Fifa World Cup 2014: Inconsistent Croatia aim to revive spirit of 1998

Zagreb: Based on the pedigree of their squad, Croatia have high hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the 2014 World Cup, but other factors may come into play against hosts Brazil, Cameroon and Mexico.

The Croatians, who have not reached the last 16 since their impressive third-place finish in the 1998 tournament, face a daunting opener against favourites Brazil in Sao Paulo on June 12 and defeat would put pressure on them to win the remaining two group fixtures against dangerous opponents.

Their preparations will also be challenging, with long-haul flights across Brazil to face Cameroon in the Amazonian city of Manaus on June 18 before taking on the Mexicans in Recife five days later.

Croatia, who have qualified for eight out of 10 major tournaments as an independent nation, will also be under considerable pressure from their fans and media to snap an under-achieving streak, if not to emulate past glory.

Having missed Euro 2000, the Croatians were knocked out in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup, when they beat more fancied Italy but lost to Ecuador and Mexico.

Croatia suffered the same fate in Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup before they lost a dramatic Euro 2008 quarter-final to Turkey. They then failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and could not get past the group stage in Euro 2012.

Much will depend on how quickly their coach Niko Kovac, who took over from Igor Stimac shortly before Croatia’s 2-0 aggregate play-off win over Iceland, adapts to the challenges of managing a talented squad during a tournament.

The former defensive midfielder restored order in the dressing room after the Croatians almost fell apart under Stimac, who lost four of his last six games in charge and, more importantly, his authority in the dressing room.

Playmaker Luka Modric will have to fire on all cylinders for Croatia to navigate the group and Kovac also has few world class options in defence, missing banned stalwart Josip Simunic.

There is plenty of depth up front, however, in the proven scorers of Mario Mandzukic, Ivica Olic, Eduardo da Silva and Nikica Jelavic, supported by the tried and trusted attacking midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

Croatia

Group A
Fifa ranking: 20

Top man

Luka Modric
Date of birth: September 9, 1985 (age 28)
Place of birth: Zadar
Height: 1.74m
Weight: 67kg
Playing position: Midfielder
International caps: 73. Goals: 8
Club: Real Madrid (Spain)

Coach

Niko Kovac
Date of birth: October 15, 1971 (age 42)
Place of birth: Berlin, Germany
Manager since: October 2013
Record: P2 W1 L1 – 50% win record

Best 11 (4-1-2-3)

Pletikosa; Srna, Vida, Schildenfeld, Corluka; Vukojevic, Modric, Kovacic, Rakitic, Mandzukic, Eduardo.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Oliver Zelenika (Lokomotiva Zagreb)

Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Danijel Pranjic (Panathinaikos), Gordon Schildenfeld (Panathinaikos), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kyiv), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa)

Midfielders: Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Mateo Kovacic (Internazionale), Ivan Mocinic (Rijeka), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Jorge Sammir Cruz Campos (Getafe), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kyiv)

Forwards: Eduardo Alves da Silva (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City), Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina).

Group opponents

Brazil
Cameroon
Mexico

Qualifying campaign

Finished a distant second to Belgium in Uefa Group B before beating Iceland 2-0 in a two-legged play-off.

World Cup history

First tournament: 1998 (France)
Appearances (excluding 2014): 3
Best finish: Third place (1998)

Pros

• Perennially qualify for major tournaments and therefore have the experience to handle the big occasion.
• Have a good blend of youth and experience, featuring captain and 100-cap man Darijo Srna and the exciting young Inter Milan midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
• Possess two genuine world-class performers in Real Madrid schemer Luka Modric and the bustling Bayern Munich frontman Mario Mandzukic.

Cons

• Facing hosts Brazil in their opening match is a daunting proposition for any side and, should the Croats lose this, it would be uphill all the way for them.
• They will badly miss their top scorer Mario Mandzukic in the opening game against Brazil, with the striker suspended for one match after getting sent off in the final qualifier against Iceland.
• The goalkeeping department could be a weakness for Croatia, whose probable starter in the No.1 shirt is Stipe Pletikosa, who is a veteran at 34 and plays for unheralded Russian club Rostov.