Croatia
Wednesday, 04 Jun 2008 00:00
Croatia fans hoping for under-the-radar success at Euro 2008
Croatia qualified for Euro 2008 with an impressive record, finishing above Russia and England and winning nine of their 12 matches. They did the double over the Three Lions and won in Israel to top their group and are many people's dark horses to do well in Austria and Switzerland.
Group B fixtures
Austria v
Croatia
Vienna, June 8th 17:00 BST
Live on BBC1
Germany v
Croatia
Klagenfurt, June 12th 17:00 BST
Live on ITV1
Croatia v Poland
Klagenfurt, June 16th 19:45 BST
Live on BBC3
European Championship history
Croatia are heading into only their third European Championship finals tournament since gaining independence from the former Yugoslavia. They achieved a highly commendable quarter-final berth at Euro 96 but failed to qualify four years later.
In Portugal last time out, the Croats were eliminated in the group stage without winning a game but they are expected to mount a more serious challenge this time around with an improved team and more united squad.
The man in charge
Slaven Bilic has been touted as one of the best young coaches in the game, as evidenced by the continued speculation over his future. He has committed himself to the Croatian FA until 2010 but it will surely be only a matter of time before he joins an English club, such is his strong reputation on UK shores after masterminding an excellent qualification campaign.
Although he is yet to prove himself on the big stage, Bilic's record so far and his reputation as a man-manager in the same ilk as Jose Mourinho is likely to keep him near the top of many European clubs' coaching wish-lists for some time to come.
Team forte
Croatia have one of the most talented midfields in the tournament, with players capable of unlocking any defence on their day.
It will be up to the strikers in the team to take the chances that will surely be afforded to them, and if things start off well then the momentum that will be created within the tight-knit squad could see them go far.
Achilles heel
Now no longer likely to be underestimated, Croatia showed they are very much a team to be reckoned with in qualifying. Assured performances home and away against England as well as solid results against Russia and Israel put paid to the impression of Croatia as perennial underdogs, so don't expect opponents to underrate the threat they cause going forward.
However, the main obstacle standing in the way for Croatia will be their defensive frailties, which were highlighted in their final two qualifying games against Macedonia and England when they conceded four goals. Without a recognised top-class goalkeeper the better teams at Euro 2008 will find them out at the back, and this could be their undoing.
The absence of top striker Eduardo may also be a problem, unless the other forwards can step up.
Player to watch
Portsmouth playmaker Niko Kranjcar is known to fans throughout England, not only for his good form in the FA Cup winners' midfield this season but also for scoring
that goal against Scott Carson at Wembley in the final qualifying match against the English national team.
Tottenham-bound Luka Modric is one of Europe's top-rated midfielders at the moment and he, along with Kranjcar, will be looking to keep the supply line to the strikers ticking over.
Dario Simic and Josip Simunic will aim to keep the goals out at the other end as they are the mainstays of the Croatian back line.
Chances of victory
Winning the whole thing is probably beyond Croatia as they are likely to struggle against some of the main contenders, but they have a strong team ethic and talented individuals to cause problems for their opponents.
An intriguing lineup in group B will see the games between all their opponents - Germany, Austria and Poland - grabbing the headlines for historical reasons. This, in turn, could allow the Croats to slip through to the latter stages largely under the radar, where they will be a match for many of the top sides in a one-off game.
Expect them to be tipped as possible semi-finalists but get knocked out in the last eight.
Squad
Goalkeepers
1 Stipe Pletikosa
12 Mario Galinovic
23 Vedran Runje
Defenders
2 Dario Simic
3 Josip Simunic
4 Robert Kovac
5 Vedran Corluka
6 Hrvoje Vejic
13 Nikola Pokrivac
15 Dario Knezevic
Midfielders
7 Ivan Rakitic
8 Ognjen Vukojevic
10 Niko Kovac
11 Darijo Srna
14 Luka Modric
16 Jerko Leko
19 Niko Kranjcar
22 Danijel Pranjic
Forwards
9 Nikola Kalinic
17 Ivan Klasnic
18 Ivica Olic
20 Igor Budan
21 Mladen Petric