51mins: Vieri's effort is ruled out for offside (Allsport).

By James Dart, Sportinglife.com

Final score: Italy 1 Croatia 2

Man-of-the-match: Francesco Totti was good again for Italy, but I'll give it to Ivica Olic, who started the Croatian comeback. He was lively and provided the spark in a sensational fightback.

90 mins: It's all over as yet another of the fancied teams for World Cup glory comes to grief in the group stages. Croatia looked dead and buried, but those two goals in three minutes sensationally turned the game on its head. Defeat is tough on Italy, who remain on top of Group G, but they will now need a result against Mexico in their final match to give themselves a shot at progression.

90 mins: More drama as a second Italian goal is disallowed. Inzaghi breaks behind the Croatian defence and pokes the ball past Pletikosa and into the net. However, as he goes to celebrate, he sees the flag raised for shirt-pulling and Croatia somehow escape again.

90 mins: Panucci rises to meet Totti's corner, but he heads over the bar from seven yards out. There will be four minutes of added-time.

89 mins: A corner to Italy after Zambrotta's good work. Is there to be a dramatic leveller?

88 mins: Pletikosa is called upon to beat away a powerful strike from Zambrotta. The rebound could fall anywhere, but fortunately for the Croatians, Robert Kovac reaches it to clear.

87 mins: It looks as if it isn't going to be Italy's day, and they don't really deserve to lose.

86 mins: Awful luck for Italy and Totti especially, as his free-kick leaves Pletikosa stranded from 25 yards. It strikes the inside of the right post, rolls along the line and almost brushes the left-hand upright and Croatia escape somehow.

85 mins: As the clock runs down, Trapattoni looks set to bring on Di Livio - even though he has Alessandro Del Piero on the bench.

84 mins: The Italian fans around the ground remain in a stunned state as they struggle to come to terms with the match situation.

82 mins: It's beginning to become a defensive stand for Croatia now as Italy pen their opponents deep inside their own half.

81 mins: Vieri looks to inspire his side from the front, but Croatia have all the confidence and continue to break as they look to kill the game off.

80 mins: Italy, normally so tight and resolute at the back, appear in disarray without Nesta to marshal them.

79 mins: Goalscorer Rapaic comes off for Croatia, with Dario Simic taking his place. Rapaic is mobbed by his bench as he comes off.

78 mins: Trapattoni makes a change with Filippo Inzaghi coming on for Doni.

77 mins: Italy are now finding themselves in the unaccustomed position of being behind. Having been in control of the game with barely 15 minutes remaining, Croatia have sensationally turned the game on its head.

76 mins: GOAL RAPAIC - What a turnaround! After a defensive scramble, the ball falls to Rapaic, who slices the ball off his boot from the edge of the Italian area, looping over the stranded Buffon and into the net.

75 mins: Olic and Croatia have their tails up as the young striker breaks down the inside-right channel, winning a corner for his efforts. Italy clear the subsequent flag-kick, though.

74 mins: Croatia almost storm into the lead, as Maldini and Materazzi get in a tangle on the right flank, enabling Boksic to break towards the Italy area. His cross is whipped in with menace, but Rapaic is agonisingly unable to get on the end of the ball.

73 mins: GOAL OLIC - The substitute scores, somewhat against the run of play, as an excellent cross from Jarni catches the Italian defence flat-footed, and Olic steals in at the far post to divert the ball past the wrong-footed Buffon.

71 mins: From nothing, Vieri collects a long ball and bears down on the Croatian goal. Just as it looks as if he is about to fire Italy to a guaranteed win, he slices his effort poorly for a goal-kick. A warning for the Croatians.

70 mins: Jarni bursts past Zambrotta down the left, only to be cut down by the Juve player. Poll awards a free-kick.

68 mins: A lull in play, but the heart is slowly leaving the Croatian side. They must somehow try to rally themselves if they want a result out of the game.

66 mins: Zambrotta attempts to squeeze a cross in from the left side as he cuts in, but, losing his balance, he succeeds in playing the ball tamely through to Pletikosa.

65 mins: With 25 minutes left in the game, now that Italy have their lead, it's tough to see how Croatia can get back into this game.

64 mins: Vieri releases Doni down the left with an astute ball, but the Atalanta midfielder's cross is too hard for the awaiting Totti.

63 mins: Another change from Croatian coach Jozic, as Soldo limps out of the action with Jurica Vranjes coming on to provide some fresh legs in midfield.

62 mins: Buffon races out of his goal to beat the ball away from the feet of Rapaic as Croatia build up a head of steam.

61 mins: Croatia win a free-kick after an over-zealous tackle from Doni. Rapaic takes it, curling the ball in low, but it fails to beat the first defender.

60 mins: Jarni is adjudged to have pulled back Zambrotta on the right just outside the Croatian area. Panucci whips in a low cross, but Soldo is equal to it and volleys away.

59 mins: Italy are now brimming with confidence after almost an hour of dour play.

58 mins: The Croatians look to hit back and level through Olic, but his attempted shot is blocked.

57 mins: Croatia make a change up front with talented young striker Ivica Olic coming on in place of the impressive Vugrinec.

56 mins: GOAL VIERI - A trademark header at the back post puts the Italians into the lead. Totti's deep cross eludes all the players in the middle. Doni retrieves it, crosses first time, and Vieri rises above his marker to head into the top corner past the stricken Pletikosa.

55 mins: Italy coach Trapattoni looks poised to bring midfielder Angelo Di Livio into the fray.

54 mins: A free-kick now to Italy in a dangerous spot on the left for Robert Kovac's overphysical tackle on Totti. The Roma star takes the set piece himself, but fails to beat defender Tomas at the near post.

53 mins: Whilst television replays show that Vieri was level and therefore not in an offside position for his 'goal', Croatia's corner is half-cleared to Rapaic, who fires in a low shot from 22 yards out that Buffon saves comfortably to his left.

52 mins: Croatia break after their let-off and Simunic's run and deflected cross sees them win a corner.

51 mins: Vieri powers the ball into the net from close range after Zambrotta's flick towards the net. With Pletikosa out of position, the Inter hitman thinks he has scored, only to see the assistant referee's flag raised. He takes his complaints too far and receives a yellow card.

50 mins: Boksic goes down after being caught nastily by a trailing leg from Materazzi. It should have been a free-kick to Croatia, but instead play continues and Italy win a free-kick.

49 mins: A quick throw from Maldini sees Doni attempt a volley, but he doesn't quite connect as he would have wished, sending a low shot weakly into the arms of Pletikosa.

48 mins: Vugrinec breaks down the left wing, but his cross is too deep for the awaiting Boksic in the middle.

47 mins: As we reach early evening in Ibaraki, the temperature has dropped a little, making conditions more comfortable for both teams to play in. Hopefully this will result in a much better second half.

46 mins: The second period begins with neither side making any changes in personnel.

HT: Italy 0 Croatia 0

45 mins: After a a Totti corner is cleared, Poll's half-time whistle sounds to end a the first period. Italy have been very disappointing, and whilst Doni may have spurned the best chance of the half, it has been Croatia who have probably just about had the better of the game so far. Italy have been disappointing.

45 mins: Boksic sets up a shooting chance for Rapaic on the left side of the Italian penalty area, but his effort is quite weak and Buffon gets down quite easily low to his left to complete the save. Two minutes of added-time are signalled for.

44 mins: After receiving treatment for a knock on his neck, Doni is allowed back on to the field and he'll be glad of the approaching half-time break.

43 mins: Doni is floored after going up for a header. The Italians won't want any more injuries after Nesta's problem earlier in the game.

42 mins: As we approach the interval, it is Italy who are finishing the half a little stronger, just as they began the game slightly in the ascendancy.

40 mins: Scrappy play results in Gianluca Zambrotta going down under Simunic's tackle just outside the Croatian penalty area. However, despite Italian protestations, referee Poll waves play to continue.

39 mins: The first booking of the game is dished out to Robert Kovac for a clumsy tackle from behind on Totti. There was no real malice in the challenge, but it was worthy of a yellow card. Thankfully, Totti gets up without injury.

38 mins: Better play from Italy and on this occasion, Totti's pass towards Doni sees Pletikosa come out quickly to make a timely interception.

37 mins: Totti's flag-kick is delivered with pace but Simunic does well to get his head to the ball, directing it out to safety.

36 mins: Zanetti limps out of a challenge after his attempted shot is charged down, but still curls behind for a corner.

35 mins: Italy have looked at their most dangerous when Panucci has broken down the right. He does so again, but his poor cross enables Croatia to clear. They are awarded a free-kick anyway for a foul by Vieri.

34 mins: Good work from the livewire Nico Kovac on the left results in a cross that beats both Boksic and defender Fabio Cannavaro.

32 mins: Doni looks to thread a ball through to Vieri down the inside-left channel, but his pass has just too much pace on it and Tomas is happy to see it out for a goal-kick.

31 mins: Josip Simunic wins the ball deep in his half on the right, only to concede possession and foul Vieri. Totti tries an ambitious shot from the free-kick, but it is blocked by a Croatian boot.

30 mins: Since Doni missed Italy's only real opening in the game so far, Croatia have been the better side, but need to take something as a reward for their play.

29 mins: Croatia's increasing dominance sees Boksic, Rapaic and Vugrinec combining to create a shooting chance for the latter. Sadly for Croatia, his effort is low and close to Buffon, who saves comfortably.

28 mins: Vugrinec goes down theatrically just outside the Italian penalty area and referee Poll correctly waves play on.

27 mins: This is a much-improved performance from Croatia so far compared to their lethargic efforts against Mexico.

26 mins: A stunning escape for the Italians as first Vugrinec is denied by a flying one-handed save from Buffon, then Materazzi slides in with a goal-line clearance with Milan Rapaic waiting to pounce.

25 mins: Better play from Croatia results in Soldo shooting a couple of yards wide of Buffon's right-hand post from just outside the Italian area. It did look as though the Juventus stopper had the effort covered.

24 mins: Whether or not Nesta's withdrawal is a precaution, his departure from the field is worrying news for the Italians, especially if the Lazio star's foot problem is serious.

23 mins: A blow for Italy as Trapattoni is forced into a substitution, with star defender Nesta coming off and Marco Materazzi, formerly of Everton, taking over at the back.

22 mins: At the half-way stage of the first period, Croatia will be the happier of the two sides for the way in which they have kept the Italians quiet, apart for one chance.

21 mins: Vugrinec fires in Croatia's first shot on target in the game with a volleyed attempt on the turn from 23 yards out, which flies powerfully into the arms of Buffon.

20 mins: What Croatia have done well so far is stopping the supply to Vieri, who really can't get into the game at all at the moment. Even the mercurial Totti is having to drop very deep to pick up the ball.

19 mins: The game remains somewhat of a stop-start affair with too many fouls being committed by both sides.

18 mins: Good work now from Nico Kovac, whose persistence down the left flank almost sees him lay off a chance for Vugrinec.

17 mins: Nico Kovac returns to the field, with the bleeding from his nose apparently stemmed.

16 mins: Play is temporarily halted as Nico Kovac receives treatment on a knock to his nose.

15 mins: A great opportunity is wasted by Cristiano Doni as the Atalanta man takes advantage of some poor defending. He finds himself clear inside the Croatian area, but under pressure from Robert Kovac, he shoots low at the legs of Pletikosa, who makes the vital save.

14 mins: It has been a tight opening 14 minutes and Italy are clearly being given a sterner test than in their opening stroll against Ecuador.

13 mins: The free-kick is charged down, but it is deflected behind for a corner. The ball is curled into the box, but Maldini heads out to Robert Jarni. He tries his luck from distance, but his rising shot fails to hit the target.

12 mins: A sweet drag back turn by Vugrinec tricks Maldini, who brings the Croatian man down and hands them a free-kick wide on the right.

11 mins: Croatia pen Italy back deep inside their own half as Jozic's team look to establish some territorial control.

10 mins: Panucci curls in a delightful cross from the right flank, but Vieri is beaten to the ball by a brave header from Robert Kovac of Bayern Munich.

9 mins: Paolo Maldini floats the ball in towards Christian Vieri, but the big forward fails to get his head on the ball after a surprisingly quiet opening.

8 mins: Zvonimir Soldo has his legs taken away from under him buy Zanetti in midfield, but referee Poll opts just to have a word with the Inter midfielder.

7 mins: Italy are definitely finding their stride as Giovanni Trapattoni's side display some excellent passing play.

6 mins: Gianluca Zambrotta fires in a left-footed shot from 25 yards out after receiving a short corner, but Stipe Pletikosa in the Croatian goal is up to the test and catches confidently.

5 mins: Totti himself hammers the free-kick straight at the Croatian wall, but Italy keep the pressure up as they start to pass the ball around, before Christian Panucci wins a corner.

4 mins: A free-kick to Italy in a central position just outside the Croatia area as Stjepan Tomas is adjudged to have fouled Francesco Totti.

3 mins: Croatia coach Mirko Jozic had some harsh words for his squad after their opening defeat to Mexico and they have started quite brightly here.

2 mins: An early corner for Croatia as Alen Boksic breaks into the Italy area, and Alessandro Nesta turns the ball behind. Robert Jarni crosses after a short corner, but a foul is committed in the middle in favour of Italy.

1 min: English referee Graham Poll gets the action started on a lovely late afternoon in Ibaraki.

Pre-match: Ibaraki is the location for today's Group G clash where the impressive Italians can all but guarantee their spot in the second round with a victory over a Croatia side looking to salvage some pride after a disappointing performance in their opening defeat to Mexico. Italy's only change was to drop Luigi Di Biagio down to the bench with Cristiano Zanetti coming in to replace him. For Croatia, striker Davor Vugrinec took over from Davor Suker in attack, whilst Robert Prosinecki also dropped out of the side.