National Teams

Two equalizers for Croatia

Drmić and Olić
secure draw in
Switzerland

05.03.2014.
Drmić and Olić secure draw in Switzerland
photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
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International friendly in St. Gallen ended in a draw, with both Croatia and Switzerland scoring twice.

SWITZERLAND - CROATIA 2:2 (2:1)
AFG Arena, St. Gallen.
International friendly.

Referee: Hugo Miguel (Portugal)

Goalscorers: 1:0 - Drmić (34'), 1:1 - Olić (39'), 2:1 - Drmić (41'), 2:2 - Olić (54')

Yellow cards: Lichtsteiner (42'), Srna (79'), Olić (86')

Switzerland: Benaglio, Rodriguez, Von Bergen, Djourou, Lichtsteiner (62' Lang), Inler (62' Džemaili), Behrami (46' Schwegler), Stocker (79' Barnetta), Xhaka (79' Gavranović), Shaqiri (46' Mehmedi), Drmić. Head coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Croatia: Subašić, Srna, Ćorluka, Lovren (56' Schildenfeld), Pranjić, Rakitić (88' Vukojević), Maleš (56' Modrić), Perišić (75' Milić), Kovačić (56' Eduardo), Olić, Jelavić (46' Mandžukić). Head coach: Niko Kovač.


In the first preparation match for the World Cup in Brazil, Niko Kovač's Croatia faced Ottmar Hitzfeld's Switzerland.

Croatia threatened for the first time through Perišić in 15th minute, and after half an hour of play, Switzerland was combining well and Xhaka tried from distance, while Drmić missed a good opportunity.

It was the young Swiss striker who scored in 34th minute, after beating Ćorluka and striking past Subašić from the edge of the box.

Croatia responded in five minutes, when Olić was left unguarded in front of Benaglio's goal after Rakitić's corner. However, Switzerland retook the lead even faster. Drmić found himself at the end of a long ball and beat Subašić again.

At the beginning of the second half Xhaka tried once more, and goalscoring duel Drmić - Olić was tied in 54th minute, when Kovačić sent Olić through, and Wolfsburg striker neatly put the ball in the very corner of the Swiss net.

Kovač introduced several players from the bench in the second half and Croatia had a couple of chances. Eduardo in 64th and Ćorluka in 75th minute came close to scoring the winner, but the match ended in a draw.

05.03.2014., AFG Arena, St. Gallen. Spectators: 17200
Referees: Hugo Filipe Ferreira Campos (POR), Ricardo Jorge Ferreira Santos (POR), Paulo Alexandre Santos Soares (POR)
Fourth referee: Stephan Klossner (SUI)
Switzerland
2
Croatia
2
1Diego Benaglio23Danijel Subašić
2Stephan Lichtsteiner
43'
62'
3Danijel Pranjić
5Steve von Bergen4Ivan Perišić
75'
8Gökhan Inler
62'
5Vedran Ćorluka
10Granit Xhaka
79'
6Dejan Lovren
56'
11Valon Behrami
46'
7Ivan Rakitić
88'
13Ricardo Rodriguez9Nikica Jelavić
46'
14Valentin Stocker
79'
11Darijo Srna
79'
19Josip Drmic
34'
41'
14Mate Maleš
56'
20Johan Djourou18Ivica Olić
40'
54'
86'
23Xherdan Shaqiri
46'
20Mateo Kovačić
56'
Bench
21Yann Sommer1Stipe Pletikosa
3Michael Lang
62'
2Ivan Strinić
4Philippe Senderos8Ognjen Vukojević
88'
6Pirmin Schwegler
46'
10Luka Modrić
56'
7Tranquillo Barnetta
79'
13Gordon Schildenfeld
56'
9Haris Seferovic15Hrvoje Milić
75'
15Blerim Dzemaili
62'
21Domagoj Vida
16Gelson Fernandes22Eduardo Alves Da Silva
56'
17Mario Gavranovic
79'
17Mario Mandžukić
46'
18Admir Mehmedi
46'
Coaches
Ottmar HitzfeldNiko Kovač