Euro 2012 Group C: Croatia
GROUP C
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Croatia
Road to Poland & Ukraine
Croatia had an unexpectedly arduous trip to the final stage after the initial analysis had suggested a clear path through a moderately difficult group. The main rivals Greece were deemed clearly in decline in view of their poor showing in the 2010 World Cup. Israel had never defeated Croatia and Georgia were considered a non-entity despite the fame of their coach Temuri Ketsbaia, a former Newcastle United favourite.
The predictions turned out mostly erroneous as a highly combative and motivated Greek side held Croatia to a goalless draw in Zagreb and easily won by 2-0 in Piraeus. Even more shocking for the Croats was the 0-1 injury time defeat in Georgia after an appaling lapse in concentration of the whole defense. Double wins against Israel, Latvia and Malta plus a heroic 2-1 home victory over Georgia helped the Slavs clinch second place and the playoffs with Turkey. However, there was not a shred of optimism on the eve of the game in Istanbul. The elimination was viewed as a certainty and the talk was mostly about the possible successors to coach Slaven Bilic for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Amazingly, the red-and-white checkered shirts produced one of their finest performanes ever, demolishing Guus Hiddink's Turkey 3-0. Ivica Olic, back from a lengthy knee injury, was celebrated as the hero along with Mario Mandzukic and Vedran Corluka, unsettled at Tottenham Hotspur. The second leg in Zagreb, a mere formality, ended goalless before an ecstatic crowd. Not only was the qualification achieved but the revenge was gained for the dramatic defeat on penalties in the quarterfinals of the past Euros in Austria and Switzerland. The ghosts of Vienna were put to rest and the new adventure could start.
* Results
Sep 3, 2010: Latvia 0-3 Croatia
Sep 7, 2010: Croatia 0-0 Greece
Oct 9, 2010: Israel 1-2 Croatia
Nov 17 2010: Croatia 3-0 Malta
Mar 29, 2011: Georgia 1-0 Croatia
Jun 3, 2011: Croatia 2-1 Georgia
Sep 2, 2011: Malta 1-3 Croatia
Sep 6, 2011: Croatia 3-1 Israel
Oct 7, 2011: Greece 2-0 Croatia
Oct 11, 2011: Croatia 2-0 Latvia
Nov 11, 2011: Turkey 0-3 Croatia
Nov 15, 2011: Croatia 0-0 Turkey
Fixtures
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Croatia Kit 1
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Croatia Kit 2
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Croatia v Ireland 10 June; Poznan
Croatia v Italy 14 June; Poznan
Croatia v Spain; 18 June; Gdansk
Analysis
Croatia have qualified for seven big competitions out of nine attempts since being admitted to FIFA and UEFA in 1992 - in time to be included in the draw for the 1996 Euros in England.
The team have spent the better part of the last decade in or just out of the FIFA World Ranking top ten, but still pale in comparison with the generation from the nineties. That glorious squad that included Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki, Alen Boksic and Bilic himself won't easily be matched in sheer amount of talent. Today only Luka Modric and Ivica Olic shine as international stars while the rest form no more than a solid block.
The weakest part of the block are the goalkeepers with the number one choice Stipe Pletikosa (33) steadily declining ever after reaching his peak in early twenties. The defence includes some interesting elements, notably Vedran Corluka, a Spur on loan to Leverkusen, Dejan Lovren and the skipper Josip Simunic of Dinamo Zagreb. Modric, another Spur, leads a well-balanced midfield with such creative players as Ivan Rakitic and Niko Kranjcar or ball-winners like Ognjen Vukojevic and Tihomir Dujmovic. Shahtar Donetsk's captain Darijo Srna adds depth along the right flank, mirrored by the young Ivan Perisic on the opposite side of the midfield.
The strikeforce is abundant and varied, still headed by the tireless Olic, although he is being frequently and irrationally sidelined by Jupp Heynckes in Bayern. The powerful Mario Mandzukic is Olic's preferred partner but Eduardo da Silva, Mladen Petric and Nikola Kalinic provide equally good options. It is in fact Eduardo who was supposed to fill Suker's shoes after an amazing run in 2006 and 2007, but his tragic leg break in a Birmingham v Arsenal match in 2008 virtually prevented him from achieving the international stardom he richly deserved.
Key player: Luka Modric
Touted as the Croatian Cruijff, Modric is the team's brain, but is not short on lungs either. Alex Ferguson recently called him as good as Paul Scholes. His passing and ball-handling skills are superb and his uncanny instinct helps him evade most of the rough tackles from behind. It only remains to be seen whether he will trust himself enough to unleash his terrific shot more often rather than looking for a telling pass.
One to watch: Ivan Perisic
An emerging talent currently plying his trade at German champions Borussia Dortmund. Product of the Sochaux-Montbelliard soccer academy, the tall and rangy 23-year-old is a versatile offensive player capable of serving as a left winger, inside-left or out-and-out forward. It was in this latter role that he won the Belgium top scoring title in 2011, but Bilic mostly uses him in a withdrawn position.
Coach: Slaven Bilic
After the stunning loss to Georgia last March until the "miracle of Istanbul" Bilic (43) was the most hated individual in Croatia. The former national hero both as a player and as a coach who led the country to wins over Italy, Germany and England - twice - was now reduced to utter villainhood. Not even the ex-Prime minister Ivo Sanader, on trial over multiple charges of corruption and embezzlement attracted as much venom both from the press and the people on forums and social networks.
Bilic's weird player choices and tactical decisions have haunted him ever since the 1-4 debacle to Fabio Capello's England in 2008 - the only home defeat Croatia have ever suffered in a competitive game. The horrendous display in Piraeus last October solidified Bilic's status as public enemy number one. Everything changed one month later on that glorious night when Croatia conquered Istanbul and virtually secured a berth in Poland and Ukraine. Currently Bilic is not as beloved as in his early years as manager, but is being largely spared of any criticism. If he can lead the team past the group stage in June, everybody will be calling for him to accept his fourth two-year mandate as the national team's head coach.
Record
The Croats have a proud record in the Euros, be it as an independent nation after 1992, or as a part of the Yugoslav Federation. During the glorious times of joint South Slavic socccer, the team composed of Croats, Serbs, Montenegrins and Bosnian Muslims ended up as runners-up twice in the first three editions plus a fourth place in 1976; achievements that greatly exceed those of, for instance, England in the same competition.
After gaining independence, Croatia have qualified for four European final tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals in 1996 and 2008. On both occasions they came within inches of going through to the semis, but a scandalous Swedish referee that pushed Germany through and a ridiculous 122th minute equalizer for Turkey kept Croatia from achieving further glory.
2000 Did not qualify; 2004 Group Stage; 1996, 2008 Quarter finals
FIFA Ranking
How they qualified for Euro 2012
Croatia were second in Group F and came through a two-leg play-off with Turkey.
On the sidelines
Croatia's nickname is the Vatreni (The Blazers or Fiery Boys). Croatia's national soccer has been hit by a number of corruption scandals involving First Division players, leading referees and major FA officials.
Soccerphile says
Though blessed with talent, Croatia are plagued by inconsistency and lack of confidence. The current Croatia rarely realize their true potential suggested by the talents of their star players. We predict Croatia will not make it out of a group including Spain, Italy and Ireland.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (FC Rostov), Danijel Subasic (AS Monaco), Ivan Kelava (Dinamo Zagreb)
Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Tottenham), Josip Simunic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Strinic (Dnipro), Gordon Schildenfeld (Eintracht Frankfurt), Domagoj Vida (Dinamo Zagreb), Jurica Buljat (Maccabi Haifa)
Midfielders: Danijel Pranjic (Bayern Munich), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Tomislav Dujmovic (Zaragoza), Luka Modric (Tottenham), Milan Badelj (Dinamo Zagreb), Niko Kranjcar (Tottenham), Ivan Perisic (Borussia Dortmund), Ivo Ilicevic (Hamburg SV)
Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo Da Silva (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Everton), Ivica Olic (Bayern Munich)