Croatia: World Cup Soccer

Croatia has been one of those soccer teams that continuously shocks and confused the soccer world. They really hit the scene in the late 90s with fury, but have since been very inconsistent. They actually finished third in the 1998 World Cup, which was their first time at the big soccer tournament. However, in 2002 they were not as impressive, which is why many people are chalking their first attempt up to something other than consistent talent.

Niko Kranjcar is one of the shining stars of the Croatia team. His father is actually the coach and Niko has been at pro level since his teens. Because he was so young, he was often overlooked by the national team. Being the coach’s son is also something that likely makes it more difficult on the young star, because he has more to prove.

Robert Kovac is likely one of the most valuable players for the Croatia team however, as he leads their strong defense. Dado Prso is a great striker with Darijo Srna and Marko Babic being impressive as well. However, within the midfield, the Croatia team is somewhat lacking. This is likely why many critics are confused with their inconsistent showings. When it comes to the depending on the midfield, the team lacks. However, if they can play the game with an emphasis on their defense and perimeter, they will usually prevail as the winners.

Croatia is looking to make a big splash in the World Cup soccer tournament for 2006 however, so critics and fans should be looking for something impressive indeed.

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