CROATIA all but guaranteed themselves a place at Euro 2012 after hammering hosts Turkey in the first leg of their play-off at the Ataturk Stadium last night.

CROATIA took a giant step towards European Union membership by winning a green light from Brussels to join in mid-2013, a move opening a fresh page in the history of the Balkans nation.

CROATIA’S interior minister has resigned after being photographed on a hunting holiday with a war crimes suspect.

CROATIA will line out without first choice goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa after he missed the team’s flight from Zagreb to Dublin.