Malta 0 Croatia 1
Malta put on a much-improved performance from their 2-0 defeat to Norway but their efforts failed to produce a tangible reward as Croatia won this final Group H qualifier 1-0 to qualify for the Euro 2016 finals.
In a game overshadowed by fears of violence from the Croatian fans which, fortunately didn't materialise, the visitors just did enough to grasp the three points without impressing.
Pietro Ghedin's team demanded a more 'secure' display from his team and he got it as Malta were compact all over the pitch and also created some promising moves but they just lacked that final touch to put the Croatia defence under serious pressure.
The defeat meant that Malta ended their qualifying campaign with two points.
A match regarded a high-risk by UEFA triggered a massive security operation with hundreds of police officers standing guard outside the National Stadium. Their job was to prevent trouble involving Croatia fans who were not allowed to enter the stadium after causing a series of incidents during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Pietro Ghedin's selection showed two changes from the 2-0 defeat in Norway as Hibs midfielder Bjorn Kristensen was preferred to Paul Fenech while Joseph Zerafa replaced Alex Muscat at right-back.
Injury deprived Croatia coach Ante Cacic of Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, who was on the bench, and Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic.
Malta started well, constructing a string of interesting passing moves without troubling the Croatia defence.
It was not before the 10th minute that Croatia created their first chance. Running on to Vedran Corluka's long ball, Nikola Kalinic got behind the Maltese defence but his diagonal shot was beaten away by Andrew Hogg. The loose ball dropped to Kalinic but, under pressure from Andrei Agius, he blasted over.
Minutes later, Ivan Perisic volleyed wide after meeting Rakitic's crossfield pass from midfield.
There was a good opportunity for Malta as Bjorn Kristensen advanced through the middle before passing to Andrè Schembri who set up Roderick Briffa with a back-heeled flick but the Malta captain miscued his shot.
On 18 minutes, Alfred Effiong set off on one of his trademark runs after being sent through by Schembri but Vedran Corluka dashed across to block the Malta striker
At the other end, Darijo Srna sent in a dangerous cross that rolled across the face of goal but the ball just eluded Perisic.
Malta had another good opportunity as Schembri's through-ball soared above Domagoj Vida who could only get a slight touch to the ball. Effiong sprinted through but appeared to be brought down by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic but English referee Mark Clattenburg waved away Malta's penalty claims.
Perisic's downward header, from another Srna cross, was high but, on 25 minutes, Croatia struck.
Mateo Kovacic's pass inside the box was partially cleared by Malta as the ball landed invitingly at the feet of Perisic whose shot took a deflection off Borg and flew past the diving Hogg.
Borg then denied Perisic a second goal as the towering defender slid in to block the shot from the Inter forward who had been set up by Rakitic.
Croatia raised the pressure, Marko Pjaca sending his shot over the bar at the far post after another inviting cross from Rakitic.
The hosts started the second half on a bright note. Schembri squezed his way into the box after a series of feints only to be held off by Corluka.
Another Malta attack saw Kristensen and Schembri swapping passes on the edge of the box. The Croatia defenders could only deflected the ball towards Failla whose firm drive was too central to unsettle Subasic's composure.
Croatia threatened on the counter. Rakitic Rakitic served Pjaca who surged past Zach Muscat before putting in a low cross-shot that Zerafa just managed to deflect past the far post.
Later, Andrej Kramaric, who had just replaced Kalinic, mustered a powerful drive from an angle but Hogg was alert to the danger.
Inspired by Schembri's intelligent running, Malta remained alive in attack. The Omonia forward slipped a through-ball to Effiong midway into the second half but Subasic charged out to close down the Balzan striker.
With 15 minutes remaining, Michael Mifsud came on for Effiong for his 113th Malta appearance.
Pjaca cut infield from the right before firing a low shot that was touched away by Hogg.
As the game moved into the last six minutes, Failla floated a dangerous cross from a right-wing free-kick but Croatia cleared.
In a carbon-copy move, Agius's far-post header, from Failla's cross, was stopped by Subasic.
Photos: Darrin Zammit Lupi.
Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Italy 10 7 3 0 16 7 24
2 Croatia *10 6 3 1 20 5 20
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3 Norway 10 6 1 3 13 10 19
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4 Bulgaria 10 3 2 5 9 12 11
5 Azerbaijan 10 1 3 6 7 18 6
6 Malta 10 0 2 8 3 16 2
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* Deducted 1 point.