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Euro 2016: Focus on Croatia

Wednesday, May 25 2016 by SNTV
  • With a host of players at some of the finest club sides in Europe, Croatia could be set for an extended run in Euro 2016 this summer in France.

    The team's 'Golden Generation' was nearly 20 years ago, but Croatia have high hopes of going far at Euro 2016 thanks to an impressive list of attacking and creative talent.

    Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic have excelld in recent years for La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.

    And their presence in midfield is certain to cause any opposition problems.

    Meanwhile, in his first season in Italy, Mario Mandzukic helped fire Juventus to yet another Scudetto, while Nikola Kalinic has been in prolific form for Fiorentina.

    To add to that, Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic have also been key players for Inter Milan.

    In the eyes of most, Croatia's weakness lies at the back although Perisic is quick to disagree.

    SOUNDBITE: (English) Ivan Perisic, Croatia forward:

    (on possible weaknesses in defence)

    "No. When we defend or when we attack, we attack with all 11 players. We have to defend with all 11 players and this is most important, I think. And when we defend we have to go with the strikers directly and also with the midfielders. There is not only the defence who defend our goal and we have to make it together and I think only like this we can do good things in this tournament."

    At the back, Croatia will be relying on the experience of their captain Darijo Srna and former Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka as they look to emulate their 1996 and 2008 Euro outings, when they reached the quarter-finals.

    In order to do so though, Croatia will need to progress from a tricky Group D, which sees them face Turkey, the Czech Republic and defending champions Spain.

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