Commentary: Poland 0 Croatia 1

Last updated: 16th June 2008

beenhakker

Beenhaker: Tough task

90 + 3 - ALL OVER: A 1-0 defeat to Croatia in Group B ensures Poland suffer an early exit from the 2008 European Championship. Stay with us for all the post-match reaction and don't forget to submit your Player Ratings via the tab at the top of the page.

90 - Added time:. There will be a minimum of three minutes added time.

87 - Bad miss: Zahorski is through, but he never looks like scoring when one-on-one with Runje and his lack of confidence shows as the Croatia goalkeeper saves.

83 - Booking: Zahorski is shown a yellow card as he clatters Pranjic. Frustration. Ognjen Vukojevic is also booked for shirt pulling.

79 - Waste: Rakitic has shrugged off his earlier knock, but he hits a free-kick widely over. This encounter is drifting towards the end. Poland gave up hope a long time ago.

75 - Well over: Dudka attempts an optimistic half-volley blast from the edge of the box and the effort heads for the crowd.

74 - Substitution: Klasnic makes way for Nikola Kalinic and Petric is replaced by Kranjcar.

70 - Just over: Smolarek nods just over the bar, but he is offside so it would not have counted.

68 - Substitution: Marek Saganowski makes way for youngster Tomasz Zahorski as Rakitic is down receiving treatment.

65 - Impressive Pranjic: The Croatian left-sided player has had an excellent game and again bursts down the right to blast into the hands of Boruc. Pranjic is attacking at will.

63 - Coat of paint: Guerreiro has a chance as he turns and shoots in the area, but the ball just sneaks wide of the far post. That could have set up a grandstand finish.

60 - Down and out: It is a little difficult to see the pitch at the moment as smoke from Croatian flares drift across my view. Perhaps Pranjic's attention is distracted as he makes a hash of a cross. But it is not all bad as the ball hits the Poland cross bar.

55 - Substitution: Poland bring on Ebi Smolarek for Wojciech Lobodzinski.

52 - GOAL CROATIA!!! Klasnic scores. I spoke too soon as Pranjic again breaks down the left and puts it on a plate for Klasnic to slot in. That could be curtains for Poland.

50 - Scrappy: Croatia's quality of the first half is missing at the moment. Poland have turned it into a bit of a scrap in midfield.

48 - Dramatic: Klasnic tries to win a free-kick from wide on the right, but there is nothing to be had. Bad news for Poland. Germany are 1-0 up. If Germany win it is irrelevant what happens here.

47 - WE'RE BACK: The second half is under way as Poland kick things off and we have a shot straight away as Guerreiro tries his luck from 35 yards. Poland have brought on Adam Kokoszka for Lewandowski. Don't forget it is peter.fraser@bskyb.com if you want to get in touch and keep your Player Ratings in mind.

45 + 2 - HALF-TIME: The first half comes to an end. As it stands Poland are heading home as Austria are drawing 0-0 with Germany. Things are still nicely balanced, but let's hope for a bit more quality from Poland in the second half.

45 - Added time: The will be a minimum of two minutes added time as Vejic is booked for putting Guerreiro on his back.

44 - Half-time approaches: Leko drags just wide as Boruc scrambles from range, but Croatia will be very comfortable as the interval appears on the horizon.

42 - Corner: Jacek Krzynowek drives a 35-yard free-kick, but hits the wall. I remember the Polish midfielder scoring a spectacular goal for Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League in 2005, his touch deserted him this time..

38 - Brave shout: Tom from Doncaster is backing Croatia to make it to the final in Austria and Switzerland. Any more predictions out there?

37 - Booking: Pokrivac is shown a yellow card for clattering Roger Guerreiro. Lewandowski is also booked for an off the ball incident and will miss his side's next match. Could be wishful thinking anyway.

36 - Lovely stuff: Bilic traps the ball instantly as it drifts out for a throw-in. The Croatia manager looks like he could slip into the Poland team.

35 - Five-a-side: Croatia are carving Poland apart down the left with moves which are in the passing style of five-a-side.

33 - Great save: Boruc is off his line to deny Ivan Klasnic the chance of the game as he blocks with his feet. Fine move and a fine stop.

32 - Free-kick: Poland have a chance to deliver into the box, but the man in row Z chokes on his beverage as he sees Wojciech Lobodzinski coming towards him.

30 - Offside: Pranjic whips in a beautiful cross which Mladen Petric just misses. He was offside so it would not have counted, but that would not have 'comedy' Katie. Move of the match.

26 - Substitution: A limping Dario Knezevic makes way for Corluka. Croatia are turning on the style now and have Poland pinned in and Rakitic, deadballs excepted, is pulling the strings. Don't forget it is peter.fraser@bskyb.com if if you want to get in touch. Katie T reckons it is only a matter of time before Poland's 'comedy capers' at the back are exposed.

25 - Third time lucky: Rakitic hits another free-kick from out wide, but Rafal Murawski's one-man wall does the job.

22 - Over the top: Referee Vassaras appears a little fussy as he awards Croatia another dangerous wide free-kick, which Rakitic hits in to the hands of Boruc. Did anyone mention Howard Webb to Poland?

18 - Near miss: A great ball in from Rakitic is met by Hrvoje Vejic and the Croatian defedner's header is just wide. Poland look shaky as soon as their defence comes under examination.

17 - Marked man: Wasilewski leaves his mark on Pokrivac and Croatia then win a free-kick wide on the right which Rakitic will deliver.

15 - Boruc spectator: The Poland goalkeeper has not been seriously troubled, but his team-mates are not taking their chances.

14 - Great chance: Pranjic is causing problems on the left, but with his eyes on goal he tries a delicate lob rather than opting for power. Waste.

11 - Should have scored: Dudka heads wide at the corner. He was in space and should have done better. Croatia look a little weak when defending anything in the air.

9 - Corner: Croatia goalkeeper Vedran Runje punches behind for a corner and collides with Pokrivac. Looks nasty for Pokrivac as he is carried off on a stretcher. Pokrivac eventually returns.

7 - Ticking off: Bit of a midfield battle at the moment, but tempers almost flair as Dudka and Knezevic receive a lecture from Greek referee Kyros Vassaras.

6 - Worth a pop: Poland, who have struggled defensively, fail to clear their lines and Nikola Pokrivac ahs a go from the edge of the box, but it drifts just wide.

4 - Confident: It would be impossible to guess that Croatia's side are missing nine regulars. Bilic's men ooze confidence.

2 - Ouch: Danijel Pranjic is down after a nasty challenge from Saganowski. Looks like this could be a heated encounter. Pranjic is okay to continue.

KICK-OFF: Croatia get the game going. Bilic's side know they will be facing Turkey in the quarter finals, will Poland be joining them?

Kick-off approaches: A great atmosphere building is building in the Worthersee stadium. Croatia are celebrating, while Poland are looking confident, Mariusz Lewandowski gives us a slick wink as he belts out his country's national anthem. Joe H fancies Poland to book a spot in the knock-out stages. Could be controversial.

Have your say: It will be possible to interact with me throughout tonight's match. Drop me a line at peter.fraser@bskb.com or via the feedback button in our live Score Centre. You can also give us your Player Ratings at the end of the game and let us know who is hot and who is not.

Team news: With Croatia already home and hosed as Group B winners, manager Slaven Bilic has opted to rest a nine of his star names with the likes of new Tottenham signing Luka Modric dropping to the bench along with Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar and Manchester City defender Vedran Corluka. Meanwhile, Poland know they need to win and hope Austria can do them a favour against Germany in Monday night's other game if they are to progress and coach Leo Beenhakker has stood by lone striker Marek Saganowski in the absence of the injured Maciej Zurawski.

Croatia team: Vedran Runje; Dario Simic, Hrvoje Vejic, Dario Knezevic, Danijel Pranjic; Jerko Leko, Ognjen Vukojevic, Nikola Pokrivac, Ivan Rakitic; Ivan Klasnic, Mladen Petric. Subs: Pletikosa, Galinovic, Simunic, Robert Kovac, Corluka, Nico Kovac, Kalinic, Srna, Modric, Olic, Kranjcar, Budan.

Poland team: Artur Boruc; Marcin Wasilewski, Michal Zewlakow, Dariusz Dudka, Jakub Wawrzyniak; Rafal Murawski, Mariusz Lewandowski; Jacek Krzynowek, Wojciech Lobodzinski, Roger Guerreiro; Marek Saganowski. Subs: Kowalewski, Fabianski, Jop, Golanski, Bak, Smolarek, Gargula, Pazdan, Zahorski, Kokoszka

Welcome to our live minute-by-minute commentary of the Euro 2008 Group B clash between Poland and Croatia.