Summary

  • Wales begin life without Gareth Bale with a dramatic draw away at World Cup semi-finalists Croatia

  • Andrej Kramaric gives Croatia the lead after 28 minutes in Split

  • Nathan Broadhead scores in the last minute on his debut to earn Wales a point

  • Wales and Croatia in group D alongside Armenia, Latvia and Turkey

  1. Postpublished at 88 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Nathan Blake
    Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    Croatia clearly don't take anything for granted, they constantly go at it.

  2. Time running out for Walespublished at 88 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Wales had a good spell for part of this second half but their threat has faded.

    An equaliser now would be quite something.

  3. Postpublished at 87 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Another long throw has Wales interested for a moment, but Croatia break clear and need the visitors need Chris Mepham to make a sliding clearance to deny Mario Pasalic.

  4. Postpublished at 85 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Croatia threaten once more, as Nikola Vlasic shoots from outside the box.

    This time Danny Ward saves comfortably.

  5. Postpublished at 83 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales.

    Helen Ward
    Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    Danny Ward had absolutely no chance, ridiculous effort at goal but thankfully it came of the crossbar.

  6. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 83 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    That was Marco van Basten-esque!

    Luka Modric lifts the ball across field to Ivan Perisic, who volleys from the tightest of angles and the ball smacks off the bar.

    What an incredible goal that would have been.

  7. Postpublished at 81 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    We are into the final 10 minutes.

    Can Wales, with such an inexperienced forward line now, put any sort of pressure on Croatia?

  8. Postpublished at 21:25 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Nathan Blake
    Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    Croatia seem to be in a position where they don't want to push too hard.

    If the second goal comes they will take it obviously, but they are not over-exerting themselves.

  9. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    The next Luka Modric corner is well dealt with by Wales.

  10. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Luka Modric's corner reaches Josko Gvardiol, whose header deflects behind.

  11. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Helen Ward
    Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    It's almost a free hit this game because we are not expected to get a result regardless of the team that is out there or the experience.

    Why not give these younger players and less experienced players a chance to come up against some of the best in the world? If it stays like this it is going to give them confidence.

  12. SUBSTITUTIONSpublished at 77 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    That is Mateo Kovacic's last act. Goalscorer Andrej Kramaric is also off as Nikola Vlasic and Mario Pasalic come on.

  13. Postpublished at 76 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Mateo Kovacic drives into the Wales box once more, but his touch is heavy and Wales can breathe again.

  14. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Nathan Blake
    Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    Just a bit high, in fairness to Neco Williams he caught it well but he was moving backwards as he hits that, he did well to make that much of it, decent technique.

  15. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Helen Ward
    Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    The chances or half-chances are coming from long throws.

    In the first half we weren't even getting into those areas.

    The substitutes are slowly growing into the game.

  16. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Another Connor Roberts long throw causes a stir at the back for Croatia.

    They clear to Joe Morrell, who nods into the path of Neco Williams 20 yards from goal.

    He strikes a sweet volley a yard over the bar.

  17. Baffling substitutionspublished at 72 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Michael Pearlman
    BBC Sport Wales at Stadion Poljud, Split

    Only 1-0 down and Wales take off three of their four most likely goalscorers.

    I have to confess, I don't understand the logic behind that.

    Wales were having their best period of the game and have effectively stopped their own momentum.

    And now Kieffer Moore goes off?

    Are Wales effectively conceding that they aren't getting back into things?

  18. Postpublished at 72 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Nathan Blake
    Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    We have lost our momentum. That's always going to be the worry when you make changes.

    I understand you are trying to blood youngsters.

    But 1-0 down, you are still in the game. It's a big roll of the dice.

  19. Postpublished at 71 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    All the talk in the build-up was about this being a new era for Wales, and there is definitely a fresh look about the team on the pitch now.

  20. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 70 mins

    Croatia 1-0 Wales

    Another change for Wales as Tom Bradshaw replaces Kieffer Moore.