Croatia

A familiar sight

Croatia's national soccer team pose for the photograph before their Euro 2004 qualifier match against Slovenia in Zagreb, 15 November 2003. First row (down, L - R) - Boris Zivkovic (number 6), Niko Kovac (10), Igor Tudor (5), Dario Simic (2), Ivica Olic (11); second row (up, L - R): - Stjepan Tomas (4), Stipe Pletikosa (1, goalkeeper), Jerko Leko (8), Dado Prso (9), Mato Neretljak (3) and Ivica Mornar (7). AFP PHOTO HRVOJE POLAN

Croatia's fine footballing tradition is continuing apace with their second European Championships finals at Portugal 2004 to add to their 1998 and 2002 World Cup appearances in only 12 years of Fifa membership.

Regional rivals Bulgaria won Group 8 in qualifying to force Otto Baric's Croatia into a play off against Slovenia, also a former Yugoslav region.

Thanks to a goal in both matches from AS Monaco striker Dado Prso (celebrated for his four goals in one Champions League match against Deportivo la Coruna in November, 2003) the Croats won 2-1 on aggregate, assuring the now familiar red and white checked shirts will again be on display in Portugal.

Croatia face a tough challenge in the first round group phase at the finals in the form of France, England and Switzerland. Coach Otto Baric admitted England and France would be difficult and that they would underestimate their first opponents Switzerland at their peril. England beat Croatia 3-1 as recently as September 2003 and France of course beat them 2-1 in the semi-final of the 1998 World Cup after Croatia had taken the lead.

Regional scrap

A draw against Estonia and a 2-0 loss in Bulgaria constituted a worrying start to qualifying, before a 4-0 win over Belgium in Zagreb marked the turning point of their campaign.

They went into their last match at home to Bulgaria (who had already qualified) knowing they held the slight edge of superiour goal difference over third-placed Belgium.

They did not slip up as a single goal from young gun Ivica Olic ensured a 1-0 win proving crucial as Belgium won the same night against Estonia.

Goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa is a steady influence and conceded just five goals on the road to Portugal. His nerves are no doubt steadied by the experienced central defensive pair of Juventus' Igor Tudor and Bayern Munich's Robert Kovac.

Hertha Berlin's Niko Kovac and Milan Rapaic, currently of Ancona in the Serie A, provide a depth of experience in midfield whilst up front Prso and Olic both know where the net is.

The pioneers

Croatia's first international tournament was Euro 1996 when the golden generation of Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki and Alen Boksic made it to the quarter-finals only for eventual champions Germany to edge them 2-1.

This disappointment was soon tempered by their landmark run to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals fuelled by Suker and his six goals under coach Miroslav Blazevic.

His leadership ended in November 2000 when he failed to qualify Croatia for Euro 2000.

Mirko Jozic took Croatia to the 2002 World Cup with old favourites Suker, and Prosinecki still in the squad, but they were disappointing and failed to get past the first round.

Factfile on Croatia

Population

4,400,000

Area

56,542 sq-km

Capital

Zagreb

Currency

Kuna

Federation

Hrvatski Nogometni Savez (Croatian football federation), founded 1912

Affiliated to FIFA

1941 - re-affiliated July 3, 1992

Affiliated to UEFA

1992

Registered Players

75,000

Colours

Red and white check shirts, white shorts, blue socks

Top clubs

Dynamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split

World Cup appearances

2 (1998, 2002)

World Cup honours

3rd place (1998), first round (2002)

European Championship appearances

2 (1996, 2004)

European Championship honours

Quarter-finals (1996)

How they qualified

Finished runners-up in Group 8 with 16 points (5 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat, 12 goals for and 4 against) behind Bulgaria on 17pts and ahead of Belgium 16 (inferior goal difference), Estonia 8pts and Andorra 0pts. Croatia then beat Slovenia 2-1 on aggregate in the play-offs

Key players

Igor Tudor, Stipe Pletikosa, Dado Prso, Robert and Niko Kovac (brothers)

Coach

Otto Baric