Croatia overcame a resilient Wales side this evening, eventually running out 2-1 winners at the Liberty Stadium.
Gareth Bale gave the hosts the lead from the spot in an entertaining first half, and should have made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time when he missed a glorious one-on-one chance.
Croatia put in a much improved second half performance and levelled the scores through Dejan Lovren with 15 minutes left before Eduardo completed the comeback in the 86th minute.
You can read how an entertaining 90 minutes of football unfolded with Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage below.
Good evening! Thank you for joining Sports Mole for tonight's World Cup qualifier between Wales and Croatia! Let's get straight down to business.
This match holds great significance for both sides. For Wales, it is almost a must-win match despite being relatively early in the qualfying campaign. A loss would see the gap between them and Croatia grow to what would surely be an unassailable 10 points. A win would reduce that chasm to a much more realistic four points and they could then dare to dream of finally reaching a major tournament.
For Croatia, they have the chance to go top of the group tonight, depending on results elsewhere. They and Belgium currently occupy the top two spots, both on 13 points with Wales as the nearest rivals back on six points. Unless something goes drastically wrong in the rest of the campaign, those two should finish as the top two in Group A, but the order in which they finish is of great significance and could well be the difference between travelling to Brazil for the World Cup next year and staying at home.
Croatia would, most likely, need Belgium to lose or draw today. They are playing FYR Macedonia at home so it should be a win for the current group leaders, but a big enough goal swing could also see Croatia go top tonight.
Croatia currently have a goal difference of +6 compared to +9, so it would have to be a significant win for the visitors tonight - something I can't really see happening - but they will be hopeful of at least making a dent into that three-goal gap tonight.
Wales will certainly be no pushovers, however. They may be far down in the FIFA World Rankings, but in terms of individuals they have some quality players. Gareth Bale is the obvious one, but the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ledley and James Collins play at the highest level for their clubs. You can never discount Craig Bellamy as well. Even at the age of 33, the experienced striker has the ability to be a match winner.
Speaking of Gareth Bale, the Tottenham winger has been mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo this season and is undoubtedly Wales' star player. I don't think he is quite in the same category as the two mentioned above, but I would still call him world class. He has been battling against injury to be fit for this one but is expected to make the starting lineup.
It is always hard to judge an international team by form as their matches are so spread out, but Wales' last few games have pointed towards improvement for Chris Coleman's men.
They have won three of their last four games, beating Scotland 2-1 on two occasions in the process. Their other win came against Austria in a friendly, also by two goals to one.
However, they made a torrid start to their qualifying campaign and are suffering from that now. They lost their first match 2-0 at home to Belgium before being thrashed 6-1 by a rampant Serbia team. Since then they have steadied the ship with those wins over Scotland, but a 2-0 defeat against today's opponents in October last year has left them with a lot to do.
Croatia, meanwhile, are in fine form going into this one. The last that they lost a competitive game was against Spain in Euro 2012, and there is no shame in losing to a side that went on to win the whole tournament!
They lost their first post-tournament match - a disappointing 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Switzerland - but since then have been nigh-on unstoppable. They kicked off their qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win over FYR Macedonia before drawing 1-1 with Belgium - the only points that either of those sides have dropped in Group A so far.
Since then, they have won four matches in a row, scoring 10 goals and conceding just one. That includes, of course, the reverse meeting between these two sides that they won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Mario Mandzukic and Eduardo Da Silva.
TEAM NEWS: Right, I think it's about time I brought you some team news! The headline news is that Gareth Bale does start for Wales, while Mandzukic and Eduardo will be looking to get another goal past Wales as they start up front together for Croatia. Full team news coming right up.
WALES STARTING XI: Myhill; Gunter, B.Davies, Collins, A.Williams; Ledley, J.Williams, King; Bellamy, Robson-Kanu, Bale
WALES SUBS: Price, Lynch, Nyatanga, Ricketts, Richards, Church, Tudur Jones, Vokes, Easter, Fon Williams
CROATIA STARTING XI: Pletikosa; Strinic, Corluka, Lovren, Srna; Rakitic, Modric, Sammir, Badelj; Mandzukic and Eduardo
CROATIA SUBS: Kresic, Pavlovic, Kovacic, Vukojevic, Jelavic, Schildenfeld, Kalinic, Olic, Petric, Vida, Subasic
So, what can we make of those lineups? Well, Wales' main threat is obviously going to be Gareth Bale. I've already mentioned him briefly, but all eyes will be on him tonight so it's worth mentioning him again. The 23-year-old has been in scintillating form for Spurs this season and has often managed to carry that club form to the international stage. Whether he can do it again tonight remains to be seen, but Wales will certainly be looking to him to provide the spark that they will need if they are to win this one today.
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Elsewhere, Hal Robson-Kanu showed what he can do with the winner against Scotland on Friday and Croatia will have to keep one eye on him tonight. Bellamy is always a threat and still, I believe, has the quality to play regularly in the Premier League. The bad news for Wales is that there is no Aaron Ramsey, and they could miss the Arsenal midfielder's experience in the centre of the park.
Defensively, Wales aren't the strongest team around, but the likes of Ashley Williams and James Collins ply their trade in one of the best leagues in the world, so they can more than handle themselves. They won't make it easy for Croatia to break them down, that's for sure.
Wales have also gone for a bit of a mix between youth and experience. Coleman has named two 19-year-olds in the starting lineup - Ben Davies and Jonathan Williams - while Bellamy comes in at the other end of the spectrum being 33. Overall, though, it is a young side.
What about Croatia, then? Well, the name that will jump out at most fans is Luka Modric, and he is certainly their most dangerous player. The Real Madrid man has the ability to pick a hole in any defence and is also more than capable of getting on the scoresheet himself. Wales will need to watch him very closely tonight and, as a former teammate of Bale, the Welshman may be able to provide some tips on how to do just that.
Another former Spurs man on show is Vedran Corluka, and he will have his hands full dealing with Bale tonight. The front two of Mandzukic and Eduardo can be deadly in front of goal but aren't the best at crafting out their own chances, so Wales will be looking to starve them of service today.
These two sides have met on three occasions in recent years, and Wales have never emerged victorious. I have already mentioned October's meeting between them, which ended 2-0 to Croatia, but the Croats also won 2-0 in the meeting prior to that - a friendly in 2010.
You have to go all the way back to 2002 for the next meeting between these two, and that ended 1-1, with Simon Davies scoring for a Wales side that included the likes of John Hartson, Robert Earnshaw and Paul Jones.
You have to go all the way back to 2002 for the next meeting between these two, and that ended 1-1, with Simon Davies scoring for a Wales side that included the likes of John Hartson, Robert Earnshaw and Paul Jones.
PREDICTION: This one is quite a tough one to predict. Wales are a better side than when these teams last met and have the home advantage, but Croatia still possess more quality than their hosts. I'm going to go for a 2-1 win to the Croats, but I wouldn't be surprised at Wales nicking a draw in this one.
We all know not to take the FIFA World Rankings too seriously, but they can still give some indication about a team's quality. The gulf in places between these two sides isn't exactly representative of the gulf in class, but Croatia are certainly favourites for this one.
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Croatia are currently sitting pretty in ninth, just one spot below the might of Netherlands, while Wales are all the way down in 71st.
There is plenty of experience in this Croatian side. No less than three players are making their 102nd cap for the Croats tonight!
There has been a slight delay in getting the players onto the field here in Swansea as Pletikosa allegedly complained that the penalty spot was too small! Cue and tub of paint and a handyman to rectify the problem and we're almost good to go!
Here come the national anthems, greeted with the usual gusto from both sets of fans. As expected, the Welsh anthem is a lot more passionately sung by the home fans, but there isn't the usual symphony of noise that greets a Welsh international occasion in any sport as the Liberty Stadium isn't exactly full tonight.
The players are just going through their final pre-match procedures and we're almost ready to go.
And we're off! Wales get us underway at the Liberty Stadium.
Croatia immediately get about Wales and some sloppy passing results in Eduardo closing down a James Collins clearance. The ball goes out for a goal kick, but Croatia have stated their intent very early on here.
Wales aren't letting the quick closing down get to them, however. They seem keen to pass the ball out from defence and so far have done so with aplomb.
Croatia are pressing so high, however, that one mistake would really open Wales up. Dangerous tactic from Coleman considering that the Welsh players aren't exactly Spain on the ball.
Wales almost shoot themselves in the foot as Williams fails to clear a low cross into the box with Mandzukic lurking. They just scramble it away in time, however.
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YELLOW CARD! Fantastic run from Bale as he spins away from one man before bursting past Modric. Corluka cynically brings him down on the edge of the box and is correctly shown a yellow card. Bale was in full flow there but now has a free kick in a good position.
SHOT! It's not one of Bale's best and he'll be disappointed with that one. He smashes it high over the bar, but even though it didn't hit the target you can see how much movement he gets on it.
Eduardo looks in a positive mood tonight. He tires to jink between two men and does well to knock the ball past them, but his touch was too heavy and Myhill comes out to collect.
Wales are also pressing the ball high up the field, and it will be interesting to see how that pans out for them. If players start rushing out of position then Croatia have the men to expose that new space and pick passes through the Welsh defence.
King tries to thread a ball through to Gunter, who has sprinted down the right flank and is Wales' most advanced player. The pass is too heavy, however, and the chance goes begging.
Bale swings a corner right into the danger area and Collins looks interested, but the centre-back is denied the chance to get his head to it by a good punch by Pletikosa. The ball falls to a red shirt on the edge of the box, but he is just eased off the ball and Croatia get it clear.
CHANCE! The clearest opening of the day so far falls to Croatia as Modric feeds Mandzukic, who in turn finds an unmarked Eduardo. The former Arsenal man just can't get it out of his feet and instead lays it off to Sammir, whose shot is deflected wide.
CHANCE! What a chance for Croatia! Modric mis-hits a cross and everyone thinks it is going out, but it is kept in and whipped into the box, where Eduardo is once again waiting unmarked. He is about six yards from goal but his header is straight at Myhill, who still makes a good save. Wales scramble it clear, but that is a huge let off as Eduardo is usually so clinical.
Another Croatia corner is cleared in an unorthodox way, but Wales won't care as it stopped the danger! The visitors are just starting to take control of this match.
I say they are starting to take control of the match - htye are starting to dominate the match. They have had 86% possession in the last five minutes.
UPDATE! There has been a goal in Montenegro, and it is England who have taken the lead! Wayne Rooney got the goal for the Three Lions.
PENALTY TO WALES!
GOAL! Wales 1-0 Croatia (Gareth Bale)
A potentially huge goal for Wales! Ledley is slipped in down the right and burst into the box before taking the ball past Lovren, who leaves a leg hanging and concedes a stone-wall penalty. Lovren is given a yellow card for his troubles and Bale steps up to take it, smashing it down the middle. Not the best spot kick, but he won't care one bit.
That has really got the crowd going and Croatia look a little unsettled after that one. They had been dominating in the five minutes or so prior to the goal but Wales cut them open.
Superb piece of defending from Collins. Srna is released down the right and he whips a dangerous, low ball into the box, but Collins is there at the front post to clear behind for a corner.
Jonathan Williams has made a brilliant start to his Welsh career since coming on against Scotland on Friday. He makes another good run down the right before digging out a fine cross, but there wasn't a Welsh player in the box! Williams was let down by his lack of support there.
A good cross by Strinic is well defended again by James Collins, who concedes another corner by heading it behind. Again Collins gets his head on it, but this time it loops up and is dangerous for Myhill, who is adjudged to have been fouled when punching the ball clear from underneath his own crossbar.
I'd imagine that Bellamy is quite an annoying, niggly striker to play against and, with both centre-backs on a yellow card already and the two other defenders one yellow away from a suspension, I'm sure he will try and get under their skin a lot in the remaining hour or so of this match.
A quickly taken free kick finds Modric, who immediately looks to shoot from range. His effort is partially blocked by a Welsh defender, but the ball loops dangerously towards Myhill's goal. The Wales keeper does well to adjust and hold the ball, however.
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CLOSE! A nice move from Croatia on the edge of the Wales box ends with Badelj being teed up about 25 yards from goal. His first time effort deflects off Eduardo on the way through and flies just wide of the goal with Myhill rooted to the ground.
SHOT! Mandzukic has a hint of an opening as a long ball finds him behind the Welsh defence. He isn't the fastest of strikers so doesn't make a beeline for the goal, instead he tries to take on Collins, only to slice his shot wide after doing so.
CHANCE! Brilliant break from Wales! Myhill's kick is flicked on by Davies to Robson-Kanu, who runs straight at the full-back before sliding the ball to Bale on the edge of the box. The Tottenham man gets a good connection on it as he tries to find the bottom right corner, but Pletikosa is down well to parry it away.
Strinic is causing Wales some problems down the left. He has a good delivery on him and, but each time Collins has been on hand to clear.
Strinic is causing Wales some problems down the left. He has a good delivery on him and, but each time Collins has been on hand to clear.
CHANCE! Glorious chance for Wales to double their lead! A strange passage of play in the Wales corner results in them breaking away with the ball. Robson-Kanu exchanges passes with Bellamy before launching a magnificent pass to Bale, who brings it down exquistely. He only has the keepr to beat and has plenty of time to pick his spot, but puts it over the bar. If you could've picked one person on the pitch for that chance to fall to it would've been Bale but he's missed it!
It was superb play by Wales, though. The long ball was inch-perfect and Bale's touch couldn't have been much better!
SHOT! Bale and Bellamy link up, allowing the latter to shoot from outside the box. His effort stings the plams of Pletikosa, who is then fouled by Robson-Kanu, who receives a yellow card for his troubles. Wales are rampant at the moment!
Srna's cross is deflected and, for the third time in this match already, the ball is flying towards Myhill's goal. Again he keeps it out, though, diving to right to make a flying stop.
Just one minute of added time at the Liberty Stadium.
HALF TIME: Wales 1-0 Croatia
That is a fantastic first half of football from Wales, they couldn't have asked for much more. Not only do they have the lead but they have played some thrilling football and should, if anything, be further ahead. Croatia have also played their part in a thoroughly entertaining opening 45 minutes, but it is Wales who will be the happier team going into the break.
Wales' goal came from the penalty spot and, inevitably, from the left boot of Gareth Bale. However, the Tottenham man looked forlorn when going into the break as he knows he should have doubled the lead. He missed a one-on-one after a brilliant break from Wales and it was the sort of chance that you would have put a lot of money on him to score.
He shouldn't beat himself up about it too much, though. If you had given Chris Coleman a 1-0 lead at half time then he would have bitten your hand off. Croatia are ranked as one of the top 10 teams in world football while Wales don't even make it into the top 70, so a lead is a big achievement.
A quick word on the penalty - in my eyes it was a stone-wall penalty. Lovren tried to pull his leg away but there was definite contact and Ledley's body movement completely sold the Croatia defender.
Croatia are by no means out of this game, though. It has been an open match and I would be very surprised if we had seen the last of the goals tonight. Both teams have come into this one looking to attack and we have been treated to a very entertaining match because of it.
The visitors will be confident of coming away from Swansea with at least a point tonight, but they will have to be cautious of going too gung-ho. Wales showed in that half that they have players capable of hitting Croatia on the counter attack, so they will be careful not to leave themselves too open at the back.
Chris Coleman will surely be asking for more of the same from his side in the second half. They will still be hopeful of adding another goal to their tally and I don't foresee them going defensive just yet. They have been impressive going forward and James Collins in particular has been huge at the back.
Croatia manager Igor Stimac, meanwhile, will want to see Modric get himself on the ball more. He is the man who can create something for the visitors and Wales may need to do something to nullify him - as they did for large parts of the first half.
CROATIA SUB: Stimac will make a change at half time, and it's a strange one. On comes Schildenfeld - a centre-back - to replace Bedalj, who is a midfielder.
The players are back out and we're almost ready to go again now.
Croatia get us back underway in the Liberty Stadium. Big 45 minutes ahead of both of these sides!
Croatia look to have gone to a three-man defence now, pushing their full-backs upfield to become wing backs. Risky stuff from Stimac with the width that Wales possess.
UPDATE! Scotland have conceded twice in quick succession yet again. They are now 2-0 down to Serbia and look set for yet another loss.
Modric does very well to keep the ball in, laying it off to Sammir, whose cross is cleared behind for a corner by Ledley. Croatia's corner count is steadily rising here.
Lovren will have to watch himself in this second half. He is on a yellow card already and his disciplinary record so far this season isn't exactly exemplary. He has already been sent off three times for his club this season! Vinnie Jones would be proud.
CHANCE! Finally a Croatia corner does find a Croatian head. It falls to Eduardo, who flicks his header just past the right post when he should have at least made the keeper work.
Wales are struggling to find the sort of football they were playing the first half at the moment. Croatia are controlling the ball and have slowed the game to their tempo.
Bale is very close to capatilising on a short pass across defence, but he just can't reach it. It looked as if Bale didn't believe he could get there himself, but I think he could have if he had gone for it all guns blazing.
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SHOT! Much better from Wales as they knock it about nicely. A cross comes in to Bellamy, who knocks it down to Robson-Kanu, who in turn lays it off to Williams, but the youngster's strike flies just wide of the goal. Pletikosa was worried!
WHAT A SAVE! How on earth did Myhill keep that one out?! Rakitic's cross comes out to Srna, who drills a shot towards goal. It takes a nick on the way through and Eduardo is waiting about two yards from goal when it hits him. Somehow Myhill responds in time to tip it over, however. That is one of the best saves I have seen in a long, long time. Brilliant.
Moments later Modric works his way down the right before drilling the ball right across the face of goal. There is a huge huddle of bodies in the middle, both Welsh and Croatian, but somehow no-one gets a touch to it and it goes out for a free kick.
CROATIA SUB: Croatia are making a change as they look to get an equaliser here. Off goes Sammir and on comes the 18-year-old Kovacic.
WALES SUB: Coleman responds with a sub of his own as he brings on Jazz Richards for Robson-Kanu, who has played well tonight. Interesting change, but Richards is a more defence-minded player which is perhaps Coleman's thinking.
YELLOW CARD! Luka Modric comes steaming into a challenge on Richards and completely mis-times it. He is not renowned for his crunching tackles but he deservedly picks up a yellow for that one.
UPDATE: More bad news coming up for Croatia - Belgium have taken the lead against Macedonia. Hazard got the goal which, as things stand, would put Belgium three points clear at the top of the group.
Croatia are enjoying a lot of territorial advantage at the moment, but they can't find a way past the determined Wales defence at the moment. They can expect a lot more pressure as we enter the final 20 minutes.
YELLOW CARD! Bale looks to burst between two players but is felled by a sliding Kovacic tackle from behind. He picks up a yellow for the challenge and Wales have a free kick in a good crossing position.
Bellamy swings the ball in but it is just an inch or so too high for Collins, who can only get a slight touch which doesn't divert it goalwards.
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CROATIA SUB: Attacking sub from Stimac here. Off goes the defender Strinic and on comes the experienced striker Ivica Olic. Kitchen sink time for Croatia?
It's Wales' turn to have a corner but Croatia clear it away, and Wales knock it all the way back to Boaz Myhill. They are 15 minutes away from one of their most impressive wins in a long time.
GOAL! Wales 1-1 Croatia (Dejan Lovren)
Heartbreak for Wales! Croatia's chance initially looks to have gone after Mandzukic's shot was block, but it came back to Lovren. The defender lets fly from a long way out and the ball eludes Myhill, who probably should save it. To be fair to the keeper, the ball moved a lot in the air, but he will still be disappointed with himself there.
SHOT! Bale looks to single-handedly restore Wales' lead and, if anyone can, it is him. He works his way into a shooting position on the edge of the box but drags his effort a yard or so wide of the post. He had men in support then so perhaps should have passed, but in this form you can't blame him for shooting.
King is the next to let fly from range as Croatia are slow to close him down. His effort is deflected high over the bar for a corner, which comes to nothing.
Modric zips a ball in with the outside of his boot and Srna almost takes it in his stride inside the box, only for Collins to halt his progress with a big clearance.
CHANCE! Really good chance for Croatia! A long ball finds Rakitic unmarked at the back post, and he lays the ball down to Olic inside the box. The sub should do a lot better as he has time, but he snaps at his shot and blasts it over.
WALES SUB: Jonathan Williams has put in a brilliant display tonight but his night is over. On comes Simon Church to replace the youngster.
Wales have responded well to the goal but they are looking increasingly tired in possession. Croatia look most likely to get a winner here.
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GOAL! Wales 1-2 Croatia (Eduardo)
What did I tell you? Olic has acres of space on the left and swings a ball in towards Eduardo. It isn't the easiest to control, but he takes a touch and volleys it as the ball bobbles up. It flies past the desperate dives of Collins and Williams and goes through the legs of Myhill. Wales will be gutted.
Croatia are the type of team that can easily see this match out now. They have been in control of possession throughout the second half and don't expect anything to change in the last few minutes.
We will have three minutes of added time here. Can Wales pull something out of the bag?
The hosts pump a ball into the box that Pletikosa fumbles at the first attempt. There are no Wales players in the vicinity to take advantage, though.
Corluka is wasting time now, pretendiing to be badly hurt from what was, in my opinion, not even a foul by Collins.
FULL TIME: Wales 1-2 Croatia
There goes the final whistle, and with it there surely goes Wales' chances of qualifying. They put in a stirling performance for much of that match but in the end Croatia's quality shone through. There are plenty of positives for Coleman to take from tonight's match and they will feel gutted, and perhaps slightly hard done by, leaving with nothing.
Right, that's it from me tonight! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was a thrilling 90 minutes of World Cup qualifying football. Wales came so close to recording a famous victory but in the end had to settle for defeat in an action-packed match. I will leave you with Danielle Joynson's match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction to this one. From me, though, it's goodnight!
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
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