Croatia 1 Germany 1

Germany and Croatia failed to conquer heavy conditions in Zagreb as rain dominated this match at the Maksimir stadium.

The pitch was sunk underneath surface water puddles that made any passing difficult but Germany took an early lead in the 12th minute when a looping header from Marko Rehmer eluded Stipe Pletikosa in the home goal.

Midfielder Dietmar Hamann provided the deep cross but Rehmer produced a hopeful effort with little conviction that was lucky to land up in the net.

Rehmer came close from a header after a driven corner found him unmarked at the far post and Oliver Bierhoff skied a volley with the goal at his mercy shortly after the start of the second half.

The wet pitch did nothing to aid decent technical play but Croatia started to see passing moves come off as the second session matured and Davor Suker set up a 70th minute equaliser when the German off side plan failed to work and he clipped cross for a flying header finish by Niko Kovac whose brother Robert of Bayer Leverkusen was also included in the starting line up.