Spurs pair feature as Croatia take step closer to quarter-finals (From Enfield Independent)

Tottenham Hotspur's Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka play as Croatia draw with Italy in Euro 2012

7:10pm Thursday 14th June 2012 in Spurs

Spurs duo Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka again played the full 90 minutes as Croatia took a potentially significant step to reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 by drawing 1-1 with Italy in Poznan this afternoon.

Following their 3-1 win over the Republic of Ireland, the point puts Slaven Bilic’s men top of Group C, although they could be overtaken if Spain beat Giovanni Trapattoni’s side by a convincing margin this evening.

The Italians looked set to build on their opening 1-1 draw with the reigning European and World champions when Andrea Pirlo’s fine first-half free-kick gave them the lead.

However, the Croats battled back after the break and levelled when Wolfsburg’s Mario Mandzukic netted his third goal of the tournament.

Former Tottenham player Niko Kranjcar once again came off the bench in the second half but Bilic’s side know that if they beat the Irish in their final group game on Monday, they will be in the last eight.