The Group D of the Euro 2024 Qualifiers promises to be a thrilling and competitive battle between some of Europe’s top football nations. The five teams comprising Group D are Wales, Croatia, Armenia, Latvia, and Turkey.
The Croatian team, in particular, is expected to be a strong contender for the top spot. They are known for their discipline and professional sportsmanship, which gives them an edge over other teams. With Luka Modric at the helm, it’s wise to bet on this positive Croatian spirit. Still, fans who prefer more entertainment and interactive betting experience can explore the best Casinos by bookiesnotongamstop.com.
In this article, we’ll discuss the team’s roster, strengths, weaknesses, and overall chances of emerging first place from Group D ahead of the tournament in Germany.
Croatia’s motto: The principle is half of everything
After what football fans would call an epic run in the 2022 World Cup, Croatia is again gearing up for some intriguing performance in the Euro 2024 group stage. The team faced a rather challenging start with their opening game against Wales. The 1-1 draw with Robert Page’s side was a significant setback, with many fans already becoming sceptical about the chances of qualifying.
However, there’s still plenty of light at the end of the tunnel, and this was confirmed when the team rekindled the fans’ optimism with its 2-0 win in Turkey. The victory against the Turkish side was thanks to the two first-half strikes from Chelsea’s star midfielder, Mateo Kovacic.
Even though there’s tight competition with Wales and Turkey, Croatia is still one of the main highlights of Group D. It has a resourceful team and impressive squad depth. The midfield is particularly formidable, combining Brozovic, Modric, and Kovacic. These three solid players greatly support the defence line and create a perfect fusion with the attack. So the team never has to worry about pass distributions and coordination.
However, the lack of a clear 9 does pose a great challenge for Dalic’s tactics. Many predict that Andrej Kramaric would be a perfect fit as we advance, but we can only look forward to the eventual decision from the manager.
According to Dalic, there’s a chance Croatia will be sticking with its 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 formation. So, fans can always count on the fluid midfield, where they dominate most, even when playing the best teams. Another miraculous pass from Modric or a quality finish from Kovacic might pose great threats to their opponents.
Wales would be a formidable opponent for the first place
The top contenders in the Euro 2024 Group D Qualifiers have always been Wales, Croatia, and Turkey. But Croatia managing to get 4 points from two of its most challenging games has shown how strong the team is compared to the other two. They could even win the competition after winning first place from Group D.
Wales remains the primary challenger for Croatia as it sits in first place after the second match. The Welsh will look to make the most of their team’s energy. So you can expect to see the likes of Harry Wilson and Brennan Johnson flying down the flanks, causing serious trouble for the Croatian defence line.
Luckily for Croatia, though, Wales now lacks their record goalscorer, Gareth Bale, which means there is less threat from the attack than before. But Aaron Ramsey is another skilful and experienced player that firmly believes this new generation of the Welsh squad can make history and give Croatia a headache in the qualifiers.
Turkey Will Fight Till the End for Euro 2024 Ticket
Anyone who watched the Turkey Vs. Croatia game would agree that the Turkish side was quite ferocious with their gameplay. The ball possessions were quite close, and more activities happened around the Croatian goalposts, which could have led to a few goals, and all the players had impressive ratings. However, two Croatian star players (Modric and Kovacic) had higher ratings (4.0+) than anyone else on the pitch, and one saved the day.
Kuntz has been pulling the Turkish side’s string since September 2021, and he’s done a great job since then. There are many promising players from the top five leagues worldwide, but the problem has never been quality; its issues stem from the inability to play as a team with the same identity. It’s the crisis Turkey has faced for years, unable to fuse its playing style and togetherness.
The lack of togetherness and the fact that Croatia has a better ranking by FIFA should keep fans as optimistic as ever. Even though Turkey would be willing to up a good fight, Croatia has only lost once in their last five games, claiming 2 victories and 2 draws. The good news is that all indications still point to a possible win for Croatia in the second leg and an eventual ascension to first place in the Euro 2024 Group D Qualifiers.
Euro 2024: Will be Luka’s Modric last dance with the National Team?
The 37-year-old star midfielder, Luka Modric, has held out for many years. There were rumours of him retiring from football in 2022, but he debunked this and went on to play in the 2022 World Cup. His contract with Real Madrid will end this year, and the Spanish club has hinted that he must retire from international football if he wants a contract renewal.
This means the Euro 2024 will probably be Luka Modric’s last mission for his country, which is more reason for the team to give their all. In the same way, the Argentines delivered Messi his world cup win, Croatians can expect the team to deliver one final trophy for the Los Blancos star.
According to FIFA rankings, the national team is the seventh-best men’s football team, ahead of Portugal, Italy, and Spain. They have seen three of their last six games end in draws and recorded an impressive feat in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, finishing third place. The team might have slacked against Wales, but they won against Turkey. Generally, Croatia is in good shape and has optimal squad fitness, which puts them ahead of Wales and Turkey in the race for 1st place in the Euro 2024 Group D Qualifiers.
Source : Thedubrovniktimes
