Ivan Rakitić the competition. On 15 October 2008, he scored a brace in a 4–0 win at home to Andorra. On 5 September 2009, he scored the match-winning goal in a 1–0 win at home to Belarus. Croatia failed to qualify for the finals after finishing third in their group. After appearing in all of their Euro 2012 qualifiers, he was selected to be part of the Croatian squad at the Euro finals in Poland and Ukraine. Croatia were drawn in Group C together with Spain, Italy and the Republic of Ireland. Rakitić started in all three of Croatia group stage matches.
2014 AFL finals series both reached the preliminary finals after finishing outside the top four, and top-four finishers and were eliminated at the semi finals stage. and lost their respective elimination finals. Reigning premiers appeared in their fifth straight finals appearance, finishing second on the ladder. In the previous year's final series, Hawthorn defeated in the Grand Final to claim their 11th premiership. also qualified for their fifth straight finals appearance after becoming minor premiers of the 2014 season. qualified third, appearing in their eighth straight finals series. Fremantle finished fourth, appearing in their third straight finals, after defeating in the final round of