1800-WorldCup.com - Croatia at Germany 2006

Index: World Cup Finals: Germany 2006: Teams: Croatia

Croatia in the World Cup Finals

Croatia qualified for the 2006 World Cup Finals on October 8th, 2005.

World Cup Appearances:
Germany 2006 is Croatia's 3rd appearance at the World Cup Finals.

Best World Cup Performance:
Third in France 98.

Croatia World Cup Preparations

Croatia Team Hotel

Dorint Bad Brueckenau:
Heinrich Von Bibra Str 13, Bad Brueckenau.
The Croatia World Cup team have chosen to stay in the Dorint Bad Brückenau; the historical summer residence of Ludwig I of Bayern (1819-1848). The hotel, located 70km from Würzburg and 110km from Frankfurt am Main, is set in a beautiful park.

The German World Cup organisers are expecting up to 30,000 Croatian guests in Bad Brückenau during the Finals and will be setting up a large screen for the fans.

Croatia Friendly Matches

Beat Argentina (3:2), Wednesday 1st March. (Basle)
Ivan Klasnic (3), Darijo Srna (52), Dario Simic (90).

Beat Austria (4:1), Tuesday 23rd May. (Vienna)
Croatia Cruise into Gear.

Drew with Iran (2:2), Sunday 28th May. (Osijek)
Dado Prso (32), Marko Babic (90pen).

Lost to Poland (0:1), Saturday 3rd June. (Wolfsburg)

Lost to Spain (1:2), Wednesday 7th June. (Geneva)
Ibanez Pablo (own goal, 14).

Croatia in the 2006 World Cup

Group F

Brazil vs Croatia in Berlin:
Croatia upped their offensive strategy after the hour, caught Brazil napping a few times but wasted their chances by firing straight at Dida.

Japan vs Croatia in Nürnberg:
After defeats in the opening game, both Japan and Croatia seemed reluctant to take any early risks. Croatia missed a penalty and hit the crossbar, otherwise they were just as dismal as Japan.

Croatia vs Australia in Stuttgart:
Croatia twice took the lead, in this crucial runner-up deciding match, but after Australia levelled for the second time they fell apart disciplinarily; as is often the case when the stakes are high.

Knockout Stage

Croatia failed to qualify for the Second Round.

Croatia World Cup Squad 2006

Vatreni (Fiery)

Goalkeepers:

1 Stipe Pletikosa (Hajduk Split)
12 Joe Didulica (Austria Vienna)
Tomislav Butina (Club Bruges, Belgium)

Defenders:

3 Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin, Germany)
4 Robert Kovac (Juventus, Italy)
5 Igor Tudor (Siena, Italy)
7 Dario Simic (AC Milan, Italy)
11 Mario Tokic (Austria Vienna)
13 Stjepan Tomas (Galatasaray, Turkey)

Midfielders:

2 Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine)
6 Jurica Vranjes (Werder Bremen, Germany)
8 Marko Babic (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
10 Niko Kovac (Hertha Berlin, Germany)
14 Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb)
15 Ivan Leko (Club Bruges, Belgium)
16 Jerko Leko (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine)
19 Niko Kranjcar (Hajduk Split)
20 Anthony Seric (Panathinaikos, Greece)

Forwards:

9 Dado Prso (Rangers, Scotland)
17 Ivan Klasnic (Werder Bremen, Germany)
21 Bosko Balaban (Club Bruges, Belgium)
18 Ivica Olic (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
22 Ivan Bosnjak (Dinamo Zagreb)

Trainer:
Zlatko Kranjcar.

Players to watch:
2 Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine)
9 Dado Prso (Rangers, Scotland)
17 Ivan Klasnic (Werder Bremen, Germany)

Destination Croatia

Croatia Travel Notes:
Find out more about Croatia @ Travel Notes.