Euro 2012: Mario Mandzukic and the Men of the Match from Italy vs. Croatia

Italy and Croatia played out an absorbing 1-1 draw Thursday afternoon. It really was a tale of two halves, with Italy controlling the first half and Croatia taking control of the second half and fighting back to clinch the point.

You'll be hard pressed to find anyone who was watching that would say Croatia didn't deserve it. 

A beautiful Andrea Pirlo free kick put Italy in the lead right before halftime, but Italy probably deserved to be in front by more than one. Even though Croatia played well, it was Italy that controlled possession and created the better chances.

It was the opposite in the second half; Croatia were determined to grab a result from this game. They pressed harder and more effectively. In the 72nd minute, Croatia's hard work paid off. Mario Mandzukic, with his third goal in the tournament, smashed home—off the post and the crossbar—a half-volleyed attempt from within the six-yard box. 

It was a well-fought and back-and-forth effort by both teams, and it was probably fair that the team ended up sharing the spoils.

Here are the Men of the Match from Italy vs. Croatia.

Let's do it. 

Honorable Mention: Mario Balotelli, Italy

Mario Balotelli redeemed himself in a way this afternoon after a dreadful game against Spain. His hold-up and dish-off play was much better today and he was much more of a presence up top than against Spain.

He also didn't beat the pitch in frustration today, which was nice to see. 

Balotelli was actually the player who almost opened the scoring with a lovely turn-and-shot that was barely on the wrong side of Gianluigi Buffon's near post. 

If Super Mario can continue to play as disciplined as he did today, and find his scoring boots, then Italy may stop drawing. 

Honorable Mention: Emanuele Giaccherini, Italy

Emanuele Giaccherini had a quiet, but effective, game for Italy in midfield this afternoon. 

He was one of the conduits for the Italian attack, utilizing a good pass-and-move mentality. 

Even though his name wasn't called by the commentators that often, Giaccherini continues to impress for Italy.  

Honorable Mention: Luka Modric, Croatia

Luka Modric had a quiet first half, but woke up in the second, performing his role as the midfield maestro much more effectively than against Ireland.

He fought for more balls, he passed more effectively and he even unleashed a couple of screamers that made Gigi Buffon think a little.

Modric possessed the fire in midfield that he needs to possess if Croatia want to make it out of the group. 

Third Place: Ivan Strinić, Croatia

Ivan Strinić played very well on the left flank today, fulfilling his defensive and offensive duties brilliantly. 

It was his early cross that Mario Mandzukic latched onto to score the equalizer, which came as a result of Strinić constantly pressing forward into the attacking third. 

Even after Croatia had scored, and it wasn't required of him, Strinić still pressed on, searching for the killer ball to clinch the winner.

Very inspired play from Ivan Strinić this afternoon.

Runner-Up: Andrea Pirlo, Italy

First off, I would like to apologize—I committed a huge oversight by not even including Andrea Pirlo in my list of Men of the Match from Italy and Spain.

Andrea Pirlo again demonstrated why he is still one of the most elegant and gifted midfield men in the world today. He was in command of Italy's attack, building attacking forays from the midfield by passing and moving. Pirlo was instrumental in the pressure Italy applied on Croatia all game. 

Pirlo's sublime free kick got Italy's goal of the day, a beautiful, dipping effort that Stipe Pletikosa didn't see coming until it was in the back of the net. 

Pure class.

Man of the Match: Mario Mandžukić, Croatia

Once again, Mario Mandžukić proved to be quite dangerous for opposing defenses. Although he only got the one goal today, Mandžukić gave the Italian back-line headaches all night, finding the little pockets of space, and generally wreaking havoc. 

And of course, it was his goal that clinched the point for Croatia, setting up an interesting matchup against Spain on Monday. 

At any rate, Mario Mandžukić's equalizing goal wins his Man of the Match honors.

Your Thoughts?

So for the second straight match, Mario Mandžukić wins Man of the Match honors for Croatia. 

Who was your Man of the Match? Let me know in the comments section!

Happy Euros, and cheers!