Croatia in Euro 2004

[Guillou]

What do you think the starting line-up will look like?

I'm under the impression that they mostly use the 3-5-2 formation, would this be a suitable XI?

-----------------Klasnic---Prso-----------

Seric---N.Kovac--Tudor--Vranjes--Rosso

-----------Tomas--R.Kovac--Simunic

-----------------Pletikosa---------------

Subs. Butina, Neretljak, Zivkovic, Babic, Leko, Olic, Srna.

I think the defence will benefit from Kovac's experience (Tudor could also drop down to the central defence) Simunic is a steady performer, the third defender is a bit of question mark but I'll go for the youthfull Stjepan Tomas.

The midfield consists of Tudor as a ballwinner in the middle, also capable of passing the ball accurately, accompanied by the elder of the Kovac brothers, Nico an all round player, Jurica Vranjes, the VfB Stuttgart midfielder can also create opportunities. In the left flank I'd go for Anthony Seric, one for the future but already has years of Serie A experience under his belt. And on the right wing Giovanni Rosso will provide opportunities with his jinking runs and crosses, the Israeli league is not really the most revered but Rosso has shown his talent in the Champions League, most memorably against Man Utd in a 3-0 win (yes, I know, Man Utd played a lot of second choice players but they can get stuck in as well) Rosso will be anxious to make his mark on the International level.

Up front I'd play future Rangers striker Prso who has been a revelation this season and Klasnic who combined with Ailton made a great strike partnership for the Bundesliga winning Werder Bremen side, Olic could be brought in a super-sub.

I'm not sure what is the match fitness of Dario Simic, with only 10 league appearances for Milan this season, so I leave him as a back-up, along with Tokic and Bule.

Otto Baric, the coach is a bit of mystery to me, he has had success in the Austrian league and led Sturm Graz in the CL, but at this level can he get the best out of his players?

Croatia will be looked on as the underdogs (along with Switzerland) in their group, but just maybe they can once again surprise the football audience by emulting the success of the 1998 World cup squad.

I hold my thumbs up for the Croats, I hope you'll make it beyond the group stage.

edit. typo

[Super Croat]

What do you think the starting line-up will look like?

I'm under the impression that they mostly use the 3-5-2 formation, would this be a suitable XI?

-----------------Klasnic---Prso-----------

Seric---N.Kovac--Tudor--Vranjes--Rosso

-----------Tomas--R.Kovac--Simunic

-----------------Pletikosa---------------

Subs. Butina, Neretljak, Zivkovic, Babic, Leko, Olic, Srna.


Seric and Vranjes will not be selected to the team. Rosso can't play out wide and you can't leave Milan Rapaic out of the line-up. He's far too talented. Sokota is a better player than Olic, though Olic sometimes can come on add some much needed pace.

Besides, I am in favour of using an attacking 4-4-2 formation with this squad.


----(Sokota)Klasnic---Prso-----------

Rapaic(Babic)---Rosso(Kranjcar?)---Leko---Srna

Tomas--Tudor--R.Kovac--Zivkovic

-----------Pletikosa---------------

[AdelaideCroat]

i think the line up will be:
GK- Pletikosa
DL- Zivkovic
DC- Kovac
DC- Simunic
DR- Simic
ML- Babic
MC- Tudor
MC- Leko
MR- Srna
FC- Prso
FC- Klasnic

[sebat]

----------------------I think that starting line should be like this------------


---------------klasnic---------------------------prso----------------


----------------------------KRANJCAR----------------------------


babic----------------------leko----------------------------------srna






- simunic(saks) ---tudor--------------kovac r.-------------simic



----------------------------pletikosa-------------------------------

[Vatreni pantaloni]

---------------Sokota---------------------------Prso----------------


---------------------------Kranjcar------------------------------------

Rapaic------------------------------------leko----------------------srna


---------------------------- ---tudor---------------------------------


------------zivkovic ----------kovac r.-------------simic



----------------------------pletikosa-------------------------------


Important subs: N. Kovac, Babic, Klasnic, Olic, Tomas, Simunic, Bjelica, Mornar, Rosso

[PrAvI HrVaT]

isnt Kranjcar on the youth team?

[croatianfan]

Olic should be on forward!!!! He gives the team the pace they need.