SPLIT Sam Hubbard Jersey , June 12 (Xinhua) -- Croatia and Italy played out to a 1-1 draw on Friday in a Group H game of Euro 2016 qualifiers behind closed doors at Poljud Stadium in Split.
Croatia was without help of its vocal fans as European Football Association (UEFA) imposed a one match ban on Croatian Football Federation (CFF) for fans behavior during their last home match against Norway played on March 28 in Zagreb.
Unfortunately, there was another shameful incident that could be damaging for the image and budget of CFF even without fans in the stands. Large portion of the pitch at Poljud Stadium has been cut in the shape of giant swastika, symbol of German Nazi regime. It has been visible from the stands and from the air. There is no doubt that UEFA representative took note of that before groundsman intervened in the half-time to cover it.
There were some notable absentees among the players on both sides. Croatia couldn't count on injured Real Madrid star Luka Modric and experienced defender Vedran Corluka who served a one match suspension and Italian head coach Antonio Conte had to rule out PSG midfielder Marco Verratti, Roma veteran Daniele De Rossi, Juventus defending pair Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli and Sassuolo striker Simone Zaza Jessie Bates III Jersey , all out because of injuries.
Most of the action happened in the first half of the match and Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic appeared to be in the main role on both sides of the pitch. In a span of four minutes Mandzukic missed a penalty and than scored in 11th minute from a close range on an assist from FC Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic. Just 20 seconds before Croatia got into the lead Italy scored, but Stephan El Shaarawy's goal was disallowed because of an alleged offside position of AC Milan striker.
El Shaarawy was close to scoring an equalizer in 32nd minute but Croatian goalkeeper Daniel Subasic managed to make a save.
Italy got a well deserved goal in the 36th minute from the penalty spot after Mandzukic accidentally handled the ball in the box. Lazio winger Antonio Candreva made a slick move sending Subasic on the ground and putting the ball into the net.
Croatia now has 14 points from six matches and leads Group H while Italy stays in second place with 12 points. Norway managed only a 0-0 draw against Azerbaijan at home and is in third place with 10 points, while Bulgaria in fourth place with 8 points after an away 1-0 win at Malta.
The best two teams in the group will earn a direct qualification for Euro 2016 final tournament.
Croatia will play the next match of this qualifying campaign in September in Azerbaijan against the team managed by Robert Prosinecki, member of Croatian Golden Generation that won bronze medal at the 1998 World Cup.
BEIRUT, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Ivan Caracalla Billy Price Jersey , the producer and director of "Sailing the Silk Road," a Lebanese musical which ended its 3-month tour in the capital Beirut, praised his teamwork with Chinese performing arts companies and called for wider cooperation between the two countries.
"China is such a big country, a great country with so many artists from very different fields. We have great admiration for this country, for the history of this country Tyler Kroft Jersey , and for the traditions, the art and the culture," said Caracalla in an interview with Xinhua.
"Lebanon is a bridge between the East and the West. So I think when you mix east and west, you will always get a better result," he added.
According to him Jake Fisher Jersey , Sailing the Silk Road is such an example, which tells a story of ancient Lebanese merchants travelling from Lebanon all the way into China via the ancient Silk Road, with leading actors and singers from Lebanon and one of China's premier dance companies.
Caracalla pointed out that it took him about 4 years to bring the play on stage.
"We chose this theme because it is a very great theme for us. It is a great theme of civilization, culture and understanding," he said Cedric Ogbuehi Jersey , adding that the silk road "gives us the idea of showing how it impacted the people in the history of humanity."
"I am not talking about the commercial value of the Silk Road. I am talking about the human values and how the Silk Road made it possible for people to know each other, to understand each other. So if there were obstacles between people, the Silk Road brought down these obstacles. It opened the door for inter-cultural relations and inter-social relations," Caracalla said.
"Many parts of the world today are very troubled and one of them is the Middle East. I hope that we realize that we are one world, one human and should co-exist. This is why we chose the Silk Road Josh Malone Jersey ," he explained.
"When we say the Silk Road, it is China, it is the greatness of China and the great history of China. So we worked together with the Chinese arts companies in the play," he said.
"The Chinese artists' participation brings authenticity and sincerity to the show," he added.
Caracalla is also eager to present his show around China.
"It is very important because the show is about the Silk Road. It is our sincere wish to go to China and have a tour to present this work Carl Lawson Jersey ," he said.
He believes that "the cultural influence of China in Lebanon is very positive in the way that we see China government is helping our government. But what I wish to see artistic shows from China every year here in Lebanon, and this is what we don't have. I know that China has many wonderful artists, from Opera to dance to circus to performing to music."
It is not Caracalla's first attempt to work with Chinese companies, as he once cooperated with Hangzhou Dance and Song Theater from 2008 to 2012.
"We travelled around the world with this Chinese company from Hangzhou and did beautiful shows," he said.
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