CROATIA
FIFA World Ranking: 14
Previous Best: Quarter Final 1996 & 2008
Last 5 Euros (Latest first): L16-Groups-QF-Groups-DNQ
How Qualified: Winners Group E
Qualifying Record: P8 W5 D2 L1 F17 A7 GD10 Pts17
Tournament Odds: 40/1
Squad
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković (Dinamo Zagreb), Lovre Kalinić (Hajduk Split), Simon Sluga (Luton)
Defenders: Borna Barišić (Rangers), Domagoj Bradarić (LOSC Lille), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Marseille), Joško Gvardiol (Leipzig), Josip Juranović (Legia Warszawa), Dejan Lovren (Zenit), Mile Škorić (Osijek), Domagoj Vida (Beşiktaş), Šime Vrsaljko (Atlético Madrid)
Midfielders: Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Marcelo Brozović (Inter Milan), Milan Badelj (Genoa), Nikola Vlašić (CSKA Moskva), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Ivan Perišić (Inter Milan), Mislav Oršić (Dinamo Zagreb), Luka Ivanušec (Dinamo Zagreb)
Forwards: Josip Brekalo (Wolfsburg), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Bruno Petković (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Rebić (AC Milan)
Group Fixtures
June 13 vs England (2pm – London)
June 18 vs Czech Rep (5pm – Glasgow)
June 22 vs Scotland (8pm – Glasgow)
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History
Croatia reached the quarter finals on their debut the last time this tournament took in England and they reached the last eight again 12 years later so they will be hoping that trend continues. The finalists at the last World Cup go into this tournament with expectations raised as a result of that run in Russia but they have the experience to deal with that. You get the impression that if Croatia don’t go past the quarter final it will be seen as something of a failure back home.
Qualifying
Croatia were handed a relatively comfortable qualifying group as a result of their World Cup showing and they came through it in the fashion they were expected to, finishing above Wales to top the group and only losing one match along the way, that coming early on in the group away to Hungary who just caught them a little bit cold. Croatia dominate the rest of the group with Bruno Petkovic their top scorer with four goals.
Pandemic Effect
I think it is fair to say that the pandemic hasn’t really done Croatia much good. Their golden generation were reaching the edge of their peak when they made the final of the World Cup and three years on a number of that squad have retired and one or two who are still around haven’t had the best lead up to this tournament either form wise or fitness wise. That was reflected in the Nations League matches last season when in a competitive group they were only able to win one of their six matches and already in World Cup qualifying they have lost to Slovenia.
Strengths
The strength of this Croatian side for a while has been the quality in the centre of the park and they still have world class midfielders in there. Luka Modric is the standout and the one who will get all the plaudits after the retirement of Ivan Rakitic. Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic and Inter holder Marcelo Broovic offer plenty of quality around Modric too. They have good memories of tournament football from the World Cup as well.
Weaknesses
This is a squad in which the key players are all aging and this will certainly be the last Euros for most of them and possibly even the last tournament for some too. It is in defence where they are particularly old and that could be an issue the longer they are in the competition. There is also the feeling that since Mario Mandzukic retired they have lacked an out and out goalscorer. That is highlighted by only three members of the squad having more than double figures for goals at this level.
Manager
Zlatko Dalic wrong his name in Croatian football history when he led the side to the final of the World Cup in Russia. They weren’t always pretty in that competition but they got the job done. Fans were prepared to accept that from the 54-year-old when results were coming along but now they aren’t winning matches as readily there is a cloud of doom beginning to circle over him, so he needs a good tournament here just to preserve his reputation. His record in charge of Croatia reads: P43 W22 D7 L14.
Key Players
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has been a joy to watch throughout his career and if Croatia are going to get close to emulating their efforts in Russia three years ago then he is going to need to see a lot of the ball and light this tournament up from the centre of the park. He creates and he can score goals as well so he is a key player. Ivan Perisic had a good World Cup and he is another who will be crucial to the chances of the Croatians here.
Team Bets
I’m in two minds what to expect from Croatia. Obviously they were the finalists at the last World Cup and you have to respect them on that but at the same time they are clearly nothing like the side which played in that tournament. That team had a defence in its prime and the likes of Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic which this team lacks. I still think they’ll be good enough to get out of the group but how much further they’ll go I’m not so sure.
That makes me head to the goalscorer market for a bet on their tournament hopes. There isn’t a standout forward in this side, not one of the Mandzukic mould anyway so it might be worth taking one of the attacking midfielders. Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric are well known, the latter is on penalties which will help him, but at 10/1 I’ll take a punt on Nicola Vlasic who has been on fire recently. Only Ivan Perisic has scored more for Croatia in competitive matches in the last three years and he played in the World Cup where Vlasic was a support act. Everton fans will wonder what I’m on about because he stunk the place out at Goodison Park but since he went to CSKA Moscow he has lit it up again. He notched 11 goals for them this season and while teams focus on Modric, Perisic and even Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic, Vlasic might go unnoticed and at 10/1 I’ll take the chance he finds a couple of goals to get himself in the mix here.
Tips
Back N.Vlasic Top Croatia Goalscorer for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 with BetVictor
Back him here:
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