Croatia 4-1 Greece: 5 Talking Points

#2 Greece pay the price for a diabolical defensive performance

Croatia v Greece - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier Play-Off: First leg

As the final whistle blew at the Stadium Maksimir in Zagreb, Greece had their faces buried in their hands in shock and sorrow. And they only have themselves to blame for it. With errors galore at the back, Croatia's efficiency knocked the stuffing out of them.

It's safe to say, this was the poorest performance by this Greek side, so far, in the qualifiers. And it came at a time when they should've been at their strongest.

It all began with goalkeeper Karnezis bundling an on-rushing Modric to the ground with a cynical and needless tackle culminating into a well-converted penalty by the Croat captain. That one moment of madness set the tone for the evening for the visitors.

Just a few minutes later when Ivan Strinic delivered a cross from the left wing, and Kalinic was left completely unmarked in the build-up, which eventually allowed him to tap home one of the easiest goals he's scored.

Perisic rubbed further salt into their wounds by nodding in after another defensive collapse, while Kramaric put the last nail in their coffin with a fourth that resulted from another defensive muddle at the back.

Greece were woeful at the back, and the 4-1 scoreline just sums up their defence on the night. Russia 2018 is now a far-fetched dream.