Croatia 1-2 Germany
Carsten Ramelow struck an added-time winner minutes after Mato Neretljak's equaliser to get Germany's UEFA EURO 2004™ build-up off to a promising start against their fellow qualifiers in Split.
Croatia started much the livelier of the two teams but the first shot on goal came from Germany, though Liverpool FC midfield player Dietmar Hamann - winning his 50th cap - hit his free-kick straight at Stipe Pletikosa. Croatia quickly responded as Josip Šimunic saw his powerful header following a corner headed off the goalline by Frank Baumann.
The hosts continued to have the majority of the play and Boris Zivkovic's low 20-metre shot was saved by Oliver Kahn, while Dado Pršo only just failed to meet debutant Ivan Klasnic's inviting left-wing cross with an attempted diving header.
Kahn then produced two stunning saves to keep the scores level. First he tipped Klasnic's left-foot drive around the post and then leapt away to his left to acrobatically turn away Giovani Rosso's volley for a world-class stop.
Against the run of play, though, Germany went ahead. Arne Friedrich's cross was headed up in the air by Miroslav Klose, and Paul Freier reacted quickest to head the ball back to Klose for the striker to bundle the ball in from close range.
It took a brilliant block just after the interval from Christian Wörns to deny Niko Kovac and Croatia an equaliser after Kahn had uncharacteristically spilt a free-kick, before Wörns himself headed over from a Germany corner at the other end. Kevin Kuranyi then shot wide when clear on goal.
As the half wore on and the coaches used the opportunity to make substitutions neither side was able to produce any flowing football. But Croatia wasted a golden chance to level when Kahn saved from Ivica Olic and then Nico Kovac struck the rebound over the bar.
Mato Neretljak's left-foot finish brought another good save from Kahn, but the goalkeeper was finally beaten four minutes from time as he failed to claim a corner from the right and Neretljak rose highest to head into an unguarded net.
But it was not to be for Croatia and with seconds left the ball fell to substitute Ramelow on the edge of the penalty area, his well-struck volley flying off a Croatia defender and into the net.
Source: Uefa.com
