September 9, 2019 - The Croatia national team met Azerbaijan in Baku on Monday for the 6th round of the EURO 2020 qualifications.

After a critical victory against Slovakia on Friday, Croatia came to Baku for their second crucial match in three days. Zlatko Dalic's side faced an Azerbaijan squad led by Croatian Nikola Jurcevic. Before the match on Monday, Croatia had so far played Azerbaijan three times, registering two wins and one draw with a goal difference of 8:1.

The game on Monday was also unique for another reason - captain Luka Modric celebrated his 34th birthday. 

Croatia came out playing the same attacking game coach Zlatko Dalic favored in the game against Slovakia - and by the third minute, it wasn’t hard to see that Croatia would be giving Azerbaijan’s defense no easy job. After a few attacks which resulted in no goals, the ref whistled to the penalty spot after a handball by an Azerbaijani defender. Luka stepped up to the challenge and scored for 0:1 Croatia in the 11th minute. 

Azerbaijan’s keeper was brilliant in the minutes that followed - blocking chances from Perisic, Rebic and Vlasic to keep the game 0:1. 

Azerbaijan had their first real chance in the 17th minute, forcing Livakovic to make a stellar save - though the ref called the player offside in the end. 

Nikola Vlasic, who opened the scoring spree against Slovakia, dangerously shot from outside the penalty box, which forced the keeper to make a difficult save. 

By the 26th minute, Croatia had 60 percent of the ball possession, with eight shots on goal.

Azerbaijan had an almost alarming counter-attack in the 32nd minute which was ultimately saved by Livakovic’s leg - and in the 37th minute, Azerbaijan hit over the goal. 

A dance around the defense by Ante Rebic found the foot of Nikola Vlasic in the 41st, who hit another stunner from outside the penalty area, though the game remained 0:1. 

A free-kick by Perisic in the 44th went just over the goal, and an offside goal by Azerbaijan ended the game 0:1 for Croatia at the half. 

Azerbaijan had their first corner of the game in the 54th minute, which was cleared by Croatia's defense. Croatia's kept the forceful attacking game from the first half at the start, though Azerbaijan's defense was making it more difficult for Perisic, Petkovic, Vlasic, and Rebic. Dalic's side needed a new burst of energy to carry them through the half. 

Azerbaijan picked up the pace considerably in the second half, giving Croatia's defense more work in the first 15 minutes of it than they had all of the first. Petkovic had a chance in the 61st minute that hit just shy of the goal, and Croatia continued hunting for their second goal. 

In the 66th minute, Croatia was lucky another Azerbaijan goal was called offside to keep the result in Croatia's favor; however, that didn't last long. In the 72nd minute, Tamkin Khalilza dribbled through Croatia's defense to equalize for Azerbaijan 1:1. 

Dalic brought young blood Brekalo on for Bartolec in the 76th minute in the hope of some momentum, though Azerbaijan kept on pressing. Orsic came on for Rebic in the 86th. Croatia's energy continued to dwindle.

Croatia had a corner in the 89th minute, though Vida hit over. Four minutes of extra time were added, though neither team was able to score. The game ended 1:1. 

Croatia's next Euro qualifier will be the decisive match against Hungary at Poljud stadium in Split on October 10, 2019.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

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 Croatia national football team begins their qualifications for Euro 2020 on Thursday. Zlatko Dalić gathered the team on Monday and spoke to the media about the changes he’ll have to make in the starting lineup, reports Gol.hr on March 18, 2019. 

The Croatia national team awaits their first qualifiers for Euro 2020 on Thursday and Sunday. Croatia's opening match against Azerbaijan is at Maksimir, while the following qualifier is in Budapest against Hungary.

Coach Zlatko Dalić has already had to make some changes to his initial list. Due to the injuries of Marko Pjaca and Tin Jedvaj, Dalić has activated backup players Bruno Petković from Dinamo and Karlo Bartolec of Danish club Nordsjaelland.

"There are a couple of things you already know: we have activated backup players Petković and Bartolec. Pjaca had an operation, and I wish him luck to return to the national team. Bartolec has been called up because we have a problem with Jedvaj, we'll see how it is today, but he probably will not be ready. Today there will be regenerative training because the guys played over the weekend, and two days of preparation for Azerbaijan. I again invite fans to support us, ahead of us are two tough games,” the coach said at the beginning of the press conference.

The biggest concern for Dalić is the defense, which is quite weakened compared to the World Cup.

"I'm constantly saying that I will not talk about the problems or look at the negatives, if we talk about who we are missing, we'll go in the wrong direction and look for an alibi. We don’t have it. I accept that we do not have it. Only Vida is available from the World Cup in the defence. Rebić was injured, Brozović has problems, but I believe I have the alternatives, and I think we can agree on a good team. The biggest problem is the defense; they have not played together long."

There is also a problem with Croatia's first goalkeeper, as Lovre Kalinić has not defended Aston Villa's goal for some time. 

"I said I do not like to change much, especially the goalkeepers, but in the last five games Kalinić did not defend, he had an injury, and Livaković has been constant and defended well in Europe.”

What about Jedvaj’s injury and Kramarić’s form?

‘’Jedvaj was injured last week from the snow-covered terrain, the club thought that he would be okay, but over the weekend he felt pain again. If it is a problem and a risk, we will not force it. And Krama is regularly scoring, is maybe in the best form of all the players who play forward. It makes me happy, and it will be good for us.”

How will Dalić play Croatia in these qualifications?

"We definitely have to change the style of the game since the World Cup. We are no longer in a position against Argentina, England, or France, to wait for the situation and need counter-attacks and semi-counter attacks, which we have perfected to the maximum. Now we are the favorite and we have to possess the ball. In that possession, we have to be serious and secure. The most dangerous situation will be when we lose the ball, then it is imperative that we quickly get the ball back. I've been thinking a lot about it. We have to be very patient when we are in possession. I said tiki-taka is out of fashion, but we're going to be forced to do it, keep the ball and possess it, but look for more vertical passes.”

Azerbaijan will probably come out with a dense block. Is Bartolec an option or will it be an experiment like Rog against Spain (right back)?

"We will try this option, and we have to find solutions. They have two fast players up top and the Brazilian Almeida who is good at finishing. But there are solutions; I have an idea and a vision, Bartolec is one of those ideas."

Does Dalicć see Bruno Petković in his plans?

"Petković is a type of player we do not currently have; he is good at the 16, he has a good jump and knows how to keep the ball. This type of player may be needed against such teams."

And thoughts on Azerbaijan?

"Nikola Jurčević has invited several new players, five of them are playing outside of Azerbaijan, and the others are from two or three clubs from their domestic league. They know each other and have a constant. The Brazilian Almeida is a creative midfielder, a lot of things go from him, and they have two quick players up top. Their striker who plays in Russia has scored three goals in the last three matches; it's not a team to underestimate. I expect a full Maksimir. After the World Cup fans could enjoy Dinamo's autumn, and I hope that this synergy will continue. We need to go through these qualifications elegantly, but if we do not get serious, we will have problems,” Dalić concluded. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.