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Group F
CROATIA
World Cup participations: 2
Greatest World Cup achievement: 3rd place (1998)
Croatia is a very young nation and has already made a
third place at a world cup!
In the qualification for Germany 2006 the Croatians have
asserted themselves quite strongly with two victories against
Sweden.
Croatia have a balanced strong team out of which only a few
players stand out - Ivan Klasnic of Werder Bremen, Dado Prso,
Bosko Balaban, Josip Simunic, Robert Kovac or goalkeeper Tomislav Butina.
Croatia is coached by former Rapid Vienna star Zlatko Kranjcar
whose son Niko Kranjcar (upcoming youngester) also is on board.
The Croatians think they have one of the best defences in the world
which may be a bit exaggerated, but it still reflects their strength.
Unfortunately they are not as good at scoring goals.
Japan and Australia are pernicious opponents that can cause
difficulties - even a drop-out in the group stage is possible
The odds on Croatia as world cup winner were quite high
- 67.0 at Betandwin.
For a bet on group winner Croatia you get 7.0.
For a bet on Croatia reaching the last 16 you get 1.62.
Croatia
Nickname Vatreni (Fiery)
Association Croatian Football Federation
Coach Zlatko Kranjčar, 2004-
Most caps Robert Jarni (81)
Top scorer Davor Šuker (45)
First International
Croatia 4 - 0 U.S.A.
(Zagreb, Croatia; 17 October, 1990)
Largest win
Croatia 7 - 0 Australia
(Zagreb, Croatia; 6 June 1998)
Worst defeat
Slovakia 4 - 1 Croatia
(Bratislava, Slovakia; 20 April 1994)
Portugal 3 - 0 Croatia
(Nottingham, England; 19 June 1996)
France 3 - 0 Croatia
(Saint-Denis, France; 13 November 1999)
World Cup
Appearances 2 (First in 1998)
Best result Third place, 1998
European Championship
Appearances 2 (First in 1996)
Best result Quarterfinals, 1996
World Cup Squad Croatia
This is the official world cup squad -
you can find here all the
world cup players
for Croatia
Goalkeepers
Tomislav Butina
Stipe Pletikosa
Joe Didulica
Defenders
Robert Kovac
Stjepan Tomas
Dario Simic
Mario Tokic
Josip Simunic
Igor Tudor
Midfielders
Jerko Leko
Niko Kranjcar
Niko Kovac
Marko Babic
Darijo Srna
Ivan Leko
luka Modric
Jurica Vranjes
Antony Seric
Strikers
Dado Prso
Ivan Klasnic
Bosko Balaban
Ivica Olic
Ivan Bosnjak
Other World Cup Teams
Group A
Germany
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador
Group B
England
Paraguay
Trinidad and Tobago
Sweden
Group C
Argentina
Cote d'Ivoire
Serbia and Montenegro
Netherlands
Group D
Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal
Group E
Italy
Ghana
USA
Czech Republic
Group F
Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan
Group G
France
Switzerland
Korea Republic
Togo
Group H
Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia
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