By PAN PYLAS
Associated Press
Associated Press Sports
updated 12:32 p.m. ET June 16, 2012
WARKA, Poland (AP) -With a decisive match against Spain only two days away, Croatia is being battered with questions about Italy.
Both Croatia and Spain can advance to the European Championship quarterfinals in their final Group C match if they draw 2-2 on Monday in Gdansk. And if that does happen, the Italians would be left out, just like at Euro 2004.
Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic says "you must play for all three points" and adds that he and his teammates "expect a good result for us."
Spain and Croatia have four points in the group, while Italy is in third place with two. If the Italians beat Ireland, which has already been eliminated, then various permutations of advancement come into play.
One of them, a 0-0 draw in Gdansk, would eliminate the Croatians. If it's 1-1, then it would depend on Italy's margin of victory over Ireland.
Eight years ago, Italy beat Bulgaria in their third group match but was eliminated after Sweden and Denmark drew 2-2.
The Croatians, not surprisingly, would rather talk about their own team, especially knowing that a win over Spain would mean a place in the quarterfinals. After beating Ireland in their opening match, they rallied to draw 1-1 against Italy with a goal by striker Mario Mandzukic - his third of the tournament.
But Croatia coach Slaven Bilic put Mandzukic on the wing in the second half against Italy, leaving Nikica Jelavic as a lone striker up front.
"Obviously, (for me) it's better to play with two up front," said Jelavic, who scored against Ireland. But he added that in the second half against Italy, Croatia "were much more dangerous" playing with a single striker supported by a mobile five-man midfield.
Croatia hasn't faced Spain since losing 2-1 in a friendly in June 2006.
"It would be hard against them," Croatia striker Eduardo said, "even if (Spain defenders) Sergio Ramos or (Alvaro) Arbeloa were their main strikers."
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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