CROATIA
 |
| Croatia's Team Logo |
With their young squad, Croatia finally qualified to Euro 2012 after suffered 2 loses. Croatia showed enough consistency and promise throughout the qualification phase to suggest that their youthful side can continue to develop in Poland and Ukraine. However, Croatia still has not been tested against a better opposition. It is seen as the difficulties facing Greece both home and away. Euro 2012 is Croatia's 4th appearances (only count when they separate from Yugoslavia). Croatia National Football Team has a nickname Vatreni (The Blazers) and most of their home matches are played at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb.
 |
| Croatia's Team Manager |
Croatia National Football Team manager is Slaven Bilic who's born in Split, SFR Yugoslavia at September 11, 1968 (age 43). Bilic replaces Zlatko Kranjcar on 25 July 2006, after the unsuccessful 2006 World Cup. Although Croatia's quite poor performance in some games and also failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, Bilic quite outstanding success bringing Croatia in Euro 2008, failed to enter the semi-finals when penalty shoot-out against Turkey. Bilic is a part of Croatia when it managed to be the third winner at the World Cup 1998. When played as defender in Hajduk Split, he has won two Croatian Cups, a Croatian First League, and a Yugoslav Cup. With his success became the first coach since Miroslav Blazevic (1996 and 1998) which brought Croatia into Euro and World Cup, Blasic is expected to bring Croatia perform better in Euro 2012.
 |
| Croatia's Team |
 |
| Croatia's Team Captain |
Darijo Srna born in Metkovic, SFR Yugoslavia at May 1, 1982 (age 29). Srna got his captain's armband from the retiring Niko Kovac after Euro 2008. Playing in right back or right midfielder position in club career has won five Ukrainian Premier League, three Ukrainian Cups, three Ukrainian Super Cups and a UEFA Cup with Shakhtar Donetsk, a Prva HNL and two Croatian Cups with Hajduk Split. Since 2002, Srna has made 89 appearances and 19 goals for his country. Srna is a versatile player, has a good performance in defense, leadership and attacking instincts. With this capability, Srna became one of Croatia's most important players.
 |
| Croatia's Team Star |
Luka Modric born in Zadar, SFR Yugoslavia, at September 9, 1985 (age 26). He is Croatia's National Football Team midfielder and star player. Gerard Houllier, UEFA Technical Team said that "Modric is a very hard worker, has a good brain and provided some calmness and composure to the midfield. His passing was neat and his contribution was outstanding. He was not only winning the ball, he was passing well. We thought that he was very influential. He did not just work hard, he made the other people play well around him." In club career, Modric has won three Croatian First League, two Croatian Cups, and a Croatian Super Cup with Dinamo Zagreb. Since 2006, with Croatia's senior team, Modric has made 52 appearances and 8 goals.
 |
| Croatia's Team Rising Star |
Ivan Perisic born in Split, SFR Yugoslavia, at February 2, 1989 (age 23). Perisic, who plays as a striker have a competent height, shooting ability and also the movement without the ball is rarely possessed by other Croatian players. Since 2011, Perisic was selected for the first time for the national team of Croatia and has made 7 appearances. Despite the presence of players like Ivan Niko Kranjcar and Rakitic, which makes Perisic will be only a football player, with his ability Perisic will have his chance to shine in Euro 2012.
Source : Wikipedia, UEFA, Goal.com
Related Article :
{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }
Post a Comment
Write your comment here...