Having looked at Brazil and Cameroon over the last couple of days, we turn our attentions to Croatia. Niko Kovac’s side get the tournament underway against the hosts on Thursday June 12 at 9pm, then square up to Cameroon six days later at 11pm before going head-to-head with their final opponents, Mexico at 9pm on Monday June 23.
Road to Qualification
Croatia’s qualifying campaign got off to a great start, with five wins in the first six, but they ultimately finished nine points behind Belgium in Group A after picking up a single point in their final four fixtures. Over the course of 10 matches, they scored just 12 times and conceded nine goals before parting company with Igor Stimac – Kovac was appointed in time for the play-offs against Iceland and led his country to a 2-0 aggregate win. They have since played a friendly away to Switzerland and drew 2-2 back in March this year.
Listed below are Croatia’s most regular performers over the qualifying stages, with play-off appearances also factored in.
Most Starts Stipe Pletikosa, Mario Mandzukic (12), Luka Modric, Darijo Srna (11), Ivan Rakitic (10), Vedran Corluka, Josip Simunic, Ivan Strinic (9)
Most Goals Mario Mandzukic (4), Eduardo (2)
Most Assists Darijo Srna, Ivica Olic, Ivan Perisic (2)
The Key Targets
There’s no doubt that Sevilla’s Ivan Rakitic (5.6 in FantasyiTeam) approaches the tournament in outstanding form. The midfielder has delivered 12 goals and 10 assists for his side in La Liga this season and with set-piece duties also boosting his appeal, he is set play a pivotal role in Croatia’s chances of making the knockout stages. Together with Luka Modric, Rakitic will form a central midfield pairing, bristling with creative talent at the hub of Kovac’s system, prompting their side’s counter-attacking style.
At the back, Josip Simunic misses the tournament altogether, due to suspension with Dejan Lovren likely to partner Vedran Corluka (5.4 and 5.2 in FantasyiTeam) at the heart of defence. Darijo Srna still looks the best bet, though – coming in at 5.8 in FantasyiTeam, he grabbed a goal and a pair of assists during qualification, whilst Corluka and Lovren also notched one apiece. The left-back situation is unclear with Danijel Pranjic and Ivan Strinic vying for the role.
The only outfield player to feature in all 12 of those matches, Mario Mandzukic’s Fantasy prospects are dented by the fact that he is suspended for the Group A opener against Brazil. The Bayern forward (priced at 9.2 in FantasyiTeam) is available for the two remaining matches, though, and with a security of starts guaranteed, will be desperate to miss up for lost time against Mexico and Cameroon.
The Long Shots
Most Fantasy managers eyeing up Croatia’s frontline will be more inclined to gravitate towards Mandzukic – potentially leaving Ivica Olic as a differential. Having served up 14 goals and five assists for Wolfsburg, he finished the 2013/14 Bundesliga season as tenth top scorer. Olic’s team-mate Ivan Perisic also hit double-figures in 2013/14, producing 10 goals and four assists and is another under the radar option. Those two come at at 8.2 and 5.9 respectively in FantasyiTeam.
Young Mateo Kovacic could be an option, if he can nail down a starting berth. Certainly, with Modric and Rakitic as assured starters in the double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1, the versatile 20-year-old could be shifted to the role in “the hole†behind a lone forward – Inter Milan team-mate Javier Zanetti has recently claimed that, with the exception of Brazil’s Ronaldo, Kovacic is the most impressive youngster he has ever seen in his 19 years at the club. At 5.5, in FantasyiTeam, he’s likely to struggle for investment, given Raktic’s similar price.
Further Analysis
Fantasy iTeam
Fantasy Football Scout is supporting Fantasy iTeam, a free World Cup game available on a number of mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPodTouch and Android. There’s a £5000 holiday to be won for the overall winner and a £500 voucher available for the winner of our official Fantasy Football Scout League.
Click here for details and here to sign up.
Our League name is Fantasy Football Scout and the pin is 4915.
Community Articles
If you fancy a bit more reading, Scouting the Group Stages – Group A by Asquishypotato and Fantasy World Cup Differentials, by Etihad Engineer are amongst some of the first Community Section articles to cast an eye over these options.
