Croatia came within a whisker of sweet revenge for their 1998 World Cup
semi-final defeat by France but in the end had to settle for a 2-2 draw with the
defending champions.
The result prevents France from qualifying for the last eight with a game to
spare - but Otto Baric's side will rue a missed opportunity to settle a historic
score.
The script looked to be going to plan when France took the lead in the first
half through an Igor Tudor own goal after a Zinedine Zidane free-kick.
However, the Croats launched a furious onslaught at the start of the second
period when Milan Rapaic converted a penalty before man-of-the-match Dado Prso
made it 2-1 with a fine finish - all in the space of four minutes.
However, David Trezeguet spared French blushes when he equalised after poor
defending by Tudor - although the striker appeared to use his hand to control
the ball.
Substitute Ivica Mornar still had time to miss a glorious chance in
injury-time for the Croats, whose final Group B match is against England.
France dominated the early exchanges at Leiria's Estadio Dr Maghalhaes Pessoa
and Thierry Henry surged past two tackles with a mazy run but was halted as he
prepared to shoot by Robert Kovac.
The Arsenal striker then turned and fired a shot just wide after being nicely
set-up by Olivier Dacourt's short pass, before seeing a cross cleared at the
expense of a corner by Tudor - with Trezeguet looking set to score.
Zidane then had his first chance to make his mark when France won a free-kick
for a foul on Henry.
However, Zidane, whose first of two injury-time goals against England came
from a free-kick, only struck the Croatian wall although from the resultant
phase of play Sylvain Wiltord fired just wide of the near post.
Dovani Rosso's shot finally saw Croatia show as an attacking force but it was
easy meat for Fabien Barthez.
But after 22 minutes France took the lead with a goal that had a slice of good
fortune about it.
Zidane curled in a free-kick which was contested by Mikael Silvestre and Tudor
and was deflected into the net with Butina wrongfooted.
The unfortunate Tudor got the decisive touch and was eventually credited with
an unwanted goal - although initially match officials gave it to Silvestre.
That setback stirred Croatia into life and Nenad Bjelica fired a dangerous
shot just over Barthez's bar from the right-corner of the penalty area.
A lovely French move saw Zidane and Trezeguet feed the ball to Wiltord, who
was just denied at the expense of a corner as he prepared to shoot from close
range.
Then Patrick Vieira was cautioned for a foul, becoming the first name in the
book of Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen.
He was swiftly joined by Tudor, whose biting tackle on the Senegal-born
midfielder Vieira also earned a yellow card.
Another piece of Zidane magic almost created a second for France when his
clever flick from an Henry corner caught the Croatian defence off guard - but
William Gallas could not find the target with his header.
There was still time for Croatia's Dario Simic to sting the fingers of Barthez
with a long-range effort before Nielsen called time on the first period.
France looked to have one foot in the last eight but Croatia came out all guns
blazing in the second half to turn the game on its ahead.
They equalised when Rapaic showed David Beckham how to beat Barthez from the
penalty spot with a left-footed shot into the corner, after Silvestre bundled
over Rosso.
Within four minutes it was 2-1 to the Croats who were being roared on by their
noisy legions of fans, almost all clad in the "sahovnica" (red-and-white
chessboard shirts).
Desailly did nothing to dispel doubts that he is now too old to play at this
level when his hesitation allowed Dado Prso to crash home the ball with his left
foot after the Rangers-bound Monaco forward had initally overrun the ball.
Dacourt was next to have his name taken - but just when the Croatians had the
French on the run they let them back into the game.
Tudor's weak backpass let in Trezeguet, who rounded Butina to score with his
left foot from a tight angle.
Baric brought on Jerko Leko for Bjelica, Santini introduced Pires for Wiltord,
before Ivica Olic then entered the fray for Tomislav Sokota.
Leko was booked for a cynical foul on Henry, before Santini introduced Benoit
Pedretti for the off-form Dacourt - and soon afterwards Willy Sagnol replaced
Gallas.
Mornar came on for Rapaic and at Butina made good saves from Pires and Henry.
But then Mornar spurned his chance for glory when he put the ball over the bar
from point-blank range.
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