Outright Odds: sixty six/one
Group File Winners: 6/one
Croatia enter their 3rd successive finals and may try to find a repeat from the heroics of 1998 as an alternative to the embarrassment of 2002. They topped a hard qualifying team which bundled Bulgaria and Hungary and remained unbeaten over ten matches which integrated house and absent victories more than fellow qualifiers Sweden.
Under supervisor Zlatko Kranjcar Croatia are a different team to how neutrals will recall them from their 1998 exploits which saw them get to the semi-final. Gone are flair players including Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki and previous Golden Boot Davor Suker. They are already changed by far more practical gamers such as the Kovac brothers, Marko Babic and Dado Prso.
Like fellow qualifiers Serbia & Montenegro, Croatias achievement stemmed from a robust defence in which they saved 6 clear sheets in 10 online games and conceded just five goals in the method.
One more energy is often a number of the current Croatia squad are based in the Bundesliga, with Josip Simunic and Niko Kovac at Hertha Berlin, Babic centered at Bayer Leverkusen and Ivan Klasnic contracted to Werder Bremen.
Croatia have unearthed a expertise in midfielder Dario Srna who's got produced a knack for scoring crucial aims. The Shakhtar Donetsk player scored both of those objectives in The 2 one-0 wins more than Sweden in the defining matches on the group.
Important striker Dado Prso scored five aims in qualifying, his countrys joint prime scorer with Srna. He burst into prominence when he netted 4 aims for Monaco while in the 8-three Champions League thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna. He manufactured his Global debut eight months previous to the match but has due to the fact develop into an automated preference in attack.
Croatia have absent with regards to their small business quietly and confidently and Regardless of their unbeaten qualification endeavours, will remain unfancied by quite a few to create any effects within the finals. That should go well with them fantastic as former mentor Mirko Jozic blamed the stress on the class of 1998 to the dismal failure of the 2002 squad which noticed them reduce 1-0 to Ecuador in their last match.
Finally, they facial area favourites Brazil within their opening match so will never have to bother with facing the reigning champions in the crunch group decider. If they could take everything from that video game They are going to be in pole posture to reaching the next spherical.
Suggested Guess
Despite the evident toughness with the group, Croatia are over able to qualifying from it provided their current showings in qualifying for the finals. With one of several meanest defences in Europe and a number of players plying their trade in Germany they are a audio wager to adhere to Brazil into the final sixteen.
Croatia to qualify from Group File @ five/six