Euro 2012: Croats happy with Italy draw, hope for quarters

Croatians were satisfied with their national side draw against Italy in their Euro 2012 Group C match on Thursday and voiced high hopes that they would eventually qualify for the quarter-finals.

Euro 2012 | Blogs | Standings | Photos

Thousands of people watched the match from Poznan, Poland, live on giant screens put up in many Croatian town's squares, which ended in a 1-1 draw, local media reported.

Due to fine weather many watched the match also on terraces of cafes which provided large screens for their guests to enjoy the European Championship.

Several thousand people applauded at the end of the match against Italy that they watched at a giant screen at the Zagreb's main square.

"Bravo Croatia! Bravo Stipe (Pletikosa)!" the crowd, in which many waved Croatian flags, chanted in a reference to the goalkeeper who rescued the team on several occasions.

"Mario, Mario (Mandzukic)!" they also chanted to honour the Croatian goalscorer. The 26-year-old Wolfsburg's striker already scored two goals in Croatia 3-1 opening win over the Republic of Ireland.

"All in all it's fine," commented Alan Becic, 50, dressed in the national squad's chequer-board red and white T-shirt.

"It could have been better, but of course I'm happy. I'm certain that we will play in the quarter finals," his friend Dinko Horvat told AFP.

"Super Mario saved Croatia -- draw against Italy, decision on qualifications against (La) Furia" Roja (Spain)," read a headline of the influential Jutarnji List daily online edition.

Croatia, quarter-finalists in 2008, are currently leading in the group with four points. Their win against Ireland sparked euphoria in the country while some 15,000 fans travelled to Poland to support their side.

Croatia will play their final group game against defending champions Spain on June 18 in Gdansk.