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Is Croatia Emerging as a World Cup Dark Horse?
Published: May 20, 2014
It’s time to find a new unlikely candidate to spoil the party for football’s big guns—and once you think about it, Croatia has a pretty strong claim to the position.
Last year, most people probably would have laughed off a suggestion that the Vatreni could make a deep run in Brazil, as the team limped through qualifiers and looked further past their peak with every game. Though they had some talented players, the boys in chequered shirts appeared ineffective up front and leaky at the back, with their tactical plan becoming increasingly incoherent.
But things have changed.
The arrival of Niko Kovac, Croatia’s former captain who replaced Igor Stimac at the helm of the national team, brought a sea change of atmosphere in and around the team. In one stroke, it injected the players, many of them Kovac’s former teammates, with a much-needed dose of confidence and cleared up any lingering uncertainty about how they are expected to play.
Of course, it’s far too early to tell how much the new gaffer can improve the team by the World Cup, as Croatia only played two competitive games against Iceland and one friendly with Switzerland under his guidance. But early signs are encouraging. Unlike his predecessor, Kovac has a plan and intends to stick to it. Right from the start, he has been adamant about playing in the 4-2-3-1 formation, insisting that it’s ideal for the players at his disposal.
Kovac also recognized the potential of combining the playmaking roles of his two best players...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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