Croatia
Factsheet:Euro 2012 Group C: 10-06-12: Rep. of Ireland - Croatia, 14-06-12: Italy - Croatia, 18-06-12: Spain - Croatia
FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking: 10
Previous European Championship Appearances: 1996, 2004, 2008
Qualifying record: 12+8=2-2 21-7
Interesting facts:
From 1993 to 1998 Croatia moved from 125th to 3rd position
in FIFA World Ranking, thus making the most volatile move in the Ranking
history.
The manager Slaven Bilic plays in a local rock band.
Croatia did not lose a single game at the previous
Euro, when they left the tournament after exceptionally bad after-match penalty
shoot-outs in quarterfinals. This, as well as conceding only 2 goals in the
tournament, is a European Championship all-time record.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Balkan country succeeded to appear at six major
tournaments out of eight attempts. Since representing an independent-from-Yugoslavia
country Croatia has become an amazing part of any tournament. Always
underestimated, they made it to quarterfinals twice and won the bronze once.
The manager is Slaven Bilic, one of the Croatian
football “Golden Generation” representatives. He is one of the youngest
international coaches in Europe. Bilic is a big motivator. He has no problems
with suspending team leaders before important matches and is famous for his sharp
remarks. So the joined after-match press conference of Bilic and Giovanni Trapattoni
is going to be a certain blockbuster.
Apart from Bilic, the Croatian side can boast the most
enthusiastic fans. International sanctions caused after fan clashes, flares and
racistic behavior are not new for Croatia.
To sum up, group C is introducing the most explosive
participant of Euro 2012, where the headline-makers could easily be the players
on the pitch, the coach as well as the fans.
The match we remember: A dramatic match
at Maksimir in Zagreb ended with a 91st minute Davor Suker goal and gave the
Croatians a victory of 1-0 over The Boys in Green. This, however, was not
enough for them to qualify for Euro 2000. Ireland did not qualify either, as
they could not win this right over Turkey in play-offs.
The match we remember: Italy’s only win against Croatia took place back
in 1942. Croatia is one of the few teams in the world having a positive balance
against Italians. Their most famous victory is the 2002 World Cup Group G 2-1
win over the Azzurri, who were led by Giovanni Trapattoni, currently working
with the Irish team. Worth to mention that Italy had two clear goals disallowed
in that match.
Statistics against Spain: 4+1=1-2 4-5
The match we remember: Teams have never met at any tournament before.
Two profiles:
Luka Modric: Modric is one of the players
constantly associated with some European giants before a transfer window start.
Seems like Spurs have no chances to keep him for another season after the
summer break. He is already 26, is one of the most valuable players in Premier
League and deserves to win titles.
The talented playmaker’s role in Tottenham Hotspur and
Croatia tactics cannot be underestimated. Everything is simply built around
Modric. Not strange that Luka is a three-time Croatian Player of the Year,
getting the first award at 21. He was also included in the Euro 2008 official
Team of the Tournament.
Not many teams have such an outstanding passer and
thinker as Modric. A lot will depend on Modric’s mood for the Croatians to
succeed at Euro 2012.
Ivan Rakitic: If there is
anybody still not familiar to this profile, hurry up. Rakitic, 24, has already
played more than 150 games for German and Spanish top teams. The Sevilla-man
was born in Switzerland, but he surprisingly chose to play under the Croatian
flag at senior level, thus enraging the Swiss Football Association. Now he has
already earned 38 international caps and scored 8 times for Croatia.
Rakitic has got an exceptional talent of an attacking
midfielder, with great vision, accuracy and unexpected shots. One of them made
him score the Goal of the Year 2006/07 in Switzerland. He should be there to
take the playmaker’s role, when opponents try to close Modric down. A difficult
choice, but I prefer Rakitic over Mandzukic, Eduardo and Olic to be my profile
no. 2 in the Croatian side.
My prediction:
I think Italy and Spain have a lot to fear in their
group matches. Last time Croatia lost a match at a major tournament was on the
13th of June, 2006, when they lost to Brazil at World Cup. “Bilic
Boys” are a mentally strong team with established European-scale stars. Many of
us frequently witness Vedran Corluka, Ivica Olic, Daniel Pranjic, Niko
Kranjcar, Ivan Perisic, Ivan Klasnic, Mladen Petric and others in action for
their top European clubs. Darijo Srna, the fighter, the captain, the gentleman
is an inspiration for both Croatia and Shakhtar Donetsk. So if there is any
surprise going to happen at Euro 2012 group stages, the Croatians are
candidates to participate in it.
The vital day for the Group C members is the 10th
of June. If Croatians win over the Irish, they will already be ahead of either Italy
or Spain (if not both) before their clash against the Italians, who constantly
fail to win against Balkan sides.
However, Croatians have not been so clinical recently.
They did not enter the last World Cup, the last qualifying group was probably
the easiest to advance and the friendly matches do not impress either. I think
they have to try their luck, but “if all equal”, it is not realistic to compare
the Croatian squad with Prandelli’s or Del Bosque’s ones. The only thing the
Croats should be expected for is to give us some memorable moments and yet another
variation of their beautiful national team kit.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 6+2=3-1 7-7: played 6, won 2, tied 3, lost 1,
scored 7, conceded 7
No comments:
Post a Comment