Poland went out with a whimper as a second string Croatia beat them 1-0 to make it three wins from three.
Croatia knew that qualification for the quarter-finals and indeed top spot in Group B was secure after their superb win over Germany and Coach Slaven Bilic took the chance to rest almost all his key personnel.
Only Juventus target Ivan Rakitic and Danijel Pranjic survived from the team that stunned the Germans and there was space for Milan outcast Dario Simic and Livorno stopper Dario Knezevic.
Poland boss Leo Beenhakker made four changes from the team that drew with Austria as Jakub Wawrzyniak, Rafal Murawski, Wojciech Lobodzinski and Roger Guerreiro handed starts.
The Poles knew that even a win wouldn’t be enough if Germany beat Austria in Vienna and goal difference would be decisive in the unlikely event of Austrian and Polish victories - in truth they needed a two-goal triumph.
As expected, the Poles pushed hard from the first whistle and Croatian goalkeeper Vedran Runje had to be alert to punch a Lobodzinski cross clear of Jacek Krzynowek.
The resultant corner was headed behind for another, which Napoli target Dariusz Dudka met but his header flashed wide.
Croatia flexed their muscles with a quarter of an hour played as Rakitic linked with Nikola Pokrivac before the ball fell to Pranjic, who should have done better than a half-hearted cross/shot.
And the Croats were inches away from going ahead with a Rakitic free-kick, which Hrvoje Vejic headed past the post.
It was the Rakitic show as he tested Artur Boruc’s capabilities by beating two men to swing a dangerous cross, but the Celtic No 1 was up to the task.
Pranjic’s magnificent ball was inches away from being converted by Petric, but the linesman’s flag was up anyway.
Knezevic had to be replaced by Vedran Corluka due to an injury.
Boruc came to the rescue after half an hour to deny Klasnic with his legs in a one-on-one situation, as Croatia looked menacing.
And Boruc was again decisive when he clawed a Rakitic effort out for a corner.
Jerko Leko dragged a dangerous-looking effort wide of the goal as the Polish defence opened up a little.
But Poland finished the first half the stronger without creating any clear-cut chances as tempers started to flare and three yellow cards were produced within 10 minutes.
Guerreiro started the second half with a decent effort that stung Runje’s palms, but news that Germany had gone ahead against Austria filtered through and took the wind out of the Poles’ sails.
And Poland’s tournament was as good as over when Pranjic’s ball found Klasnic to make it 1-0 Croatia - the Poles needed to score three times and for Austria to find the net twice!
Beenhakker threw on Ebi Smolarek - the top scorer in the qualification tournament - with 40 minutes to go.
Krzynowek tried to strike back, but his effort was dragged harmlessly wide of the posts.
Pranjic so nearly added to Poland’s misery when his cross bounced off the top of the bar.
Guerreiro came close for Poland with a neat effort on the turn that flashed past the post, but minutes later Borc did well to deny Pranjic.
Runje made a fine stop to deny Marek Saganowski’s back post header and Smolarek fired two decent efforts narrowly wide of the mark.
Smolarek’s ball fell to Zahorski but he somehow managed to hit the ball at the onrushing Runje in a one-one-one. It was the story of the Poles’ competition.
There was nothing left in the game and it fizzled out. Croatia will face Turkey in the quarter-finals and Poland will go home to reflect on a miserable competition.
Poland: Boruc; Wasilewski, Zewlakow, Dudka, Wawrzyniak; Lobodzinski (Smolarek 55), Murawski, Guerreiro, Lewandowski (Kokoszka 46); Krzynowek, Saganowski (Zahorski 69).
Croatia: Runje; Simic, Vejic, Knezevic (Corluka 27), Prznjic; Leko, Vukojevic, Pokrivac, Rakitic; Klasnic (Kalinic 73), Petric (Kranjcar 74)
Ref: Vassaras (Gre)
Ref From channel4.com
