National Teams

The Vatreni remain top of the group

Three goals, three
points: A beautiful
Croatian night in
Split

10.10.2019.
Three goals, three points: A beautiful Croatian night in Split
photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
  • Match report
  • Match Centre
  • Preview
  • Gallery

Croatia national football team defeated Hungary 3:0 in Split, making another important step on the road towards EURO 2020.

CROATIA - HUNGARY 3:0 (3:0)
EURO 2020 qualifying, Group E.
Poljud Stadium, Split.

Referee: D. Orsato (Italy)

Goals: 1:0 - Modrić (5'), 2:0 - Petković (24'), 3:0 - Petković (42')

Cautions: Kleinheisler (18'), D. Vida (31'), Brozović (45'), Lovrencsics (82')

Sent off: Kleinheisler (56')

Croatia: Livaković, Barišić, D. Vida, Lovren, Jedvaj, Brozović, Modrić (67' Kovačić), Perišić (60' Brekalo), Rakitić (74' Vlašić), Rebić, Petković. Head coach: Z. Dalić.

Hungary: Gulacsi, Kadar (46' Lang), Orban, Korhut, Lovrencsics, M. Vida, Kleinheisler, Sallai (76' Varga), Holman, Dzsudzsak (60' Nagy), Szalai. Head coach: M. Rossi.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

In its sixth Group E outing, Croatia secured a fourth victory, responding to the Hungarian win in Budapest this March (2:1) and remaining top of the group with two more matches to go.

Following the opening efforts by Modrić and Perišić, Croatia captain managed to steal the ball in midfield and then beat the Hungarian goalkeeper in one-on-one situation.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

On 24 minutes, Rebić found Petković with a low cross, and Croatia striker reacted briliantly with a cheeky backheel to double the hosts' lead.

Gulacsi intervened on 40 minutes, when Petković tried from close range, but No. 20 made amends two minutes later, converting Perišić's cross from the right to make it 3:0 at halftime.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Ten minutes after the restart, Rebić was fouled in the box, but Perišić's strike from the spot was saved by Gulacsi. Soon afterwards, Kleinheisler was sent off due to a second bookable offense.

Zlatko Dalić's men were comfortably cruising towards the final whistle, with Rebić coming close to a fourth goal, but the final score remained 3:0.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Simultaneously, Slovakia and Wales shared the spoils (1:1), while Croatia visits Wales on Sunday in Cardiff.

EURO 2020 qualifying, Group E:
1. Croatia 13 (6)
2. Slovakia 10 (6)
3. Hungary 9 (6)
4. Wales 7 (5)
5. Azerbaijan 1 (5)

10.10.2019., Poljud, Split. Spectators: 32110
Referees: Daniele Orsato (ITA), Lorenzo Manganelli (ITA), Fabiano Preti (ITA)
Fourth referee: Davide Massa (ITA)
Croatia
3
Hungary
0
1Dominik Livaković1Peter Gulacsi
10Luka Modrić
5'
67'		7Balazs Dzsudzsak
60'
6Dejan Lovren9Adam Szalai
7Ivan Rakitić
74'		4Tamás Kádár
46'
4Ivan Perišić
60'		3Mihaly Korhut
21Domagoj Vida
31'		15Laszlo Kleinheisler
18'
56'
18Ante Rebić19Dávid Holman
11Marcelo Brozović
45'		6Willi Orban
16Tin Jedvaj14Gergő Lovrencsics
82'
20Bruno Petković
24'
42'		8Máté Vida
3Borna Barišić20Roland Sallai
76'
Bench
12Lovre Kalinić22Adam Kovacsik
23Simon Sluga12Denes Dibusz
19Milan Badelj21Róbert Feczesin
14Mile Škorić11Krisztian Nemeth
8Mateo Kovačić
67'		17Roland Varga
76'
9Mislav Oršić10Istvan Kovacs
15Mario Pašalić16Endre Botka
5Dino Perić5János Ferenczi
17Josip Brekalo
60'		13Dávid Sigér
13Nikola Vlašić
74'		2Ádám Lang
46'
22Karlo Bartolec18Dominik Nagy
60'
2Dario Melnjak23Filip Holender
Coaches
Dalić ZlatkoRossi Marco

As the national team meets in Split, Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić held a press conference regarding the upcoming EURO 2020 qualifiers with Hungary and Wales.

"It is crucial that Croatia does not depend on other results. We need five or six more points to reach EURO 2020, and we proceed step by step. Hungary is definitely a confident, motivated team, but if Croatia repeats the performance from Slovakia, we should prevail. We have to find a way to breach their defence and remain careful during their set-pieces. Moreover, Croatia will use 15 or 16 players during this international break, because Wales will also be a tough challenge. We have enough options and need to make right decisions"

"I am happy to have Rakitić back, Vlašić is in top form, and captain Modrić has recovered from injured and scored a spectacular goal to boost his confidence. All the players give their best for the national team, even when they lack the optimal rhythm. We have to believe in ourselves, in our work, in our unity, and in a positive outcome, just like we did at the World Cup. I expect great support in Split - the tickets would have been sold out for a 100,000-seat stadium - as well as an interesting encounter and Croatia's victory"

 

galleryimg2
foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
scrollscroll
  • galleryimg2
  • galleryimg3
  • galleryimg4
  • galleryimg5
  • galleryimg6
  • galleryimg7
  • galleryimg8
  • galleryimg9
  • galleryimg10
  • galleryimg11
  • galleryimg12
  • galleryimg13
  • galleryimg14
  • galleryimg15
  • galleryimg16
  • galleryimg17