It was gutsy play from both Turkey and Croatia but a 41 minute stunning volley by midfielder Luka Modric secured a 1-0 win over Turkey on Sunday in Group D of Euro 2016 at the Parc des Princes.
The midfielder becomes the first Croat to score in two European Championships after beating Volkan Babacan from 25 yards in the Group D encounter.
Call it the golden luck for Croatia, statistically the side has now won 10 and drawn one in their 11 matches when Modric has scored a goal.
Incidentally, the midfielder was part of the Real Madrid side that lifted the Champions League trophy late last month, and a celebratory couple of weeks continued with his stunning first-half winner in Paris.
With four minutes until half time, Modric produced a supremely difficult piece of technical skill, volleying a dropping ball beyond Volkan Babacan from distance to spark wild celebrations among Croatia players and fans alike.
Turkey on the other hand never looked threatening, instead opting to shove and push the opposition. Post interval, Turkey produced some scoring opportunities but a superb defence from Croatia put off any of those chances.
ALSO READ: Turkey vs Croatia Match Review
Turkey’s best chance came in the opening half, when Ozan Tufan saw his header saved – but despite being roared on by their passionate fans inside the Parc des Princes, they were second best on Sunday.
They did produce one scare for the Croatian defence right at the end but Vedran Corluka, wearing a white bandage that evoked shades of former England defender Terry Butcher after he suffered a cut to this head from a stray elbow in the first half, made a timely block.
In the end it was Croatia who held their nerves as Corluka had to be sent off due to sustaining a dental damage while defending his side near the post, with plenty of heartbreaks for the Turkish players and fans alike.
