Croatia bristled with imagination and inspiration as they dealt Germany a 2-1 Euro 2008 Group B defeat here on Thursday in one of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far.
The Croats were well worth their victory which came 10 years after the biggest result in their history when they beat the same opponents 3-0 in the World Cup quarter-finals as they took charge of the group and are now almost guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals.
It will be back to the drawing board for the Germans, who ended the match with 10 men.
After a cagey and dull opening the game burst into life midway through the opening stanza.
Croatia took the lead on 24 minutes with a move of delightful fluency.
Quick, zipped passes and intelligent running off the ball…