March 21, 2019 - Croatia and Azerbaijan met on Thursday at Maksimir stadium in Zagreb to kick off their Euro 2020 qualifiers. On Sunday, Croatia will visit Hungary in Budapest.
The national teams of Croatia and Azerbaijan met at 20:45 to begin the road to the Euros in 2020. Over 23,000 fans attended the first qualifier at Maksimir. Croatia’s qualifying group includes Azerbaijan, Hungary, Wales, and Slovakia.
Coach Zlatko Dalić was unable to count on more than a few key players for the match, and notably World Cup defenders Šime Vrsaljko, Ivan Strinić, and Dejan Lovren who is serving a one-game suspension. Dalić’s composition looked different than we've seen in a while. While Lovre Kalinić is the new standard in goal, the defense was composed of Domagoj Vida, Borna Barišić, Duje Ćaleta-Car, and Josip Brekalo. Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, and Ivan Rakitić made up the midfield, with Perišić and Kramarić on the wings and Dinamo star Bruno Petković up top in his debut for the national team.
Croatia had possession of the game from the start, with no real threat from Azerbaijan even in the first ten minutes. Croatia's first chance of the game was already in the first minute of play, though Kramarić was unable to capitalize off a cross from Barišić. Petković had a chance in the 11th minute but struck wide of the goal.
Azerbaijan had a counter-attack in the 12th minute with a player nearly one-on-one with Kalinić, though a brilliant save kept the game 0:0. Moments later, Rakitić was fouled outside the penalty area in the 15th minute, giving Croatia a free-kick. Rakitić stepped up and hit over the crossbar.
Azerbaijan capitalized on a counter in the 19th minute. Sheydaev beat Ćaleta-Car to score for 0:1. Modrić shot from outside the box in the 26th but hit wide. Croatia's next chance came in the 32nd minute though Rakitić lofted the ball over the post. Petković was fouled in the penalty area moments late - the crowd screamed for a penalty, but the referee wasn't so forgiving. The game went on.
Kramarić nearly scored off a header from a corner in the 35th, but Azerbaijan's brilliant defense kept them in the lead. Croatia was pressing but continued to be unlucky.
A Barišić cross found the head of Modrić in the 40th, but even Luka's incredible effort was not enough for a goal. And then it happened - Barišić scored for Croatia in the 43rd! The game was 1:1 at the half.
Croatia's first chance of the second half came in the 46th minute. A Luka Modrić free kick found the head of Ćaleta-Car, though it went over the crossbar. Kramarić shot a minute later though it was saved by the Azerbaijan keeper. A brilliant cross by Brekalo came in the 49th minute which saw Petković collide with the keeper.
Another Luka Modrić free kick in the 55th minute almost nailed the far post, but the Azerbaijan keeper flicked it over the goal for a corner. Brekalo shot in the 60th but hit wide. Rakitić struck a rocket in the 63rd but also missed. Croatia did not lack chances - or free kicks.
Croatia had chance after chance from the 70th minute, forcing the Azerbaijan keeper to make save after save. But then it finally came in the 78th minute - Andrej Kramarić scored for 2:1!
And another chance came from a free kick in the 86th. Modrić hit a through ball to Perišić, but he missed the goal entirely. Azerbaijan pressed in the final minutes of the game and was given a corner in added time, but they weren't able to do much.
The game ended 2:1 for Croatia. The national team will play Hungary next on Sunday.
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