Euro 2020 Profile: Croatia

Croatia Fans Euro 2016

Croatia Fans Euro 2016 Credit: Al Robinson (ETPhotos)

Team: Croatia

Manager: Zlatko Dalic

Group: D

Other teams in group: England, Scotland, Czech Republic

THE SQUAD

The Croatia squad was one of the first to be announced in the lead up to Euro 2020. They will meet England in a repeat of their World Cup Semi-Final three years ago. Croatia will be without the retired Mario Mandzukic. The bulk of the talent will come from the heart of midfield where Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic will be crucial if Croatia are to meet the lofty expectations set upon them after finishing runners-up at the 2018 World Cup.

The Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Lovre Kalinic (Hajduk Split), Simon Sluga (Luton)

Defenders: Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico de Madrid), Borna Barisic (Rangers), Duje Caleta-Car (Marseille), Dejan Lovren (Zenit), Josip Juranovic (Legia Warszawa), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Josko Gvardiol (Leipzig), Domagoj Bradaric (LOSC Lille), Mile Skoric (Osijek)

Midfielders: Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Milan Badelj (Genoa), Nikola Vlasic (CSKA Moskva), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan), Josip Brekalo (Wolfsburg), Mislav Orsic (Dinamo Zagreb), Luka Ivanusec (Dinamo Zagreb)



Forwards: Ante Rebic (AC Milan), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim)

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Croatia finished three points ahead of Wales at the top of Group E to book their place at Euro 2020. A 3-1 win at home to Slovakia sealed qualification in November 2019. The beaten World Cup finalists began their qualifying campaign with an unconvincing 2-1 win against minnows Azerbaijan – a game they trailed for 25 minutes. Hungary caused a huge upset when they beat Dalic’s troops 2-1 in Budapest to throw the group wide open.

Croatia put any doubts about a World Cup hangover to bed when they earned a vital win against group rivals Wales two years ago. A 4-0 demolition of Slovakia put the Croats firmly in control of the group before Azerbaijan earned a famous draw in Baku. Croatia got back on track and picked up seven points from their last three games including wins over Hungary and the aforementioned, Slovakia while sharing the spoils in Cardiff with Wales.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Ante Rebic: The retirement of Mario Mandzukic has left a huge void in the Croatia attack. AC Milan’s Ante Rebic will bare the brunt of the goalscoring responsibility this summer after a respectable season at the San Siro.



Rebic got on the scoresheet 11 times in 27 games, often playing second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The 27-year-old forward who can play anywhere across the front line has only registered three goals at international level. If Croatia are to progress to the latter stages, replacing Mandzukic’s goals will be the first port of call.

Ivan Perisic: The 32-year-old has been a mainstay in the national team since his debut in 2011, winning his 100th cap in the recent friendly against Armenia – where he scored Croatia’s goal.

The Inter Milan winger loves the big occasion with a record 11 assists at major tournaments for Croatia. He scored three goals in the qualifiers including the winner in a home game against Wales.

The former Borussia Dortmund player has 28 goals for his country having been a key player in Croatia’s ‘golden generation’ at the 2018 World Cup, where he became the first Croat to score in a World Cup Final.

Perisic made 32 appearances for Inter Milan scoring 4 goals and assisting 4 times as Antonio Conte and co romped their way to winning the Serie A title- Inter’s first Scudetto in eleven years.

Josip Brekalo

Croatia have a largely experienced side with many players in their late 20s and 30s. Josip Brekalo can bring that X-Factor to the side having enjoyed a good season with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

The left winger registered 7 goals and 3 assists in 29 appearances as Die Wolfe finished 4th last season. Brekalo has been linked with a move to Everton and can certainly put his name in the shop window for suitors of a higher calibre with some eye-catching performances this summer.

WHERE ARE THEY PLAYING AND STAYING

Sunday June 13th: England, Wembley Stadium 2pm

Friday June 18th: Czech Republic, Hampden Park 5pm

Tuesday June 22nd: Scotland, Hampden Park 8pm

The 2018 World Cup finalists will be staying at their training centre in Rovinj in between travelling to games. They have recently pulled out of staying in Scotland over concerns over self-isolation regulations having planned to set up camp in St Andrews for their two Hampden Park fixtures.

Croatia’s manager Zlatko Dalic said: “Considering the present circumstances, I think this is the best option for the team, we know that we’ll have excellent conditions here, the accommodation will be impeccable and that the training ground is of high quality.”

THREE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TEAM

This will be Croatia’s seventh appearance at the European Championships. Their best finish at the tournament has been the quarter-final on two occasions in 1996 and 2008, losing to Germany and Turkey respectively.

Croatia failed to qualify for the European Championships in 2000, finishing 3rd in a five-team group behing FR Yugoslavia and the Republic of Ireland who claimed a play-off spot.

The Vatreni have never won a major international trophy, with their best performances coming in the 1998 World Cup where they came 3rd and the 2018 World Cup where they were runners up.

Croatia have the fifth most experienced squad at EURO 2020 with an average of 34 caps in the squad and an average age of 27.

RECENT FORM

Croatia are coming into the euros off the back of some patchy form, they face Belgium in their final warm-up friendly after an unconvincing 1-1 draw against Armenia.

They lost their opening World Cup Qualifier 1-0 to Slovenia but have since picked up wins over Cyprus and Malta. They also lost five of six games in the Nations League finishing above Sweden on goal difference.

Croatia will kick off their European Championship campaign against England at Wembley Stadium.

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