Croatia have qualified for three successive World Cups since Independence, reaching the Semi Final in 1998. It’s a remarkable record for a nation of 4 Million. It could be about to end.
Croatia may have been resurgent under Slaven Bilić, qualifying emphatically for the EURO 2008 tournament, pimping McClaren’s England along the way, but 2007-8 was a long time ago. Croatia seem not to have recovered from Eduardo’s broken leg and losing on penalties to Turkey in the EURO 2008 quarter final in Vienna.
Qualification is no longer in Croatia’s hands. Although Croatians can be quietly confident of England issuing a beating to Ukraine, Croatia may be less sure of themselves in their “must win” in Kazakhstan or advancing beyond the 2nd place playoff where they could face France, Germany or Russia, or even Bosnia-Herzegovina. The latter would be an intriguing fixture to say the least.
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