2012歐洲杯C組次輪第1場比賽在波蘭的波茲南市政球場展開角逐，對陣雙方是藍衣軍團意大利隊和“格子軍”克羅地亞隊。上半場意大利依靠皮爾洛的電梯球破門領先。下半場克羅地亞球員曼朱基奇近距離抽射入網將比分扳平，最終意大利1:1克羅地亞握手言和。

Italy sat back and paid for it Thursday in a 1-1 draw with Croatia at the European Championship.
Andrea Pirlo gave Italy the lead with a curving free kick in the 39th minute but Mario Mandzukic was left unmarked to equalize in the 72nd. Having opened with a 3-1 win over Ireland, Croatia has four points in Group C.
Italy has two points after its opening 1—1 draw with defending champion Spain. Italy had numerous other early chances, but the Azzurri lacked finishing quality.
At the start of the second half, Italy rarely threatened, instead choosing to absorb Croatia's attacks. The tactic backfired when Ivan Strinic launched a long pass from the left flank to Mandzukic, who had time to control at the edge of the box and shoot in off the post.