Croatia's record against Group D opponents
Friday, January 8, 2016
Article summary
Croatia have unpleasant recent EURO experience against Group D opponents Turkey and Spain but have never played the Czech Republic competitively.
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Qualifying: Group H runners-up
Top scorers: Ivan Perišić (6 goals)
Qualifying record: P10 W6 D3 L1 F20 A5 Pts20 (1pt deducted)
EURO best: quarter-finals 1996, 2008
Last EURO: 2012 (group stage)
EURO appearances:4 (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012)
Croatia v Turkey (15.00CET, 12 June, Paris)
EURO P4 W2 D2 L0 F5 A1
World Cup P0 W0 D0 L0 F0 A0
Friendlies P2 W0 D2 L0 F3 A3
- Croatia and Turkey made their UEFA European Championship finals debut at EURO '96 and were paired in the opening game. Croatia won the match in Nottingham 1-0 with a late breakaway goal from Goran Vlaović. Then, as now, Fatih Terim was Turkey's coach.
- The teams met again in Vienna in a dramatic UEFA EURO 2008 quarter-final, Turkey going through on penalties after a 1-1 draw in which both sides scored late in extra time. Semih Şentürk cancelled out Ivan Klasnić's 119th-minute strike to force the shoot-out.
- Croatia gained some revenge by defeating Turkey 3-0 away – and by the same aggregate score – in the play-offs for UEFA EURO 2012.
- The nations have been drawn together in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying competition.
Croatia v Czech Republic (18.00CET, 17 June, St-Etienne)
EURO P0 W0 D0 L0 F0 A0
World Cup P0 W0 D0 L0 F0 A0
Friendlies P2 W1 D1 L0 F5 A3
- The nations drew 1-1 in their first meeting at a tournament in Casablanca in December 1996, Croatia winning 4-1 on penalties to lift the King Hassan II Cup.
- Croatia forward Nikola Kalinić scored twice in a 4-2 friendly win in Pula in February 2012 – the first time the Czech Republic had conceded four goals in a game.
- Czech captain Tomáš Rosický scored his 20th international goal in that Pula defeat.
Croatia v Spain (21.00CET, 21 June, Bordeaux)
EURO P1 W0 D0 L1 F0 A1
World Cup P0 W0 D0 L0 F0 A0
Friendlies P4 W1 D1 L2 F4 A5
- Spain defeated Croatia 1-0 in their final group game at UEFA EURO 2012 thanks to Jesús Navas's 88th-minute strike to advance at their opponents' expense. All four of the teams' previous meetings had been friendly matches.
- Croatia's first victory away from home after regaining independence came against Spain in Valencia in March 1994. They won 2-0 with goals from Robert Prosinečki and Davor Šuker.
- Croatia midfielders Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić play in Spain for Real Madrid while their international team-mate Ivan Rakitić is with Liga arch-rivals Barcelona.