Slaven Bilic has been the head of the national team since 2006, and is arguably Croatia's most successful coach in history. He recently uncovered that he is moving on after the Euro and is going to take up the position of head coach at Lokomotiv Moscow, leaving the national team after 6 years in charge. This news created a lot of turmoil among the Croatian public and among the players themselves, and many see this as one of the big problems that the team will have to face in preparation for the European Championships. Over the course of the last 6 years Bilic has done wonders with Croatia, winning 40 out of the 59 games in charge and losing only 6 games, keeping Croatia continuously in the top 10 of the FIFA World Rankings (currently in 8th place). This good form has seen Croatia play a big part in European and world football, and is seen by many as a secret underdog of the upcoming European Championship. He has created a new and rejuvenated team, and brought in many young players that now play important roles in the best leagues and clubs in Europe. Since winning 3rd place at the 1998 World Cup, the Croatian public has been waiting for a similar result, and many feel this team is ready to repeat the success of the '98 team.
This Croatian team plays attacking minded soccer in a 4-4-2 formation, and has the power to create problems for any defense in the world. The experience of the likes of Simunic, Pletikosa, Olic and Srna, combined with the flair and skill of youngsters like Modric, Rakitic, and Jelavic, gives the team good balance. The best part of the team is the midfield, with world-class players like Luka Modric and team captain, Srna, that are the engine of the team, and can be the difference makers in any game. Defensively, Croatia is very solid with experienced Simunic and Corluka, and upcoming youngsters Lovren and Vida. In the attack, a lot of hopes lie with Nikica Jelavic, a new Everton signing that has stolen the headlines in the English Premier League by getting voted the Player of the Month for April.
This Croatian team plays attacking minded soccer in a 4-4-2 formation, and has the power to create problems for any defense in the world. The experience of the likes of Simunic, Pletikosa, Olic and Srna, combined with the flair and skill of youngsters like Modric, Rakitic, and Jelavic, gives the team good balance. The best part of the team is the midfield, with world-class players like Luka Modric and team captain, Srna, that are the engine of the team, and can be the difference makers in any game. Defensively, Croatia is very solid with experienced Simunic and Corluka, and upcoming youngsters Lovren and Vida. In the attack, a lot of hopes lie with Nikica Jelavic, a new Everton signing that has stolen the headlines in the English Premier League by getting voted the Player of the Month for April.
On a good day this team can beat anyone in the world, but then again if things don't fall into place they might struggle against much weaker opponents. When looking at the past we see that Croatia has mostly done very well in major competitions, often getting past the group stage and exceeding expectations. I feel the same will happen this time, and I can see them being a very dangerous opponent in the quarterfinals.
The toughest game will be against Ireland, because it is the first game of the tournament with arguably the weakest team in the group. All the pressure will be on Croatia to win. I feel this is the key game, and if Croatia comes out victorious it would put a lot of wind in their sails. They would then be a very dangerous opponent for both Spain and Italy. The second game of the tournament is against Italy, and this is where the passenger to the next round will be decided. Undoubtedly Spain will go through as one of the two from Group C, and Croatia and Italy are going to have to fight it off for the remaining spot!
Croatia squad for Euro 2012:
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (FK Rostov), Danijel Subasic (FC Monaco), Ivan Kelava (Dinamo Zagreb), Goran Blazevic (Hajduk Split)
Defenders: Dejan Lovren (Lyon), Vedran Corluka (Tottenham), Josip Simunic (Dinamo Zagreb), Gordon Schildenfeld (Eintracht Frankfurt), Sime Vrsaljko (Dinamo Zagreb), Domagoj Vida (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Strinic (Dnipro), Jurica Buljat (Maccabi Haifa)
Midfielders: Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kyiv), Tomislav Dujmovic (Dynamo Moscow), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Luka Modric (Tottenham), Niko Kranjcar Tottenham), Ivan Perisic (Borussia Dortmund), Danijel Pranjic (Bayern Munich), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Milan Badelj (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivo Ilicevic (HSV)
Forwards: Nikica Jelavic (Everton), Mario Mandzukic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo Da Silva (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ivica Olic (Bayern Munich), Nikola Kalinic (Dnipro)
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The toughest game will be against Ireland, because it is the first game of the tournament with arguably the weakest team in the group. All the pressure will be on Croatia to win. I feel this is the key game, and if Croatia comes out victorious it would put a lot of wind in their sails. They would then be a very dangerous opponent for both Spain and Italy. The second game of the tournament is against Italy, and this is where the passenger to the next round will be decided. Undoubtedly Spain will go through as one of the two from Group C, and Croatia and Italy are going to have to fight it off for the remaining spot!
Croatia squad for Euro 2012:
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (FK Rostov), Danijel Subasic (FC Monaco), Ivan Kelava (Dinamo Zagreb), Goran Blazevic (Hajduk Split)
Defenders: Dejan Lovren (Lyon), Vedran Corluka (Tottenham), Josip Simunic (Dinamo Zagreb), Gordon Schildenfeld (Eintracht Frankfurt), Sime Vrsaljko (Dinamo Zagreb), Domagoj Vida (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Strinic (Dnipro), Jurica Buljat (Maccabi Haifa)
Midfielders: Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kyiv), Tomislav Dujmovic (Dynamo Moscow), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Luka Modric (Tottenham), Niko Kranjcar Tottenham), Ivan Perisic (Borussia Dortmund), Danijel Pranjic (Bayern Munich), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Milan Badelj (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivo Ilicevic (HSV)
Forwards: Nikica Jelavic (Everton), Mario Mandzukic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo Da Silva (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ivica Olic (Bayern Munich), Nikola Kalinic (Dnipro)
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