CRO: Davor Suker (54 pen, 90), Zvonimir Boban (80).

DEN: -.

CRO: Ladic 6; Jarni 6, Stimac 6, Bilic 6.5, Jerkan 6; ASANOVIC 8, Boban 6.5 (Soldo, 81), Prosinecki 6.5 (Mladenovic, 83), Stanic 7; Suker 7.5, Vlaovic 7 (Jurcevic, 85).

DEN: Schmeichel 5; Helveg 5 (Laursen, 46 - 4.5), Rieper 4, Schjonberg 5.5, Hogh 5; Vilfort 4.5 (Beck, 67), S. Nielsen 5, Thomsen 4.5, M. Laudrup 5.5; Larsen 5 (Tofting, 73), B. Laudrup 5.5.

REFEREE: Marc de Batta (France).

AUDIENCE: 33.671, Sheffield.

YELLOW CARDS: Stanic, Prosinecki, Vlaovic (Croatia); NONE (Denmark).

RED CARDS: NONE.

Before the tournament, I declared that Croatia would take the Championship. And so, the disappointment of mine after its first game against Turkey was immeasurable. Yesterday, however, I started believing once again in my own predictions. Denmark, strange as it might sound, was very weak and no rival, but the Croatians showed yesterday their best. Starting with a confidence of Ladic in the net and the reliability of the defending line, the team showed some fantastic skill in the Danes' half of the field, most of all.

The penetrations of Stanic were unstoppable, while Prosinecki and Boban showed us their utter football intelligence in managing the game. Davor Suker sprang to life, making miracles on the pitch and scoring two goals; he was helped by a magnificent Goran Vlaovic, whose winner vs Turkey gave him a place in a starting squad. But above all his teammates, there was a bright star discovered - Aljosa Asanovic. This man was at every point, his actions embarrassed the Danes time after time, and he also started the two goal combinations.

The game started with a stand-up comedy. Stanic penetrated the defence and shot from 16 meters after several seconds of play; the ball went high and then suddenly lost air! A pause of two minutes was filled with Peter Schmeichel arguing with the referee Marc de Batta about the balls' qualities; the keeper wasn't satisfied with two balls suggested, and finally accepted the third, stating beforehand that it sucked as well. On the tribune, the comic attempts were made to fill the mutinous ball with the air, and the English TV operator was having a fun of his life.

Here, the soccer itself started. Schmeichel took the header of Vlaovic from under the bar (4), and the shot of Bilic (16) missed the left high corner of Schmeichel by centimeters; the Danes had two perfect opportunities to score (12, 22), both shots blocked by the Croatian defenders meters near the net. A wonderful curved shot of Suker from 20 meters (23) met a flight of the Danish keeper, but missed the frame anyway; on the other side, Ladic fell to the legs of Michael Laudrup (24) and denied the latter from scoring. Vlaovic made a fantastic turn, and Suker got a ball, misled a defender and shot centimeters higher than needed (29); on the other side, a bright shot of Vilfort (31) from 20 meters met a wonderful flight of Ladic to his left, parrying the ball. A fabulous move of Asanovic - Suker - Vlaovic found the latter shooting it smartly (32); however, Schmeichel was in place.

The Croatians went on attacking. Boban shot it wide after a good move of his (35), and Suker (41) passed several defenders, only to lose the ball afterwards. A fantastic pass of Suker found Vlaovic rushing into the box (40); Schmeichel went out to meet the forward, and Vlaovic fell, getting a yellow card for an alleged dive and nothing more - a good decision by de Batta. The last opportunity was, however, of Helveg (45) who shot high after the free kick preparation.

The 2nd half started, and here we saw just one team on the pitch. The referee made a stupid mistake, not whistling for a penalty kick after a foul on Asanovic in the box (49), and Schmeichel took the ball of Prosinecki (51). But the justice was made - Schmeichel kicked Stanic down in the box (54), and Suker scored calmly from the penalty spot. 1:0. The Danes attempted to score twice - Larsen missed the frame from 3 meters (60), and a good header of Schjonberg (67) found the perfect flying grasp of Ladic. And here the game decayed for 10 minutes, springing to life later on for the last good moments.

78: the Croatian ball went to the bar after a corner, Rieper headed it back home, and Schmeichel took it with a certain difficulty. In a counterattack, a free kick of the Danes found someone's head, Michael Laudrup touched the ball before Ladic to deflect it to the left post, and it went out. And then the goal of the better team came - Asanovic found Suker in the box, and the latter shot it wide to Boban who bombed the ball over Schmeichel from 3 meters. 2:0, and the joy was full.

As if it wasn't enough, Suker made two marvellous moves to be remembered for long. 84 minutes passed, Suker got the ball from Asanovic at the left wing, swang the defender and suddenly shot a perfect bounce from 55 meters; Schmeichel rushed back to his net in the giant steps and managed to throw the ball away from the goal-line from under the bar (!), falling into his own net but saving the certain goal. But at the last minute, Schmeichel was punished. His trial to head it after a Danish corner failed, and Asanovic found Suker at the left wing; Suker rushed to the net altogether with Schmeichel and finally managed to bounce the ball over the keeper with his charming left. 3:0. Croatia became the first team to secure itself in the quarterfinals, with the pieces of wonderful soccer it showed. On the other hand, the Danes are in a deep-deep trouble, and will most certainly be eliminated.

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