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
![Vedran Ćorluka (right) in action for Croatia Vedran Ćorluka (right) in action for Croatia](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0253-0d7ca4c32433-ea0302dbc034-1000/format/wide1/1524824.jpeg?imwidth=158)
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.