Mario Mandzukic's third goal of Euro 2012 saw Croatia come from behind to draw 1-1 with Italy in their Group C match in Poznan on Thursday.

Andrea Pirlo had give the Italians the lead in the first-half but Mandzukic's goal in the second-half saw the Croats take a step towards the quarter-finals as they moved onto four points after two games.

Italy, who could end up in a repeat of Euro 2004 when they didn't lose a group match but still went out at the first hurdle, are on two points and still without a win since last November.

A stunning 39th minute freekick by 2006 World Cup winning playmaker Pirlo had separated the sides at half-time.

Italy - who drew 1-1 with defending champions Spain in their opening game - would have been ahead before that but for Croatian 'keeper Stipe Pletikosa making two point blank saves from Claudio Marchisio.

The Croatians had a decent appeal for a penalty turned down by referee Howard Webb when Nikica Jelavic went down in the box under a challenge by Giorgio Chiellini.

However, a fairly listless second-half was brought to life in the 72nd minute as Chiellini fatally failed to head away Ivan Strinic's cross and it found Mario Mandzukic, who controlled the ball brilliantly and fired past Gianluigi Buffon from close range.

ITALY 1

Pirlo 39

CROATIA 1

Mandzukic 72

Italy: Gianluigi Buffon (capt) - Leonardo Bonucci, Daniele De Rossi, Giorgio Chiellini - Christian Maggio, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Thiago Motta (Riccardo Montolivo 63), Emanuele Giaccherini - Mario Balotelli (Antonio Di Natale 70), Antonio Cassano (Sebastian Giovinco 83).

Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa - Darijo Srna (capt), Vedran Corluka, Gordon Schildenfeld, Ivan Strinic - Ivan Rakitic, Ognjen Vukojevic, Luka Modric - Ivan Perisic (Danijel Pranjic 68) - Mario Mandzukic (Niko Kranjcar 90+5), Nikica Jelavic (Eduardo 83).

Referee: Howard Webb (England).

Attendance: 40,000.