Croatia Vs

Croatia face Italy in Euro 2008 rematch

Group F rivals renew rivalry in Gdansk

Olic set for international swansong as Mandzukic misses out

Croatia and Italy will meet for the third time at a major tournament when they clash in Group F on Thursday.

The two sides have been drawn together in the group stages of the 2008 European Championship and will be looking to make a positive start to their campaigns.

Croatia will be without Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic, who is suspended for the match, but they will be boosted by the return of Ivica Olic, who is set to make his final international appearance.

Italy, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their impressive qualifying campaign, which saw them win nine of their 10 matches.

The match is likely to be a close encounter, with both sides possessing a number of talented players.

Croatia will be looking to Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic to provide the creative spark, while Italy will be hoping that the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli can make a difference.

The match will be played at the Stadion Energa Gdansk in Gdansk, Poland, and will kick off at 18:00 CET.

Conclusion

Croatia and Italy have a long history of playing each other at major tournaments, and their meeting in Group F is sure to be a fascinating encounter.

Both sides have a number of talented players, and it is sure to be a close match.

The winner of the match will take a big step towards qualifying for the knockout stages, and it could have a major impact on the rest of the tournament.