But it was the hosts who took the lead  when Macedonia midfielder Agim Ibraimi drilled a left-footed shot low into the centre of the goal in the 16th minute. 

Croatia missed two chances to score in the first half, but the equalizer came when Corluka met a cross from Rakitic in the 33rd minute. Rakitic sent in a corner from the left which found Corluka, and the defender slotted a right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal from close range.

The game was evenly balanced after the break, Mario Mandzukic shooting wide for Croatia and Ivan Trickovski doing the same for Macedonia. However, on the hour mark it was the visitors who went ahead. Rakitic grabbed the winner with a superb free kick in the 60th minute, drilling the ball home from 35 m.

Macedonia attempted to get back into the game, Ibraimi's drilled left-footed shot from the right was saved by Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa with Goran Pandev also having an attempt.

As the game went into injury time, Croatia almost doubled their lead when Darijo Srna's 30m free-kick hit the post. Pandev attempted a curler with seconds left but Pletikosa was equal to it as Croatia held on.