Comeback kings rule in final seconds

Vienna: As a stultifying game laboured into extra time, Fabio Capello looked on from the smart seats, chatting to Bernie Ecclestone.

Capello watched the Croats intently, admiring the influence of Vedran Corluka from right-back, the creativity of Luka Modric in midfield and the passing of Niko Kranjcar, pulling the strings in Bilic's 4-4-1-1 formation.

Croatia could have won the game after 18 minutes but Bilic's triumphant run across his technical area was aborted after an extraordinary sequence of misses. This was the type of counter-attack that Croatia specialise in, suddenly springing forward with real pace.

Modric raced down the inside-left corridor, turning the ball low and hard across the area. Somehow Ivica Olic lifted his shot against the bar.

Hope hung in the air for Croatia as Bilic's journey across his permitted patch resumed. Amazingly, the Kranjcar headed over, leaving Modric pounding the turf in frustration and stopping Bilic in his jubilant tracks.

Injury and suspension

Turkey were shorn of seven regulars, five injured and two suspended, but their collective will could not be weakened.

Terim's players fought hard, particularly in midfield where they kept pressurising Bilic's men into ceding possession. To stop Croatia working the ball through Modric to Kranjcar and then on to Olic, Terim flooded midfield and ordered massed ambush parties whenever Croatia had the ball.

Turkey's nimble striker, Nihat Kahveci, led the line, looking for support from Colin Kazim-Richards and the left-sided Arda Turan out wide, or for Tuncay to drive through the middle.

Turkey enjoyed first-half moments of promise, Hamit Altintop's fiercesome free-kick blocked by Niko Kovac.

Tuncay, screamed for a penalty when cutting in from the left, throwing himself forward as Josip Simunic stooped in front of him.

Roberto Rosetti was unimpressed by Tuncay, and had earlier cautioned the Middlesbrough striker for elbowing Niko Kovac.

Their resolve embodied by Tuncay, Turkey were finishing the half strongly. Mehmet Topal's right foot came down like a hammer, sending the ball arrowing just wide of Stipe Pletikosa's left-hand.

Turkey, allowed excess to stain their game, certainly as the second half commenced and Turan buried his studs in Simunic's ankle.

Sterility sets in

Turkey continued to frustrate Croatia and sterility began to define the game, but Croatia almost broke through after 55 minutes.

Modric found a yard of space and sent Kranjcar through but his shot, hurried as the Turks all dived in, lacked sufficient power to trouble a defiant Rustu. Yet chances opened up more for Croatia. When Gokhan Zan tripped Petric 20 yards out, Dario Srna unleashed a magnificent free-kick but Rustu made an extraordinary save.

Rustu remained defiant, saving from Olic at close range and then Srna's long free-kick.

With two minutes remaining, Rustu made a terrible mistake, allowing the excellent Modric to turn and lift over a cross for Klasnic to head home.

But the Turks kept going, and Semih Senturk equalised in spectacular fashion with seconds on the clock, setting up some penalty drama for an audience that could have been forgiven for dozing off.

Turkey continued to frustrate Croatia and sterility began to define the game, but Croatia almost broke through after 55 minutes.