National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Croatia's Nikola Vlašić started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Mexico's Claudio Chan proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 4th minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. 6 minutes into the game, Croatia's Juninho Pernambucano nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Claudio Chan made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. 10 minutes into the match, Joško Poklepović dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Claudio Chan, 2-0. When the match had gone on for 15 minutes, Nikola Vlašić put it in 3-0 from a short distance just to the right of Claudio Chan. Marco Materazzi got a throw-in 20 minutes in the game and the ball was received by Adolf Pancirov. Nikola Vlašić scored 4-0 in the 22nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Claudio Chan, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Adolf Pancirov hit a great freekick 29 minutes into the match. Nikola Vlašićs short, quick shot in the 31stth minute got Claudio Chan to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. 33 minutes into the game, Mexico's Niceto Quirce nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Emil Cvitanović made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 4-1. Nikola Vlašić could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 38th minute of the match, but Claudio Chan made a huge save. Nikola Vlašić could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 39th minute of the match, but Claudio Chan made a huge save. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 40 minutes play. Freddy Constancio hit a great ball. When the match had gone on for 43 minutes, Joško Poklepović took a quick shot and it went in 5-1 without a chance for Claudio Chan to make any attempt to save it. In the 45th minute, Arnulfo Loiola hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 5-1 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Niceto Quirce stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After some fancy dribbling in the 55th minute, Nikola Vlašić managed to get in a good position for a shot. Croatia's supporters rose to their feet, but Nikola Vlašić was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Claudio Chan breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a defensive mix-up in Mexico's zone, Adolf Pancirov stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Claudio Chan came out of the goal and Adolf Pancirov tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Nikola Vlašić took the ball and in the 62 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Claudio Chan. Claudio Chan dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 6-1. Toni Gojak sent away a hard shot on goal in the 73rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joško Poklepović in the 76th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Claudio Chan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 84 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Arnulfo Loiola. 89 minutes into the match, Nikola Vlašić notched a goal, 8-1, to the right of Mexico's Claudio Chan. Claudio Chan was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 96th minute, Joško Poklepović hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field.