Croatia was one Ivan Rakitić header away from not only clinching a spot in the Euro 2012 quarterfinals, but dethroning the current Euro and World Cup champions, Spain, all in the blink of an eye. With Italy expected to win against the Irish, Croatia knew they needed a result and had to play a near flawless game against the Spaniards to do so.

The Vatreni held their ground and disabled Spain's flowing ball movement in midfield for the entire first half, applying proper pressure and holding a high line. When balls were played down the flanks and through the middle, it was always met with discipline and physicality. With coach Slaven Bilić starting the match with only one striker in Mario Mandžukić, we can assume that he was ecstatic with the 0-0 halftime score line.

It was then in the 59th minute that Luka Modrić broke free down field and created the best chance of the game (for either team) as he whipped in a cross to a wide open and streaking Ivan Rakitić on the back post. The Sevilla man connected with the header but Real Madrid goalie Iker Casillas made an amazing save to keep the game scoreless. Many have already blamed Rakitić for not doing better on the chance but you have to credit Casillas as well. If he scores on the play, Croatia is surely packing their bags for a quarterfinal tie instead of debriefing before vacation. Bilić would bring in some firepower in the 66' with Nikica Jelavić and Ivan Perišić coming off the bench, but it just would not be.

Vedran Ćorluka was pulled down in the box with no penalty call and Perišić couldn't do better with an open long-range shot on goal. Spain would score in the dying minutes without a response and Croatia would be sent home, on the highest of notes. The team should be proud of their play and know that they hung with the world's best all the way to the end. The confidence this group of players gained from this tournament should translate into big wins during World Cup 2014 qualifying, which starts in September.

Can we finally set concrete expectations for this group of Croatian players after their performance at Euro 2012?

On Monday, Croatia will take on reigning World and European champions, Spain, with a Euro 2012 quarter-final berth on the line. Croatia control their own fate as a win or 2-2 (or higher) draw against Spain will see the Vatreni into the knockout stages no matter what Italy does against Ireland. Both matches kickoff simultaneously. Croatia also automatically go through if Italy fail to defeat the Irish.

But if you are coach Slaven Bilić, how do you approach this monumental game? It's not every day that a nation of only 4.5 million people have a chance to oust a country of Spain's calibre from a major tournament. On Monday night, in Gdansk, Croatia will have that opportunity.

Do you go for the win and throw everything you got at Spain or play conservative and wait for the opportune time to strike? In my opinion, Croatia have nothing to lose at this point in the tournament and are already playing with house money. They were never favoured to make it through, hell, at one point in qualifying, most Croatian fans thought that reaching Euro was just a dream the way they were playing. Now, the resourceful Croatians find themselves 90 minutes away from finding out who they really are.

If I am Bilić, this is the speech I give to the team prior to taking on Spain:

“Boys, good job thus far. We have one game left in group stage and still control our own destiny. Yes, we have to beat Spain, but what else did you guys come here for? Let’s go play against the best team in the world, beat the best team in the world and shock the entire world all in the same day. Leave it all on the field! We didn’t come here to play three games and go home, we came here to win the whole damn thing!”

Imagine clinching a quarterfinal berth by defeating the world/euro champions. Imagine the confidence they would have the remainder of the tournament. Sure fans can pray for an Irish result, but I would rather win and go through on Croatia's own accord than clinch by default because the Italians couldn’t defeat Ireland.

Our little nation always surprises the big boys, and I think it’s time for another. Why can't 2012 be any different than ’98 v. Germany, ’06-07 v. England (twice) and ’08 v. Germany?

Let Croatia bring the whole house at Spain. It would shock them. Teams give way too much respect to Spain, just like Croatia gave too much respect to Italy in the first half Thursday. This isn't chess boys. Knock ‘em down and knock ‘em down hard! I’m not saying play dirty, just finish your tackles and show them who wants it more. Get inside their heads. Pressure high. Don't stop running. Leave your hearts on the field.

How’s that for tactics?

Go for broke…treat this as a championship game.

Why?

There's a contingency plan: If Ireland pulls out a point versus Italy, Croatia go through regardless. That’s the way to play this.

At the end of the day on Monday, the world will know exactly what this crop of Croatians is worth. With a loss, all that will be remembered is a horrific qualifying campaign where Croatia lost to Georgia and was unable to score one goal against the Greeks. Redemption against Turkey in Istanbul and a win versus the worst team at the tournament: Ireland. How much momentum can you keep from that going into World Cup qualifying against arch rivals Serbia and an up-and-coming Belgian side?

But, and this is a BIG but, if Croatia do the unthinkable and defeat Spain, all bets are off and the sky is the limit for these boys the rest of the tournament.

So I ask you: What's there to be scared of when the weight of the world is riding on Spain's shoulders? Croatia are 90 minutes away from dethroning the champs (with an Italy victory) and ending their four-year run of football immortality.