[Europe Group D]
8 matches 4 Wins 3 Ties 1 Loss (15 Points)
| 10/6/96 | Vs. Bosnia | Win | 4-1 |
| 11/10/96 | Vs. Greece | Draw | 1-1 |
| 3/29/97 | Vs. Denmark | Draw | 1-1 |
| 4/2/97 | Vs. Slovenia | Draw | 3-3 |
| 4/30/97 | Vs. Greece | Win | 1-0 |
| 9/10/97 | Vs. Denmark | Lose | 1-3 |
| 10/11/97 | Vs. Slovenia | Win | 3-1 |
| <Playoff> |
| 10/29/97 | Vs. Ukraine | Win | 2-1 |
| 11/15/97 | Vs. Ukraine | Draw | 1-1 |
| Offense |
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Defense |
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Experience |
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Capacity to surprise |
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Since Croatia had made it to the Best 8 in Euro 96, it was natural to assume that it would have no great problems with its opponents in the 1998 World Cup qualifiers, but it struggled unexpectedly and lost the top spot to Denmark and barely slipped into a playoff. Then the moment Croatia escaped narrowly with its card to the World Cup at the end of its match with a difficult opponent Ukraine, the smiles returns to the faces of the optimistic Croatian supporters as if nothing had happened. "Even Germany did not have an easy time of it, did they. The important thing is that we are going to France."
What backs up the confidence of the Croatian supporters that their team can challenge for the championship is Croatia's world-class top talent that has already racked up plaudits and accomplishments on the international stage.
The goalkeeper Ladic may have stood out in the qualifiers for his mistakes, but the defense has a lineup of solid performers. Recently, the sense of presence of the traditional Libero Juric, who is the axis of the defense, has been notable and the stoppers Bilic and Simic are in fine form.
The five midfielders are all equally fierce. In particular, the devastating power of the side backs Stanich and Yaruni remains unchanged. The team leaders in the center Boban and Prosinecki are stable and the other midfielder, Assanovich or Marich, is solid.
For the forwards, there is plenty of usable material, including reserves Cvitanovic and Vlaobitch behind the well-known Suker and Boksic. The minimum goal for the "11 flames" is the Best 16.
*Croatian Football Feberation
[Address] Ilica 31/ll,41 000 Zagreb
[Established] 1991
*First appearance (1998) |
Zvonimir BOBAN
* Midfielder
As the captain of the "11 flames", Boban's genius is burning for his first appearance on this stage that he has so longed for.
He made his professional debut with Dynamo Zagreb (now called Croatia Zagreb) at the age of 17. From that moment on, many talked of him as a candidate for future superstar and by the next year, he was already the captain of the team. He was the main engine of the victory (by the former Yugoslavia) at the 1987 World Youth Championship in Chile and the next year in 1988, made his debut on the A squad of the national team. Unfortunately, he was suspended from the national team for 6 months just before the World Cup and missed the tournament. After the civil war, he sought a place to play in Italy and is still playing in Milan. This tournament will be Boban's first World Cup. As the captain of the team, he bears a heavy responsibility and we hope to see him reveal his world-class field sense and techniques.
Miroslav BLAZEVIC
Before he became the first coach of the Croatian national team, he gained a wealth of experience building up his track record as coach with such teams as Sarajevo, Rieka, Croatia Zagreb, and Sion, Lucerne, and Grasshopper in Switzerland, and with Nantes in France and POAK in Greece. He also led the Swiss national team at one point. He is aggressive and resolute. He always sings his team's praises as the best in the world, not just to raise morale, but also because he is a born optimist. He is also famous with the media for his flashy lip service.
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