Czech Republic vs. Croatia: Score and Twitter Reaction from Euro 2016

Czech Republic came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Croatia in Group D on Friday and keep their Euro 2016 campaign alive thanks to goals from super substitute pair Milan Skoda and Tomas Necid.

Ivan Perisic and Ivan Rakitic netted either side of the break to establish a two-goal cushion for Croatia, but Tomas Rosicky teed up team-mate Skoda for the equaliser before Necid came on to convert a last-gasp penalty.

The result means Croatia will have to wait before they can book their place in the next phase of the tournament, while Czech Republic can cling on to a small shred of hope they could yet advance.

A thrilling game of football came to a disappointing end, however, after Croatia fans threw flares on the pitch, per Goal's Robin Bairner, and fights then broke out in the stands of Stade Geoffroy-Guichard:

Croatia travelled to Saint-Etienne full of motivation to bag another three points, knowing that a second victory would assure them of a place in the next phase of Euro 2016.

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker noted it was a particularly emotional day for captain Darijo Srna, who led his team onto the pitch just days after his father died:

The full-back was just one of several Croatia stars who enjoyed a terrific performance in central France, functioning more as a winger for long stretches of his display.

Czech Republic struggled to put up a fight against their possession-dominant opponents, who left a sterling impression on the BBC's John Bennett owing to their first-half display:

However, Croatia needed goals if they were to book their spot in the round of 16, and Perisic kindly delivered eight minutes before the interval following his mazy run down the left flank.

The Czechs lost the ball in a terrible position, and although Perisic had options all around, he proceeded to dummy and go it alone with a defender and goalkeeper Petr Cech between him, firing low into the bottom-right corner.

RMC's Philippe Auclair was dazzled with the buildup in particular:

It proved to be a timely incision for the Croatians, who came back out for the second half as full of fire as they had been going in at the break.

In fact, it took Rakitic all of 14 minutes after the restart to increase his side's lead. Again, Czech Republic lost the ball in their own half, and after the ball was sprawled to a free Rakitic, the Barcelona playmaker chipped over Cech from short range. Yahoo's Andrew Gaffney was left in awe of his talents:

Rakitic was one of Croatia's primary scoring threats for the remainder of the match, and Match of the Day highlighted how prominent a figure he's been for his country of late:

Coach Ante Cacic even saw fit to withdraw Luka Modric after 60 minutes rather than risk injury to his puppeteer for the tests to come, with Real Madrid team-mate Mateo Kovacic his replacement.

Croatia came close to heaping further woe on their foes through striker Mario Mandzukic, and goal difference may come to be a telling factor depending on their result against Spain next Tuesday.

However, they came to pay the price for failing to convert their earlier chances when Rosicky turned on the flair and floated a special outside-of-the-boot cross in to Skoda from the right-hand side.

Skoda returned the favour by beating Croatia defender Vedran Corluka in the air and looping his header over goalkeeper Danijel Subasic to revive the competition:

Czech Republic amplified the pressure placed on their opponents' goal, and it eventually produced results not long after referee Mark Clattenburg halted the match due to the disruption caused by a section of the Croatian support.

Clattenburg was called into action again when Croatia defender Domagoj Vida was adjudged to have handled the ball challenging for a header. It was the correct call, and substitute Necid tied the score just six minutes after entering the fray, per the Telegraph's James Ducker:

"

Incredible turnaround of events. Necid equalises from pen spot to make it 2-2. What are those mindless Croatia fans thinking now?

— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) June 17, 2016"

Croatia now sit just a point clear at the Group D summit for the time being and head into next Tuesday's clash against pool favourites Spain with less confidence than they might have had.

Meanwhile, Czech Republic can feel more upbeat about their chances of making it through, knowing a win over Turkey could well see them steal second place.

Post-Match Reaction

James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images

Croatia coach Cacic had ample reason to be upset with his players after they allowed three points to evade their grasp in Saint-Etienne, but it was the fans who again took the spotlight in the wake of the result.

When asked for his opinion on those Croatian fans who were responsible for throwing flares on the pitch, Cacic refused to hold back in criticising their behaviour, per Bairner:

Omnisport's Iain Strachan provided further quotes from the Croatia manager, who said sections of his side's support had history when it came to these sorts of actions:

Per Eurosport UK, Cacic even went on to say "their place is not in the stadium," and he'll hope to see his fans rein in their behaviour next Tuesday in the clash against Spain.