Mario Tokić's late dismissal capped a disappointing night for the visitors.
• That stalemate ended a run of three straight defeats for Malta in games against Croatia since the sides first met in Ta' Qali on 10 October 1998. Croatia won that UEFA EURO 2000 qualifier 4-1.
• Malta's two previous games in Zagreb have both ended in defeat, the islanders going down 2-1 in UEFA EURO 2000 qualifying on 21 August 1999 before losing 3-0 on 30 March 2005.