National Teams

Road to Russia continues

Kramarić brace
secures Croatia
play-off spot

09.10.2017.
Kramarić brace secures Croatia play-off spot
photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
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Croatia national football team makes it to the 2018 FIFA World Cup play-offs following the 2:0 victory in Ukraine.

UKRAINE - CROATIA 0:2 (0:0)
2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group I.
Olympic NSC, Kiev.

Referee: F. Brych (Germany)

Goals: 0:1 - Kramarić (62'), 0:2 - Kramarić (70')

Cautions: Stepanenko (60'), Rotan (64')

Ukraine: Pyatov, Matviyenko, Khacheridi, Rakitskiy, Karavaev, Stepanenko, Rotan (69' Sydorchuk), Konoplyanka, Marlos (78' Besedin), Yarmolenko, Garmash (66' Kovalenko). Head coach: A. Shevchenko.

Croatia: Subašić, Vrsaljko (85' Pivarić), Mitrović, Lovren, Vida, Badelj, Modrić, Rakitić, Perišić, Kramarić (88' Pašalić), Mandžukić (90' Rog). Head coach: Z. Dalić.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

The Vatreni have completed Group I competition with a victory at Olympic NSC in Kiev against the Ukrainian hosts, securing the runner-up position and a play-off spot.

Led by the new head coach, Zlatko Dalić, Croatia was once again troubled by injuries. Ćorluka, Kovačić, N. Kalinić, Brozović, Pjaca, Jedvaj, and Barišić were all unavailable, while Mandžukić and Lovren managed to recover.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

In the opening minute, Mandžukić was close with a header, as was Vida with a long-distance effort on 17 minutes. However, Ukraine then took the initiative and threatened Subašić through Rakitskiy, Stepanenko, and Konoplyanka efforts. 

It was still goalless at the break, but Croatia was in control in the second half. On 62 minutes, captain Modrić's cross found Kramarić, whose header beats Pyatov to give visitors the lead.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Just eight minutes later, Vrsaljko's long ball to Rakitić was distributed by Barcelona midfielder to Kramarić at the far post, and Croatia striker was cold-blooded to double the advantage.

Zlatko Dalić's men calmly kept the 2:0 lead to win all three points. Celebrating the win, they expect the play-off draw on Tuesday, 17 October. 

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Courtesy of a home win over Kosovo (2:0), Iceland remained at the top spot and will play at the World Cup in Russia. Finland and Turkey shared the spoils (2:2).

2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group I:
1. Iceland 22
2. Croatia 20
3. Ukraine 17
4. Turkey 15
5. Finland 9
6. Kosovo 1

09.10.2017., Natiolal Sports Complex Olympiysky, Kiev. Spectators: 60200
Referees: Felix Brych (GER), Mark Borsch (GER), Stefan Lupp (GER)
Fourth referee: Bastian Dankert (GER)
Ukraine
0
Croatia
2
12Andriy Pyatov23Danijel Subašić
3Yevgen Khacheridi9Andrej Kramarić
62'
70'
88'
4Mykola Matviienko7Ivan Rakitić
6Taras Stepanenko
60'
10Luka Modrić
7Andrii Iarmolenko2Šime Vrsaljko
86'
9Oleksandr Karavaiev5Matej Mitrović
10Yevhen Konoplyanka4Ivan Perišić
11Marlos Romero Bonfim
78'
17Mario Mandžukić
90'
14Ruslan Rotan
64'
69'
6Dejan Lovren
19Denys Garmash
66'
19Milan Badelj
20Yaroslav Rakits'kyy21Domagoj Vida
Bench
1Andrii Lunin1Dominik Livaković
23Maksym Koval12Lovre Kalinić
16Sergii Sydorchuk
69'
20Mario Pašalić
88'
18Artem Biesiedin
78'
22Josip Pivarić
86'
22Viktor Kovalenko
66'
15Marko Rog
90'
2Eduard Sobol3Antonio Milić
5Oleksandr Kucher18Filip Bradarić
8Ruslan Malinovskyi16Duje Ćaleta-Car
13Volodymyr Shepeliev8Ivan Santini
15Vitaliy Buialskyi14Duje Čop
17Oleksandr Zinchenko13Zoran Nižić
21Igor Perduta
Coaches
Andriy ShevchenkoZlatko Dalić

Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić and international defender Domagoj Vida held a press conference on the eve of Ukraine clash in Kiev.

On Monday, Ukraine and Croatia decide their fate in European Qualifiers, with both teams requiring a win to guarantee them at least a play-off spot.

"This is the biggest and most important match of my career and I am read. I could never refuse Croatia and I was proud to accept the offer. I know this will be a tough challenge, but my players have the capability to succeed. Being national team head coach is the most difficult job in Croatia, the expectations are great, but the circumstances are not pretty. There's no time for practice or analysis and we try to find the best solution, I want to give my players confidence and faith", says new Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić. 

"In Kiev, we have to play tough and present our quality. If we start to do the math, we'll lose everything. The players are aware of the situation, they were cruising towards the World Cup and now everything is doubtful, but they accept resposibility and want to correct their mistakes. There will be no major tactical changes, even though I shall switch some players' positions. However, Croatia will stay true to its style, with full respect to Ukraine and their manager who breaths new life in their team", he added.

Croatia defender Domagoj Vida does not hide the importance of the match and the desire to make things right.

"A turbulent period is behind us. We'll listen to our new head coach, and we have to forget everything that was happening in the previous days and months. We need to to win, this is like a final to us.  Ukraine became my home away from home, but I need to put aside any emotion and proudly wear my Croatia jersey once again. I love Kiev, and I know Ukraine will have full crowd's support, but this will be additional motivation for us"

"Ukraine has a quality team, especially with Yarmolenko and Konoplyanka on the wings, and now with excellent Marlos, but if we manage to help each other, we can stop them all and keep a clean sheet. If Croatia performs at the maximum level, we have a chance to be the happier side at the final whistle. We do not know how to calculate or play for a draw. We'll go for the win, that the only way", concluded Vida.

 

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foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
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