Croatia made it three wins out of three in Euro 2016 qualifying with a resounding win over Azerbaijan in Osijek on Monday night. Ivan Rakitic started the match, while Alen Halilovic came on with half an hour to go and the home side already five goals up.
Another Rakitic set piece
The game was something of a mismatch, with Croatia only needing eleven minutes to open the scoring through Kramaric. The visitors then managed to hold on for a good while, but after 34 minutes, a Rakitic free-kick was turned home by Perisic, the second time this week that Croatia have scored off a dead ball delivered by the Barça star. By half time, Perisic and Brozovic had extended the lead to 4-0 and the game was as good as decided.
There was still more to come though. Modric made it five from the penalty spot, shortly before Alen Halilovic entered the fray, precisely as a substitute for the Real Madrid man. There was enough time left for Croatia to make it six, this time when Sadygov put the ball in his own net, and although there were several other chances, including a fine one for Rakitic, the rout stopped there.
Coupled with wins against Bulgaria and Malta, Croatia lead Group H on goal difference ahead of Italy, who also have a one hundred per cent record.
