http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia_national_football_team

Obratite paznju na igraca sa brojem 19 :D

 EVO MALO DA JOŠ MALO PODGRIJEMO ATMOSFERU ( btw - odlična je ovaj potez FIFA-inog site-a sa PRE-MATCH ANALYSIS! ) 

Brazil begin with Croatia clash

7 June 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com

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In a break with FIFA World Cup™ tradition, the defending champions will not take part in the opening fixture at this year's tournament. That honour falls to hosts Germany, who get the ball rolling with their showcase match against Costa Rica on 9 June. For their part, holders Brazil open their account on 13 June in Berlin, where they face potentially their toughest Group F opponents, Croatia.

Colours for the game
Brazil: yellow shirt, blue shorts, blue socks
Croatia: red and white shirt, white shorts, white socks

View the Germany 2006 match schedule

The players
While Brazil boast a squad full of big-name stars, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will be only too aware that opening matches tend to be problematic. Nerves will obviously play their part, but Parreira knows his side's task has been made harder by the quality of their first opponents. Croatia are currently blessed with a good mix of youth and experience, and are equally adept in both attack and defence. Igor Tudor is their defensive rock, and Dado Prso will be relied upon for goals. Meanwhile, the Kovac brothers (Robert and Niko) and right-sided midfielder Darijo Srna add further quality to the team.

How they qualified
If Brazil faced few problems in topping the South American qualifying table, then Croatia can also draw comfort from their own efforts at ensuring a trouble-free passage to the finals. They finished Group 8 of the European Zone in first place, relegating an excellent Sweden team to the play-offs in the process.

Past meetings
Brazil and Croatia have met just once since Croatia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. The clash came only recently as both teams played out a 1-1 draw in Split in August last year. However, Brazil and Yugoslavia have a longstanding FIFA World Cup rivalry dating back to the inaugural tournament hosted by Uruguay in 1930. Brazil lost 2-1 to their Yugoslavian opponents on that occasion but were able to get their revenge 20 years later on home turf courtesy of a 2-0 win. The teams met again in Switzerland in 1954 and in West Germany in 1974. Both matches were drawn, highlighting the equilibrium between the two teams, and perhaps giving us an insight into their forthcoming encounter.

Tournament history
Although only a young footballing nation - the Croatian Football Federation joined FIFA in 1992 - the Croats can already consider themselves as FIFA World Cup veterans. This summer will see them make their third consecutive finals appearance. Making their debut in 1998, Croatia enjoyed unprecedented success before crashing out to eventual champions and hosts France in the semi-finals. However, they recorded a shock 3-0 win over Germany in the previous round and finished the tournament in third place, after inflicting a 2-1 defeat on the Netherlands. Star striker Davor Suker scooped the adidas Golden Shoe award with six goals to his name. Croatia were unable to reproduce their fine form in 2002 though, failing to advance from their group.

Brazil's incredible FIFA World Cup history is well documented. The Seleção have played in every single tournament and have been triumphant a record five times: in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. They have also finished as runners-up twice: on home soil in 1950, and in France in 1998.

Key contest
The match-up between Roberto Carlos and Srna should make interesting viewing. Brazil's veteran left-back, perhaps better known for his attacking instincts and thunderous left-foot shot, is a constant menace for opposition defences. Croatia's main attacking threat, on the other hand, could come from their young right winger Srna. The fleet-footed wide man has a keen eye for goal, having scored five of Croatia's 21 goals in their qualifying campaign.

The coaches
Despite having masterminded Brazil's FIFA World Cup victory in 1994, Parreira previously had to endure criticism over his defensive tactics. However, his 2006 Brazil model is anything but defensive, with the veteran coach hoping to build the side's success around the attacking quartet of Kaka, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Adriano.

Since Croatia's golden generation departed from the international scene, coach Zlatko Kranjcar has been forced to modify Croatia's style of play. The team has now adopted a 3-4-1-2 formation, with three men in central defence, two defensive midfielders supported by two attacking wingers, and a traditional playmaker (Kranjcar's son Niko) operating in the hole behind the front pair.

 Morat ćemo si 13og zaradit taj nadimak kojeg smo preuzeli i s kojim novinari vole tepati - europski Brazil...

Ključna riječ čitavog članka - CLASH!    

U BOJ, U BOJ....

d, pa njihove rezerve i nisu bas rezerve, oni su kao AC Milan u prvoj polovici 90ih, drugi tim im je jak kao i prvi...