Outright Odds: sixty six/1
Group F Winners: 6/1
Croatia enter their third successive finals and will search for a repeat on the heroics of 1998 instead of the humiliation of 2002. They topped a challenging qualifying group which provided Bulgaria and Hungary and remained unbeaten around 10 matches which bundled house and away victories over fellow qualifiers Sweden.
Beneath supervisor Zlatko Kranjcar Croatia are a distinct workforce to how neutrals will remember them from their 1998 exploits which saw them reach the semi-last. Long gone are flair players like Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki and previous Golden Boot Davor Suker. They have been changed by more purposeful gamers including the Kovac brothers, Marko Babic and Dado Prso.
Like fellow qualifiers Serbia & Montenegro, Croatias accomplishment stemmed from a strong defence where they saved 6 thoroughly clean sheets in 10 online games and conceded just 5 plans in the procedure.
A different toughness is a amount of the current Croatia squad are based in the Bundesliga, with Josip Simunic and Niko Kovac at Hertha Berlin, Babic dependent at Bayer Leverkusen and Ivan Klasnic contracted to Werder Bremen.
Croatia have unearthed a talent in midfielder Dario Srna that has created a knack for scoring very important plans. The Shakhtar Donetsk player scored equally goals in The 2 1-0 wins around Sweden in the defining matches with the group.
Vital striker Dado Prso scored 5 aims in qualifying, his countrys joint major scorer with 슬롯사이트 Srna. He burst into prominence when he netted four plans for Monaco from the eight-three Champions League thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna. He manufactured his Intercontinental debut eight months previous to the match but has because grow to be an automatic decision in assault.
Croatia have gone regarding their organization quietly and confidently and In spite of their unbeaten qualification initiatives, will keep on being unfancied by numerous to generate any influence while in the finals. That could suit them wonderful as former coach Mirko Jozic blamed the strain on The category of 1998 for the dismal failure in the 2002 squad which noticed them eliminate 1-0 to Ecuador of their remaining match.
At last, they experience favourites Brazil of their opening match so will never have to bother with dealing with the reigning champions in the crunch group decider. If they might take just about anything from that recreation They are going to be in pole placement to reaching the 2nd spherical.
Proposed Wager
Despite the clear toughness on the team, Croatia are a lot more than capable of qualifying from it offered their latest showings in qualifying for your finals. With among the list of meanest defences in Europe and a host of players plying their trade in Germany These are a audio wager to comply with Brazil into the final sixteen.
Croatia to qualify from Team F @ five/six