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G6 Team Profile: CROATIA
Probably the biggest surprise team of the 1998 World Cup, Croatia made it to the semi-finals before losing to eventual champ France, what can it do eight years later?
Led by Golden Boot winner Davor Suker, they went on to claim third place in the '98 tournament with a win over Holland. The team Croatia is sending to this World Cup is probably not as strong as the one they fielded eight years ago but they will still have plenty of talent.
The team’s strength is defense. Their weakness, however, is at the other end of the field where they often have trouble scoring goals. The job of producing the goals will most likely fall upon the duo of strikers Dado Prso (Rangers) Ivica Olic (CSKA Moscow). Attacking midfielder Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk) and Ivan Klasnic (Werder Bremen) could also play key roles in the offense.
The defense will feature Igor Tudor (Siena), who is both aggressive and experienced. Tudor missed the 2002 World Cup due to injury and was sorely missed. Marko Babic (Bayer Leverkusen) and Dario Simic (AC Milan) also have the ability to shut down even the best opposing attackers. Tomislav Butina (Club Brugge) will likely get the call to mind the nets, though Stipe Pletikosa (Hajduk Split) could see playing time.
Midfielder Niko Kovac (Hertha Berlin) is one of the best in the German Bundesliga and much will depend upon his playmaking abilities. His younger brother, defender Robert (Juventus), should also feature in the team. Keep an eye on promising young midfielder Niko Kranjcar (Hajduk Split), who happens to be the son of the team’s head coach.
It’s hard to see Croatia defeating Brazil to take the group but a place in the second round should be within their grasp.
Comments
i'm sorry, but i just don't see croatia getting very far in this world cup. they played a great world cup eight years ago but i just can't picture them getting very far. i don't think they have enough good players.. even if they have players who play in good teams, not all of them get much playing time.
Posted by: johnny G. | June 6, 2006 11:29 AM
croatia is good but there jersys are ugly
Posted by: anonymous | June 6, 2006 02:56 PM
Mi a think dat Craotia is gon a mek it far of deh World Cup cua look at dey talent dat is ready to explode.
Posted by: Coração de leão | June 6, 2006 07:05 PM
If Croatia can hold teams from scoring with good defense maybe they can net a goal i a crucial time. I think their midfield will have to perform very well also.
Posted by: David | June 7, 2006 07:57 AM
Can't wait for Germany and Croatia. Just 2 days away !!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Oranje | June 7, 2006 08:06 AM
croatia = no
Posted by: joey joey | June 7, 2006 11:25 AM
i think that croatia will finish second in thier group and qualify into the quarterfinals at the most. We will see what happens HAJDE HRVATSKA
Posted by: marko | June 7, 2006 06:21 PM
Yea..i think Croatia will do really good in this world cup.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 9, 2006 02:24 PM
The jersey are very ugly. I don't think they can go very far.
Posted by: sukar | June 9, 2006 07:13 PM
cratia is awsome they will do good. I'm all behind them.there jerseys are awsome and not ugly.go croatia!
Posted by: anonymos | June 9, 2006 08:54 PM
i think croatia is going 2 do good but against Brazil is going to be hard but they can beet the rest.
Posted by: anonymos | June 9, 2006 08:57 PM
i think they can do very well
Posted by: Anonymous | June 10, 2006 10:08 AM
well i think they have no chance periode!!
yeah the uniform does sucks
Posted by: Anonymous | June 10, 2006 04:42 PM
croatia is gonna beat japan and australia, not brasil, but this game against brasil is very important to galvanise the team, as it is the first match. MALI DUCAN!!!!!
Posted by: srky | June 10, 2006 08:44 PM
I don't think Croatia will do good in the cup. They have to face Brazil.
Posted by: oranje | June 11, 2006 08:14 PM
croatia has a really good team this year. they've been doing very well in the qualifying games. the only setback may be that some players are injured from previous games.
oh, and the jersey's are different-not ugly. everyone else's are way too plain and just one color with another color around the trimming. just to clear that up :)
good luck tomorrow...zivlja hrvatska zauvijek! nek ovi spanjoli placu malo hahah
Posted by: katarina | June 12, 2006 08:41 PM
I agree that this croatian team is not that strong like he was 1998 but this is also not the same type of team. Today Croatia play more team game and is not individual build like before. Also on WC sometimes lot of things depend on one game and I think that this WC will be the same in that way. Remember last WC or last european cup when Greece was champ. My prediction: Croatia will be second or third in this group. And the jerseys: typical croatian red white and looks for me very original.
Posted by: Vin | June 13, 2006 06:42 AM
Brazil will the World Cup. Belizean most exciting team. Go Brazil Go!
Ewart Bradley
Posted by: Anonymous | June 13, 2006 12:17 PM
well croatia lost match with brazil (as expected , i mean who can beat those guys?) but they can still place second in group F.
GO CROATIA!!!!!!!!!
And their jerseys are not that bad but they are not best ,however reserves are kicking butt!
Posted by: nick | June 14, 2006 01:09 AM
croatia-brasil=0:1...but in homeland (Croatia) everybody was celebrating very good performance...last night they had just one big mistake and that was enough for kaka...must say ,after seeing the first match, Croatia can go very far if they continue to play constant good defence...the only problem is how to score but I belive that this will change...naprid croatia
Posted by: fidel13 | June 14, 2006 03:40 AM
I'm sad Croatia is going home. The goal was offsides but next time world cup.
Posted by: ivana | June 28, 2006 05:57 PM
Croatia's the best!!! A litle luck like other teams had and they could have gone all the way!!! Look what they did to italy 4 years ago... But thats soccer...
Posted by: silver fox | July 12, 2006 03:32 PM
u know croatia was not too bad. They lost to brazil 1 nil. aus lost to brazil 2 nil.jap lost 4 to 1. so croatia lost by least points.they have good defence.
GO CROATIA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Alex | July 15, 2006 05:31 AM
u are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: JULIAN LACATA | July 15, 2006 05:38 AM
Croatia rocks! What are you guys talking about? Their uniforms are awesome! Eurosport, could you please fix the flag?you guys did it totally wrong. Hrvatski zauvijek!!!
Posted by: Uršanić | September 14, 2006 02:47 PM
UNIFORMS ARE GREAT!!!....NO ONE ELSE HAS THEM...ALL THE REST OFTHE UNI'S LOOK THE SAME BUT WITH DIFFERENT COLORS
BEST UNI WAS IN 98 THOUGH
Posted by: DR | June 24, 2007 01:53 PM
GO CROATIA GOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: natalie | July 12, 2007 06:59 PM
they the best team and blis they will the euro 2008 trophy>>>>>>>>>>
Posted by: abdi | September 17, 2007 07:25 AM