Ante Kvartuč

Croatian Football Federation president Davor Šuker confirmed Sunday after the Greece draw in Piraeus that interim manager Zlatko Dalić will stay on as manager for the World Cup in Russia next summer. Dalić came on after the 1-1 draw with Finland in October and rallied Croatian troops to a must-win 2-0 result on the final day of qualifying versus Ukraine and a 4-1 … [Read more...] about Dalić To Stay On For World Cup

Croatia Starting XI: Subašić - Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinić - Rakitić, Brozović - Mandžukić, Modrić, Perišić - Kalinić Mission accomplished! Albeit a boring match, Croatia got out of Greece with no injuries, no cards and the result they needed to reach the World Cup in Russia next summer. The match ended 0-0 in Greece with Croatia's 4-1 first … [Read more...] about TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE—CROATIA HEADED TO 2018 WORLD CUP!!!

Thursday, we learned this group of Greek players are not the Greece of old. Not by a long shot. Greece gifted Croatia three goals in a 4-1 defeat at Maksimir with Vrsaljko's cross to Perišić the only score that did not come from a complete defensive blunder. Now Greece, a perennially defensive team, will need a minimum of three goals in Piraeus on Sunday to make … [Read more...] about Croatia vs. Greece: Round 2

Croatia have one foot in the World Cup door after their 4-1 spanking of Greece Thursday night in Zagreb. And if things hold the way they should, here is how the December 1st World Cup draw would look. ESPNFC has already calculated World Cup pots should all the "favorite" playoff teams win. As of now, and if Croatia progress, they would be put in Pot 3 in a … [Read more...] about Who Should Croatian Fans Be Rooting For?

CROATIA Starting XI vs. Greece: Subašić - Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinić - Rakitić, Brozović, Modrić - Perišić, Kramarić- Kalinić. Mandžukić on the bench with a thigh injury. Wow! Who saw that coming? Croatia will be in cruise control Sunday versus Greece, and barring a complete catastrophe in Piraeus, will be heading to Russia next summer. The Vatreni … [Read more...] about Goals Galore In Zagreb! Croatia Defeat Greece 4-1, Now 90 Minutes Away From World Cup In Russia

It is now official. Fiorentina midfielder Milan Badelj, who was slated to start against Greece, has been ruled out for both playoff games due to a thigh strain. With a midfield spot to fill, manager Zlatko Dalić should call up Inter Milan's Marcelo Brozović off the alternate list. Brozović returned to action last week for Inter after picking up a minor knock and has come off … [Read more...] about Croatia vs. Greece: Badelj Out, Mandza Okay

In one week's time, we will all know if Croatia will be headed to Russia or not. The Vatreni will take on Greece in a two-legged home-and-away playoff which begins with a 2:45PM (ET) kickoff this Thursday from Maksimir in Zagreb and the away leg on Sunday in Greece. But who should start for Croatia? Goalie Danijel Subašić was taken off for … [Read more...] about Croatia vs. Greece: Pick Your Poison!