Some teams in world cup always remain under shadow of giants with little ambition. But they play well to surprise many and leave behind some legacy. Croatia with some glories in the past is one such team. Favorite teams often do not take much notice of them but gets shock before they can even realize.
Croatia will play its first match –the opening match of Brazil World Cup 2014 against the hosts and hot favorite Brazil. There is no doubt that Brazil will be willing to make a strong statement in their opening match. No one will expect Croats to make a strong challenge. But they must try to control damage and work efficiently against unpredictable Croatia creating a do or die match situation against Mexico for advancing to group of 16.
Ranked 16 in FIFA raking Croatia consistently produces exceptionally skilled footballers for Europe’s top clubs. Croatian players like Luka Modric, Mario Mansdzukit and Eduardo are household names and suggest attacking football. With a reputation as chequered as their iconic red and white shirts Croatia like their other east European cousins are often the footballing equivalent of “Jekyll and Hyde”. Based on the pedigree of their squad, Croatia have high hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the 2014 world cup, but other factors may come into play against hosts Brazil, Cameroon and Mexico.
The Croatians, who have not reached the last 16 since their impressive third-place finish in the 1998 tournament, face a daunting opener against favorites Brazil in Sao Paulo on June 12 and defeat would put pressure on them to win the remaining two group fixtures against dangerous opponents. Their preparations will also be challenging, with long-haul flights across Brazil to face Cameroon in the Amazonian city of Manaus on June 18 before taking on the Mexicans in Recife five days later. The specific jungle climate in Manaus, hot and humid, will take its toll on both teams although Cameroon’s players might find they can deal with it more easily, especially if they play under the hot African sun when they were youngsters.
Croatia got independence in 1991, won UEFA and FIFA membership in 1992. They could play only 5 times in FIFA flagship tournament. They were not there in South Africa in 2010. In France 98 their “golden generation” – with Davor Sucker, Zvonimir Boban and Robert Prosincki finished third. Sucker was the highest scorer. The stand out performance was 3-0 victory over strong Germany. Though they were knocked out in the semifinal by host France and eventual champion yet they managed to beat other fancied side Netherlands in third place of play off.
Croatia, who have qualified for eight out of 10 major tournaments as an independent nation, will be under considerable pressure from their fans and media to snap an underachieving streak, if not to emulate past glory. It will sorely miss their top scorer Mario Mandzukic in the opening game against Brazil, with the towering Bayern Munich striker suspended after getting sent off in the final qualifier against Iceland. Much will depend on how quickly their coach Niko Kovac, who took over from Igor Stimac shortly before Croatia’s 2-0 aggregate play-off win over Iceland, adapts to the challenges of managing a talented squad during a tournament.
Kovac’s only prior coaching experience was a good start in the qualifying campaign for the Euro 2015 Under-21 finals, when he racked up four wins in as many games before he was promoted to take Stimac’s place at the most critical stage of Croatia’s qualifying campaign.
The former defensive midfielder restored order in the dressing room after the Croatians almost fell apart under Stimac, who lost four of his last six games in charge and, more importantly, his authority in the dressing room.
Playmaker Luka Modric will have to fire on all cylinders for Croatia to navigate the group and Kovac also has few world class options in defense, missing banned stalwart Josip Simunic.
There is plenty of depth up front, however, in the proven scorers of Ivica Olic, Eduardo da Silva and Nikica Jelavic, supported by the tried and trusted attacking midfielder Ivan Rakitic. Mandzukic will also be vital once he has served his one-match ban.
The youth is personified by talented 20-year-old central midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who burst into the spotlight in qualifying, and by defender Dejan Lovren, who found his feet in the Premier League at Southampton.
Croatia has already announced its squad as under:
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Oliver Zelenika (Dinamo Zagreb).
Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gordon Schildenfeld (Panathinaikos), Danijel Pranjic (Panathinaikos), Ivan Strinic (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa), Igor Bubnjic (Udinese).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Niko Kranjcar (Queens Park Rangers), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg), Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan), Milan Badelj (Hamburg), Ivo Ilicevic (Hamburg), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Mocinic (Rijeka), Mario Pasalic (Hajduk Split), Sammir (Getafe).
Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina), Duje Cop (Dinamo Zagreb).
The Coach: Niko Kovac
A former defensive midfielder and captain of the national side, Kovac was appointed as coach following the culmination of Croatia’s qualifying group in October 2013, replacing the hugely unpopular Igor Stimac. He subsequently guided them through a playoff against Iceland, confirming Croatia’s place in Brazil. Kovac’s iconic status from his playing days and successful start has given him an excellent platform for his tenure, but he is still relatively unproven at this level.
Players to Watch
Darijo Srna, right-back (Shakhtar Donetsk); age 32; 111 caps. Croatia’s captain has been a pillar in the past decade and his raids down the right flank were instrumental in qualifying. Good from set pieces, has excellent vision and pulls the strings along with Luka Modric. Scored 21 international goals and has played more than 404 games with his club, winning seven Ukrainian league titles and five cups.
Ivan Rakitic, midfielder (Sevilla); age 26; 60 caps. The most versatile player in Croatia’s squad is capable of playing on either flank or as a central midfielder. The crafty dribbler was caught in a late night partying stint at previous club Schalke before a big game and temporarily dropped from the first team. Flourished again in the Spanish top flight.
Luka Modric, midfielder (Real Madrid); age 28; 73 caps. The dynamo of Croatia’s engine room, Modric has won a fierce battle for a place in Real Madrid’s team this season after struggling in the early stages following his 2012 move from Tottenham Hotspur. Modric’s selfless work, tireless running and crisp passing will make him the driving force of his country’s bid to reach the knockout stages in his fourth major tournament.
Ivan Perisic, midfielder (Wolfsburg); age 25; 27 caps. The winger is as talented as he is inconsistent. Frequent dips in form have forced him to move from Borussia Dortmund to Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg, where he has done reasonably well in his first season. Could be Coach Niko Kovac’s trump card if he hits top form in the finals.
Mario Mandzukic, striker (Bayern Munich); age 28; 48 caps. The focal point of Croatia’s attack but will be suspended from the World Cup opening match against hosts Brazil. A prolific scorer who has spearheaded Croatia’s qualifying campaign with vital goals in several games as well as assists to his teammates
Brazil will be expected to run out group winners on home soil, leaving Croatia to fight it out for second place. They will feel confident going up against Cameroon, who are a strong side yet arguably the weakest of the group, leaving the final match against Mexico potentially as a winner takes all tie. The Mexicans are a fairly unpredictable entity and endured some torrid qualifying form. However, they will feel at home in the Brazilian climate, and could well prove too strong if the Croatians are not at their best.
Realistically expectations should not be very high with the team in Brazil World Cup as the squad is under transition with several younger players just coming into recognition. While for few others it will be the swan song .Inter Milan’s 19 year old Matio Kvacic is a talented player for the future who may make a statement in the world cup. Another youngster with a bright future is Dynamo Zagreb’s 17 years old starlet Alen Halilovic who last has signed a deal with Barcelona.
In the final analysis, Croatia are capable of advancing into the business end of the tournament if they can produce their best football while managing huge expectations at home to rekindle some of the 1998 gloss.
BDST: 1042 HRS, MAY 24, 2014
