Cesare Prandelli resisted the temptation to replace Mario Balotelli with Antonio Di Natale despite the Udinese striker's goalscoring performance off the bench against Spain.
The Italy boss also kept hard-working wing-backs Emanuele Giaccherini and Christian Maggio.
Slaven Blic named the same Croatian starting XI that beat Ireland 3-1 in their first group game.
Victory for Croatia would see them become the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Teams:
Italy - (3-5-2)
Gianluigi Buffon (capt); Giorgio Chiellini, Daniele De Rossi, Leonardo Bonucci; Emanuel Giaccherini, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Thiago Motta, Christian Maggio; Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano
Coach: Cesare Prandelli
Croatia (4-4-2)
Stipe Pletikosa; Darijo Srna (capt.), Vedran Corluka, Gordon Schildenfeld, Ivan Strinic; Ivan Rakitic, Ognjen Vukojevic, Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic; Nikica Jelavic, Mario Mandzukic
Coach: Slaven Bilic
Referee: Howard Webb (ENG)