Malta suffered its fourth consecutive defeat in Euro 2012 qualifying Group F this evening after going down 3-0 to Croatia at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb.
Two first-half goals from Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Niko Kranjcar paved the way for a comfortable win for Croatia who never looked in danger of dropping points against the battling Maltese players who worked their socks off on the rain-lashed pitch but lacked the spark and punch to trouble their opponents.
While Malta are still without a point after four qualifiers, Croatia went top of Group F with 10 points, two more than Greece.
Malta coach John Buttigieg handed the no.1 jersey to Andrew Hogg as Ferencvaros goalkeeper Justin Haber had to be content with a place on the bench.
Massimo Grima, the Hamrun Spartans defender, filled the void left by the absence of the suspended Andrei Agius in the centre of defence. John Hutchinson, the Central Coast Mariners midfielder, and Sheffield United forward Daniel Bogdanovic were also handed a first-team recall.
Shaun Bajada was switched to left-back after Carlo Mamo was forced to concede defeat in his battle to recover from a thigh strain.
Malta’s gameplan was 4-5-1 with Andre Schembri leading the attack as Michael Mifsud and Bogdanovic patrolled the wings.
The wet pitch of the Maksimir Stadium disrupted the flow of the game in the first half but Croatia, despite not being at their best, still went in for the half-time break with a two-goal cushion.
After an uneventful opening, Croatia took the lead on 18 minutes. Kranjcar, one of three Tottenham Hotspur players in Slaven Bilic’s team, powered forward down the right before drilling his shot past Hogg.
The Malta goalkeeper did better when blocking Eduardo’s close-range flick from Darijo Srna’s fine cross from the right.
Luka Modric showed extraordinary skill and poise as he raced past Briffa and Grima before hitting a fierce drive that came off the far post.
As expected, Croatia dictated the tempo in the first half but they rarely stretched Malta beyond routine work.
Croatia had to wait until the 38th minute to created another noteworthy chance. Kranjcar advanced on the left before pulling the ball back for Mladen Petric who volleyed over the bar.
Malta defender Jonathan Caruana then caused Croatia problems with a strong run out of defence but the home team’s defenders recouped ground. The ball eventually reached Bogdanovic but his cross-shot from the right was off target.
Croata increased their advantage three minutes from half-time thanks to Kranjcar, their most effective player in the opening half. The Tottenham midfielder’s rising shot looked to have taken a deflection off Caruana as it flew into the top corner of the net.
Early in the second half, Mifsud almost pulled one back for Malta as the nippy forward finished off a diagonal run with a powerful drive that sailed just over the bar.
Bogdanovic’s teasing cross from the right was fractionally missed by Schembri while, at the other end, Hogg fisted away Darijo Srna’s free-kick on the hour mark.
Croatia retained the upperhand but Malta continued to play positive football. As the second half progressed, Malta started to see more of the ball as Croatia’s pressure fizzled out.
The home team’s increasing pressure in the final 10 minutes yielded a third goal. Having just missed a golden chance when firing over, Nikola Kalinic extended Croatia’s lead when heading Kranjcar’s cross past Hogg.
Croatia
V. Runje, V. Corluka, D. Pranjic, I. Rakitic (69 I. Ilicevic), Eduardo (78 M. Mandzukic), L. Modric, D. Srna, G. Schildenfeld, T. Dujmovic, N. Kranjcar, M. Petric (60 N. Kalinic).
Malta
A. Hogg, J. Caruana, S. Bajada, G. Sciberras (88 P. Fenech), J. Hutchinson, M. Grima, R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, D. Bogdanovic (82 K. Sammut), A. Schembri (70 R. Fenech), J. Pace.
Referee Duarte Gomes (Portugal).