Page 13 - Soccer360 Issue 106

NICKNAME: KOCKASTI
S360 PREDICTION | 9TH PLACE
GROUP B - UEFA EURO 2024
FACTFILE
POPULATION:
4 million
EURO FINALS APPEARANCES: 6
BEST FINISH:
Quarterfinals 1996, 2008
MOST MEMORABLE EUROS MOMENT: Davor Suker’s wonderful chip against Denmark at Euro 96.
HOW THEY GOT TO EURO 2024: Edged out Wales to finish second in qualification Group D.
LAST EUROS APPEARANCE: Lost a classic last 16 match 5-3 to Spain after extra time.
MOST CAPPED PLAYER: Luka Modrić, 174
LEADING INTERNATIONAL SCORER: Davor Šuker, 45
HOW TO FOLLOW:
DAVOR SUKOR
VS SPAIN VS ALBANIA VS ITALY
JUNE 15TH JUNE 19TH JUNE 24TH 12:00PM | EST 9:00AM | EST 3:00PM | EST
FIFA RANKING 10TH
CROATIA
After runners-up and third place finishes at the last two World Cups, dark horses Croatia are aiming to reach the sharp end of the Euros for the first time. Ian Waterhouse assesses their chances.
EURO APPEARANCES: 6
EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
THEIR BEST THREE EUROS
2008
1996
2016
5TH
7TH
9TH
UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD:22 W:9 D:6 L:7
THE COACH:
ZLATKO DALIC
Long-serving coach Zlatko Dalic has taken Croatia to unprecedented heights and to the brink of silverware. He took a generation full of potential to the next level at the past two World Cups, but right now he’ll still be nursing regrets over their inability to win the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League. The opening match against Spain offers the chance of revenge, and if he can lead his side into the latter stages here it’ll be another success.
KEY PLAYER:
JOSKO GVARDIOL
Luka Modric might still be the maestro, but Josko Gvardiol is now widely recognised
as one of the world’s top defenders. He
is quality on the ball and has excellent versatility, imposing as a centre-back but
also eye-catching on the left as he proved
for Manchester City towards the end of the season. Croatia are a team who are so good at staying in games, and his influence is central to that.
CROATIA TO CONQUER?
In the time since Croatia made its competitive international footballing
bow back in 1993, no team has exceeded expectations more consistently on the world stage. Their breakthrough came with sensational run to third place at the 1998 World Cup powered by Davor Suker, and more recently a golden generation has taken them to the 2018 World Cup final and another third place four years later.
The only thing missing is a serious run
at the European Championships, but for Luka Modric, the crown jewel of Croatia’s number for so long, that will be the aim for what is surely his final major tournament. The 38-year-old Real Madrid legend is joined by fellow veterans Ivan Perišić, and Marcelo Brozovic, who together boast
a combined age of 104. However, this is
a side with younger stars emerging too, with outstanding defender Josko Gvardiol already established alongside recent Bundesliga title winner Josip Stanisic. Consistency has been key for head coach Zlatko Dalic with 23 of the players who took part in the 2022 World Cup featuring in the squad throughout the qualifying campaign, where they were far from their best but eventually got over the line. Dalic has his work cut out in a tough group containing Spain, Italy, and Albania, but with the four best third placed teams going through they should accumulate the points they need to advance. It certainly looks like this will be last chance for Modric and co to claim a major trophy, and they can be considered among the dark horses yet again.
PROBABLE STARTING XI
IVANUSEC
MODRIC
STANISIC
MEJER
BROZOVIC
KRAMARIC
KOVACIC
SOSA
SUTALO
GVARDIOL
LIVAKOVIC
SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024 11