(Football news) After winning in Turkey earlier in the process, Croatia has a psychological advantage over their opponent, even if the two teams are tied at 10 points apiece going into this international break.
Croatia is currently leading Group D and has not lost any of their six attempts to qualify for the European Championship, despite having played one less game than their competitors for qualifying because they were present at the UEFA Nations League finals this summer.
Croatia is currently leading Group D and has not lost any of their six attempts to qualify for the European Championship, despite having played one less game than their competitors for qualifying because they were present at the UEFA Nations League finals this summer.
Zlatko Dalic’s team, runners-up in the 2018 World Cup and, more recently, finalists in the Nations League, want to burst through the glass ceiling and win in Germany the following year, right before some of its more well-known players eventually retire from the game.
Although Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic may be nearing the end of their careers, Mateo Kovacic, another Croatian “untouchable,” scored twice for Manchester City in their 2-0 victory over Turkey on the road in March. Despite this, their opponents that day still represent a threat in a packed Group D.
The only teams completely out of it are meaningless Latvia, although Wales and Armenia both have seven points from five games and might strike if any of Croatia or Turkey makes a mistake this month or the next.
The Kockasti will finish their campaign against Latvia and Armenia in November, but first they must overcome a difficult journey to Cardiff this week in order to keep their three-point lead inside the group’s crucial top two.
First up, though, is FIFA’s sixth-ranked country, which is hosting co-leaders Turkey after the three teams’ previous matches in Croatia ended in draws.
On September 27, 2023, following his unveiling, new Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella poses with a shirt from the national team.
Vincenzo Montella, the former manager of Fiorentina and Italy striker, will undoubtedly face a baptism of fire in his first game as manager of Turkey when his club travels to Osijek this week. Montella previously coached Adana Demirspor.
Following back-to-back victories over Latvia and Wales that had set his team in first place for Euro 2024 qualification, Kuntz was fired after his team drew 1-1 with longtime rivals Armenia and then lost 4-2 to Japan in a friendly match.
After failing to qualify for the World Cup for the previous 20 years and hardly making an impression on the European Championship finals since an incredible run to the semifinals in 2008, Turkey is now looking to finally prove they belong.
On the other hand, facing Croatia at home presents one of the toughest challenges to a team’s resolve; they have won 13 of their previous 15 home European qualifiers.
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