Croatia at UEFA Euro 2008
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Croatia will participate in the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship to be held from 7 to 29 June 2008. It wil be Croatia's third appearance in the tournament since its independence in 1991.
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Contents |
[edit] Qualifications
Croatia was drawn into Group E of Euro 2008's qualifications along with Andorra, England, Estonia, Macedonia, Israel and Russia.
Over the course of qualifying, Croatia racked up nine wins, two draws and one loss. Croatia's loss was a 2-0 defeat at Skopje, Macedonia. Croatia and Romania became the final teams to record their first loss, both on the November 17, 2007 matchday, in a qualification cycle where every team suffered at least one defeat. Croatia gathered numerous headlines after knocking England out on the final matchday, with a 3-2 victory at Wembley Stadium.[1]
Croatian striker Eduardo da Silva was the second-highest goalscorer in qualifications with 10 goals, trailing Northern Ireland's David Healy.
| September 6, 2006 19:00 MSD |
Russia  |
0 – 0 |
 Croatia |
Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow Attendance: 27,500 Referee: M. González (Spain) |
| Report |
| October 7, 2006 20:15 CEST |
Croatia |
7 – 0 |
 Andorra |
Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Zammit (Malta) |
Petrić  12' 37' 48' 50'Klasnić 58'Balaban 62'Modrić 83' |
Report |
| October 11, 2006 20:00 CEST |
Croatia |
2 – 0 |
 England |
Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb Attendance: 38,000 Referee: Rosetti (Italy) |
| Eduardo 61' G. Neville 68' (o.g.) |
Report |
| November 15, 2006 19:00 IST |
Israel  |
3 – 4 |
Croatia |
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan Attendance: 38,000 Referee: González (Spain) |
| Colautti 8' 89' Benayoun 68' |
Report | Srna 35' (pen.) Eduardo 39' 54' 72' |
| March 24, 2007 20:15 CET |
Croatia |
2 – 1 |
 FYR Macedonia |
Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Plautz (Austria) |
| Srna 58' Eduardo 88' |
Report | Sedloski 36' |
| June 2, 2007 21:30 EEST |
Estonia  |
0 – 1 |
Croatia |
A Le Coq Arena, Tallinn Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Kassai (Hungary) |
| Report | Eduardo 32' |
| June 6, 2007 20:30 CEST |
Croatia |
0 – 0 |
Russia |
Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb Attendance: 38,000 Referee: Micheľ (Slovakia) |
| Report |
| September 8, 2007 20:30 CEST |
Croatia |
2 – 0 |
Estonia |
Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Laperriere (Switzerland) |
| Eduardo 39' 45+1' |
Report |
| September 12, 2007 18:00 CEST |
Andorra |
0 – 6 |
Croatia |
Estadi Comunal, Andorra la Vella Attendance: 200 Referee: Thual (France) |
| Report | Srna 34' Petrić 38' 44'Kranjčar 49'Eduardo 55'Rakitić 64' |
| October 13, 2007 20:15 CEST |
Croatia |
1 – 0 |
Israel |
Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb Attendance: 32,000 Referee: Stark (Germany) |
| Eduardo 52' |
Report |
| November 17, 2007 20:00 CET |
FYR Macedonia |
2 – 0 |
Croatia |
Skopje City Stadium, Skopje Attendance: 18,000 Referee: De Bleeckere (Belgium) |
| Maznov 71' Naumoski 83' |
Report |
| November 21, 2007 20:00 GMT |
England |
2 – 3 | Croatia |
Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 88,091 Referee: Fröjdfeldt (Sweden) |
| Lampard 56' (pen.) Crouch 65' |
Report | Kranjčar 8' Olić 14'Petrić 77' |
The final standings were the following:
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Notes on the tie-breaking situation:
- England and Israel are ranked by their head-to-head records:
- England – 4 pts (3:0 H vs Israel, 0:0 A vs Israel)
- Israel – 1 pt (0:0 H vs England, 0:3 A vs England)
[edit] Culture
Croatia has a history of popular music related to its national team's appearances at major tournaments. Croatian manager Slaven Bilić's band Rawbau, for which he plays guitar, released its single Vatreno ludilo shortly before the tournament, commemorating the nation's third-place finish at the World Cup a decade earlier.[2] Croatian defender Josip Šimunić also appeared on a football single by the German-Croat band Oprez, titled Svaki.[3] Croatia Records released a compilation of football and patriotic songs before the tournament titled Srce vatreno, with some proceeds going to a charity founded by members of the national team.[4]
[edit] Tournament preparation
Croatia has four warm-up friendlies before the tournament. The first two were played against the Netherlands and Scotland:
| 2008-02-06 | Croatia |
0-3 |  Netherlands |
Poljud, Split |
| 2008-03-26 | Scotland  |
1-1 | Croatia |
Hampden Park, Glasgow |
The national team gathered in the Croatian city of Rovinj beginning on May 18.[5] On May 23, the team held an open practice attended by 3,000 fans.[6] The team remained in the city until its match with Moldova on May 24 in Rijeka which it won 1-0.[7] The team stayed in its training camp in Slovenia until its final exhibition in Budapest]. Croatia went on to tie Hungary 1-1 in its last preparation for the tournament.
| 2008-05-23 | Croatia |
1-0 | Moldova  |
Kantrida, Rijeka |
| 2008-05-31 | Hungary  |
v | Croatia |
Stadium Puskás Ferenc, Budapest |
| 1 | 1 |
The team travelled back to Zagreb after the match in Budapest. The team was greated by Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader at the city's Sheraton Hotel.[8]
[edit] European Championship
At the Championship itself, Croatia was drawn into Group B along with tournament cohost Austria, Germany, and Poland. It will play all of its group-stage matches in Austria. Before the tournament, the team was confirmed to be based in Bad Tatzmannsdorf in Burgenland, Austria for the competition.[9] The Burgenland region is home to a native Croatian community. The Croatian Fanzone will be in the town of Sankt Andrä. A large concert has been planned for the Croatian fans on the first day of the tournament here.[10] The Croatian Football Federation has offered 300,000 euros to each player if Croatia wins the tournament.[11]
[edit] Roster
In February, Croatian striker Eduardo da Silva suffered a broken leg which will prevent him from participating in the tournament.
Head coach: Slaven Bilić
Assistant coaches:
Goalkeeper coach: Marijan Mrmić
[edit] History
| Opponent | Matches | Victories | Ties | Defeats | Goals scored | Goals conceded | First match |
Last match |
 Austria |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2:1 (on April 26, 2000) | 4:1 (on May 23, 2006) |
 Germany |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1:2 (on June 23, 1996) | 1:2 (on February 18, 2004) |
 Poland |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2:1 (on February 28, 1996) | 0:1 (on June 3, 2006) |
[edit] Group stage
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Croatia |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Germany |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Poland |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008-06-08 18:00 |
Austria |
v | Croatia |
Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna |
| 2008-06-12 18:00 |
Croatia |
v | Germany |
Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt |
| 2008-06-16 20:45 |
Poland |
v | Croatia |
Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt |
[edit] References
- ^ SI.com - Writers - The Limey: With McClaren out, England needs something Special - Friday November 30, 2007 12:50PM
- ^ EURO 2008: Croatia's Slaven Bilic is an out-of-the-ordinary soccer coach, International Herald Tribune
- ^ Joe Šimunić also recorded a fan song!, Večernji list
- ^ Srce vatreno
- ^ Slaven Bilić: Important to start well
- ^ More than 3,000 people at Croatia's practice, Sportnet.hr
- ^ RastrÄŤavanje protiv Moldavije - Sportnet.hr
- ^ Sanader and Croatian national team at Sheraton Hotel
- ^ SportNet.hr
- ^ Thompson at Euro 2008
- ^ Croatia players offered Euro 2008 win bonus
- ^ "Bilic reveals Croatian Euro squad", BBC Sport, 2008-05-05. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ Luka Modrić will officially join Tottenham Hotspur after the tournament.
[edit] External links
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