National Teams

Two goals as South Americans celebrate

Peru overcomes
Croatia in Miami

24.03.2018.
Peru overcomes Croatia in Miami
photo by: Hard Rock Stadium
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In its first match of 2018, Croatia national football team faced Peru in an international friendly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, succumbing to a 2:0 defeat.

PERU - CROATIA 2:0 (1:0)
International friendly.
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA.

Referee: I. Elfath (USA)

Goals: 1:0 - Carrillo (12'), 2:0 - Flores (48')

Cautions: Cueva (27'), Brozović (29'), Yotun (56'), Vrsaljko (76')

Sent off: Yotun (75')

Peru: Caceda, Trauco, Santamaria, Advincula, Ramos (72' Araujo), Tapia (84' Pena), Cueva (64' Benavente), Yotun, Flores (67' Hurtado), Carrillo (77' Aquino), Farfan (88' Ruidiaz). Head coach: R. Gareca.

Croatia: Subašić, Strinić, Ćorluka, Vida, Vrsaljko, Brozović (56' Kovačić), Rakitić, Modrić, Perišić (77' Rebić), Mandžukić (72' Pjaca), N. Kalinić (64' Kramarić). Head coach: Z. Dalić.

The Vatreni have started this year's US Tour with an clash against Peru at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, in the first Croatia's match with this South American nation, another FIFA World Cup participant. Both teams have therefore wanted to test their abilities three months before the tournament in Russia.

Moreover, Zlatko Dalić's men have presented the new kit, but Ricardo Gareca's men had more to celebrated on the final whistle, winning by a two-goal margin.

The opening goal came on 12 minutes, when Carrillo punished Croatia's defensive mistake - his deflected shot ended up behind Subašić's back. Rakitić responded with a free kick, but there was no change to the scoreline in the first half.

After the break, Peru performed very well and was rewarded on 48 minutes. Farfan ran in the box and found Flores, who scored from close range to confirm the 2:0 victory.

Farfan and Flores had further opportunities to do Croatia more damage, while Croatia threatened in the closing minutes, following Yotun's sending off.

Kramarić tried on three occasions, but Peru goalie Caceda produced quality saves, while Vrsaljko and Modrić also came close.

Croatia now travels to Dallas, to face Mexico in another friendly, on 27 March.

23.03.2018., , Miami. Spectators: 46893
Referees: Ismael Elfath, SAD, CJ Morgante, USA, Adam Wienckowski, USA
Fourth referee: Ted Unkel, USA
Peru
2
Croatia
0
12Carlos Caceda23Danijel Subašić
4Anderson Santamaria2Šime Vrsaljko
77'
6Miguel Trauco3Ivan Strinić
8Christian Cueva
27'
4Ivan Perišić
77'
10Jefferson Farfan
88'
5Vedran Ćorluka
13Renato Tapia
84'
7Ivan Rakitić
15Christian Ramos
72'
10Luka Modrić
17Luis Advincula11Marcelo Brozović
29'
56'
18Andre Carrillo
12'
78'
16Nikola Kalinić
64'
19Yoshimar Yotun
56'
17Mario Mandžukić
71'
20Edison Flores
48'
67'
21Domagoj Vida
Bench
1Alejandro Duarte1Dominik Livaković
21Jose Carvallo12Lovre Kalinić
2Alberto Rodriguez8Mateo Kovačić
56'
3Aldo Corzo9Andrej Kramarić
64'
5Miguel Araujo
72'
13Tin Jedvaj
7Paolo Hurtado
67'
14Duje Čop
11Raul Ruidiaz
88'
15Marko Rog
14Andy Polo18Ante Rebić
77'
16Sergio Pena
84'
19Milan Badelj
22Nilson Loyola20Marko Pjaca
71'
23Pedro Aquino
78'
22Josip Pivarić
24Cristian Benavente24Filip Bradarić
25Luis Abram25Zoran Nižić
26Roberto Suicho26Mario Pašalić
27Luiz Da Silva
Coaches
Ricardo GarecaZlatko Dalić

On Thursday, Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić and captain Luka Modrić held a press conference regarding the upcoming friendly international with Peru in Miami.

Croatia national football team awaits the first, historic clash with Peru, scheduled for Friday, 23 March at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, in a preparation match for the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

"We'll play against Peru as we did in the three previous matches, in the 4-2-3-1 formation. I have thought about an alternative, but we do not have much time for experiments. However, it is good that we are here in the USA playing Latin American teams. I have asked for strong opponents and I got them. I hope these two matches in the USA will be a positive experience for Croatia", says Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić.

"We want to test our strength against World Cup teams similar to Argentine, one of the favourites for the trophy. Peru conceded only seven times in 2017, playing solid defence, and I am well aware of Farfan's quality. I would like to face them in the World Cup second round, why not", he added.

"Croatia's main objective is to prepare our own game and give an opportunity to all the players. Our performance is the key, and a win against Peru would be an important boost to our confidence. We have excellent players from the best European clubs - I took over in a difficult situation, and now we want to fulfill our dreams, aiming to reach the second round as the first step. I completely trust my players, getting feedback from them. Croatia is a small country, with great expectations in football", Dalić concluded.

Croatia captain Luka Modrić enjoyed watching Peru's celebrations upon securing FIFA World Cup berth.

"Peru are extremely good in aggression, pace, being a compact team with several dangerous individual. Farfan is fit, and Guerrero is probably their best player. I like Peru, a team that shows unity, and we expect a tough match against a quality representative of South American football. It will be a good test for Argentina encounter in Russia. I hope we can fulfill our coaching staff's requirements and achieve a positive result - we respect Peru, but we want to win in every match. There's no pressure, however, we strive for a quality performance, with a win only to make things perfect", says Modrić.

"Croatia has to stay true to its style. We possess quality and have to present it on the pitch. Of course, there are things we can improve through hard work, we want to develop with every match played. As we dream of repeating France '98, our objective is to progress from the group and play step by step. We've grown as a team, we also enjoy unity, and in the previous matches we have fans' support. We need that, as only together we can achieve something. Moreover, we are more experienced and stronger than in 2014", he continued.

"I am glad we came to the US, so we can be closer to our North American fans. They always support us, and that means a lot to us. Let them continue, and we will give our best on the pitch, to present Croatia in the best possible light - against Peru and Mexico, and at the FIFA World Cup", emphasized the captain.