Outright Odds: 66/one
Group File Winners: six/1
Croatia enter their 3rd successive finals and can hunt for a repeat in the heroics of 1998 instead of the humiliation of 2002. They topped a challenging qualifying group which incorporated Bulgaria and Hungary and remained unbeaten about 10 matches which provided household and away victories over fellow qualifiers Sweden.
Less than manager Zlatko Kranjcar Croatia are a special group to how neutrals will remember them from their 1998 exploits which observed them reach the semi-last. Absent are flair gamers including Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki and former Golden Boot Davor Suker. They are actually changed by more purposeful players like the Kovac brothers, Marko Babic and Dado Prso.
Like fellow qualifiers Serbia & Montenegro, Croatias good results stemmed from a solid defence exactly where they saved 6 clear sheets in 10 game titles and conceded just five plans in the 로얄카지노 process.
Another energy is usually a number of the current Croatia squad are located in the Bundesliga, with Josip Simunic and Niko Kovac at Hertha Berlin, Babic based at Bayer Leverkusen and Ivan Klasnic contracted to Werder Bremen.
Croatia have unearthed a talent in midfielder Dario Srna who's got produced a knack for scoring critical objectives. The Shakhtar Donetsk player scored both ambitions in the two 1-0 wins above Sweden while in the defining matches on the group.
Essential striker Dado Prso scored five plans in qualifying, his countrys joint leading scorer with Srna. He burst into prominence when he netted 4 objectives for Monaco from the eight-three Champions League thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna. He built his international debut eight months before the match but has because come to be an automated preference in assault.
Croatia have gone with regards to their organization quietly and confidently and In spite of their unbeaten qualification efforts, will keep on being unfancied by quite a few to make any impression during the finals. That will suit them wonderful as previous coach Mirko Jozic blamed the pressure on The category of 1998 for your dismal failure of the 2002 squad which observed them get rid of 1-0 to Ecuador within their ultimate match.
At last, they confront favourites Brazil within their opening match so will not likely have to bother with struggling with the reigning champions in the crunch team decider. If they're able to just take something from that video game they will be in pole position to reaching the second round.
Advisable Wager
Regardless of the evident toughness on the group, Croatia are over capable of qualifying from it given their modern showings in qualifying for that finals. With one of many meanest defences in Europe and a bunch of players plying their trade in Germany they are a audio bet to stick to Brazil into the final 16.
Croatia to qualify from Group F @ five/6