CROATIA-2, MALTA-0

Malta produced a defiant performance but their brave efforts were not enough to prevent defeat as Croatia won this opening Euro 2016 Group H qualifier at Dinamo Zagreb's Maksimir Stadium.

Ranked 16th in the world, Croatia, who played at the Brazil World Cup, were expected to cruise to victory at the expense of lowly Malta but there was nothing lowly about our team's performance as they battled like warriors throughout.

The dismissal of Steve Borg on the half-hour only served to compound matters for Malta but they still made life difficult for Croatia who needed a goal from their talisman Luka Modric early in the second half to ease their growing nerves before a late strike from substitute Andrej Kramaric sealed their inevitable win.

Ghedin had been forced into a late change as Jonathan Caruana failed to recover from injury.

His place in the starting formation was taken by Zach Muscat who came on well in the second half of the 1-0 friendly defeat to Slovakia.

The rest of Ghedin's formation was unchanged from the game in Zilina with André Schembri playing off Michael Mifsud in attack.

Niko Kovac's team selection offered a few surprises as Hrvoje Milic, the Osijek defender, was preferred to Danijel Pranjic while young Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Marcelo Brozovic started ahead of the more experienced Ivica Olic.

It was Malta who made the better start. They almost stunned Croatia inside the opening two minutes as Schembri, controlling  a long Borg throw-in, turned well in the box but his firm drive that was turned away by Danijel Subasic.

The loose ball fell to Rowen Muscat who sent his shot wide.

Croatia breathed a sigh of relief. They created their first chance after four minutes, Mario Mandzukic heading over from Ivan Rakitic's corner.  Goalkeeper Andrew Hogg then pushed away a menacing right-wing cross from captain Darijo Srna.

Croatia were seeing more of the baqll. Ten minutes inti the game, Rowen Muscat blocked Alen Halilovic's drive after good work by Modric.

Another corner from Rakitic caused a goalmouth melee but Dejan Lovren failed to connect with the ball properly. There was another scare for Malta when Rakitic put in a dangerous cross from a free-kick but Mandzukic, under pressure from Camilleri, hit wide from inside the penalty box.

Malta's task became more complicated on the half-hour as defender Borg was shown a straight red card for hitting out at Mandzukic after the two were involved in a tussle for possession.

Mandzukic was shown a yellow card by Russian referee Vladislav Bezborodov.

Ghedin promptly withdrew Mifsud, a striker, brought on Steve Bezzina who took up the right-back role and switched to 5-3-1. The captain's armband was handed to Schembri.

Malta held on in the remaining minutes of the first half but Croatia went ahead inside the first minute of the second period.

Modric, profiting from the open space in front of him, hit an angled shot that had the better of Hogg.

The Real Madrid midfielder almost made it 2-0 but his first-time volley, from Rakitic's corner, was deflected away for a corner.

Croatia stayed in command. Ten minutes into the second half, Brozovic teed up Halilovic who raced clear but his rising effort was off target.

Bezzina then avoided what looked like a certain goal for Croatia when throwing himself at Rakitic's screamer.

It was then Agius's turn to thwart Croatia as the Malta defender nudged the ball away from the advancing Milic who had been released by Nikica Jelavic, a half-time substitute.

Despite Croatia's mounting pressure, Malta were playing good football when coming out of defence.

Malta endured two anxious moments when Brozovic's effort was diverted wide and, from Rakitic's corner, Modric hit goalwards but his effort was deflected over the bar.

Camilleri came to Malta's rescue when belting away Jelavic's pass from inside the box.

Croatia made the points safe with a second goal eight minutes from time.

Jelavic pushed forward menacingly through the middle before passing to substitute Andrej Kramaric who drilled his shot into the far corner.

Hogg then prevented a third goal when keeping out Brozovic's grounder and, with three minutes remaining, touched away Jelavic's goalbound header.