Outright Odds: sixty six/1
Group F Winners: 6/one
Croatia enter their third successive finals and may look for a repeat of the heroics of 1998 rather then the shame of 2002. They topped a tough qualifying team which incorporated Bulgaria and Hungary and remained unbeaten about ten matches which involved dwelling and absent victories above fellow qualifiers Sweden.
Under manager Zlatko Kranjcar Croatia are a different workforce to how neutrals will remember them from their 1998 exploits which noticed them reach the semi-remaining. Long gone are flair gamers which include Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki and previous Golden Boot Davor Suker. They have been replaced by much more functional gamers like the Kovac brothers, Marko Babic and Dado Prso.
Like fellow qualifiers Serbia & Montenegro, Croatias achievements stemmed from a robust defence where they stored six thoroughly clean sheets in 10 games and conceded just 5 aims in the process.
Yet another toughness is usually a number of the present Croatia squad are situated 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 has designed a knack for scoring vital plans. The Shakhtar Donetsk player scored both equally goals in The 2 1-0 wins above Sweden in the defining matches on the team.
Important striker Dado Prso scored five aims in qualifying, his countrys joint top rated scorer with Srna. He burst into prominence when he netted 4 objectives for Monaco from the eight-3 Champions League thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna. He produced his international debut eight months previous to the match but has since come to be an automatic alternative in attack.
Croatia have absent about their business enterprise quietly and confidently and Regardless of their unbeaten qualification endeavours, will continue to be unfancied by quite a few for making any affect in the finals. That could go well with them high-quality as previous coach Mirko Jozic blamed the strain on the class of 1998 for your dismal failure from the 2002 squad which noticed them get rid of one-0 to Ecuador within their ultimate 슬롯사이트 match.
Lastly, they confront favourites Brazil within their opening match so will never have to bother with experiencing the reigning champions inside a crunch team decider. If they could take everything from that recreation They are going to be in pole posture to achieving the second round.
Suggested Wager
Regardless of the clear toughness in the team, Croatia are more than capable of qualifying from it offered their the latest showings in qualifying to the finals. With on the list of meanest defences in Europe and a number of gamers plying their trade in Germany They can be a seem wager to follow Brazil into the last 16.
Croatia to qualify from Group F @ five/six