The 1-0 victory was far from the ideal game for FIFA's top ranked soccer club. Spain attempted to assert its slow-paced, cerebral passing game time and again but the flow was disrupted by an aggressive Croatian club.
Croatia needed a win or a 2-2 tie because only under those circumstances would the Eastern Europeans qualify for the following round. The Spaniards would also prefer a win because an Italian victory by any score (1-0 or 6-0) coupled with a Spanish tie would have made the Italians group winners with a victory. With a tie between Spain and Croatia and an Italian victory would give all three teams five points.
The next tie breaker would be head to head matches, but that would have been nullified by virtue of all teams tying against each other. The next tie breaker would have been goal differential, but according to ESPN, only a 2-2 tie between the Spaniards and Croatians would eliminate the Italians from the mix. A 0-0 or 1-1 score line coupled with an Italian victory would inexplicably give the Italians the group and disqualify the Croatians.
Read more: Euro Cup 2012 Spain Vs. Croatia: Spain Squeaks Out 1-0 Win Over Croatia; Wins Group C - Latinospost :: Sports :: Latinos Post
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