Croatia will look to build on the momentum earned from a perfect Group D campaign when they battle Christian Eriksen’s unbeaten Denmark in World Cup 2018’s round of 16.
Zlatko Dalic’s men historically won all three matches, including a 3-0 humiliation of Lionel Messi and Argentina, to reinforce their status as dark horses.
This will be tested by ‘Danish Dynamite’. They proved in the competition’s only goalless draw, against France, that the Croats cannot expect a walkover at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Sunday.
Here are the talking points:
HAND OF HISTORY
An achievement now two decades old was supposed to cast the largest shadow over this campaign for Croatia.
The charge from Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban and Co to France 1998’s semi-finals dominates the conversation. Indeed, the current crop are the first to escape the groups on the global stage since those Halcyon days.
But of more pertinence is Euro 2016’s rank disappointment.
Under divisive predecessor Ante Cacic, the Vatreni promisingly finished ahead of holders Spain in the group stages. Then in the round of 16, Ricardo Quaresma popped up during extra time to deflate all hopes and send eventual winners Portugal through.
“It’s all great for the history books in Croatia but if we don’t win against Denmark, when someone asks you what you did, what can you say? Nothing,” Dalic said on Wednesday.
“Our first goal for this World Cup was to pass the group stage but that doesn’t really satisfy myself or the team. We have Denmark against us now and that’s the moment of truth.”
A sizeable 17 members of Dalic’s 23-man squad were present on that mournful day in Lens.
With an average age of 27.9-years-old, a figure advanced by talisman Luka Modric (32) and Ivan Rakitic (30), a better chance to repeat the antics of Suker’s hallowed generation might not appear.
3 - Croatia have won three consecutive World Cup games for the first time in their history. Outsiders.#ICECRO #CRO #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/njAihAqmfR
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 26, 2018
LIGHTING THE FUSE FOR ‘DANISH DYNAMITE’
The time has come for Denmark to live up to their explosive nickname.
‘Danish Dynamite’ was in short supply during a run to second spot in Group C that was only lit up by Eriksen’s sustained brilliance.
Denmark scored just two goals, plus the soporific scoreless stalemate against France produced a cacophony of boos at Luzhniki Stadium last week.
Their average of 8.3 attempts on goal per game was the least in the pool, as was average possession of 44.3 per cent and pass accuracy of 79.5 per cent.
At the other end of the pitch, only Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa (17) has been called on to make more saves than Denmark’s Kasper Schmeichel (14).
A door has been bolted and the lock remains loose. For head coach Age Hareide, his team must step things up a level to stand any chance of advancement.
He said: “I’m sure the fact we now go into a stage of the tournament where it’s cup ties will make it more free, and not so constrained.
“There’s absolutely everything to play for now, and everything needs to be ‘used up’ during the 90 minutes, and not over three matches.”
Going up through the gears should not be an alien feeling.
Denmark produced one of the European qualification processes’ most impressive results when they dismantled Poland 4-0. In the play-offs, the 5-1 triumph in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland further evidenced their latent attacking prowess.
An explosive display could yet follow in Nizhny Novgorod.
Your face when you get asked about your dad for the fourth time in a row at a World Cup press conference😂😂😂🙈🤷♂ pic.twitter.com/jKqJn1vhkr
— Kasper Schmeichel (@kschmeichel1) June 25, 2018
DELANEY’S WALKING A TIGHTROPE
Fine margins should decide this contest.
No player can afford any distractions, least of which is Denmark defensive midfielder Thomas Delaney. Borussia Dortmund’s new €20 million (Dh86m) signing from Werder Bremen must break up Croatia’s passing carousel for his nation to stand any hope of progression.
The 26-year-old is one a trio of Danes who are a booking away from a suspension, ahead of the quarter-final’s amnesty. This fact cannot cloud his mind when challenges are required, especially with veteran replacement William Kvist sidelined with a punctured lung.
The former FC Copenhagen man has registered his nation’s joint-second-highest tackles per game of two. Plus, he leads the way with 1.7 interceptions and 2.7 fouls per match.
Impressive statistics that must be extended against Modric and Rakitic.
Liebe Werder Fans,
— Thomas Delaney (@delaneydk) June 8, 2018
Danke für 1,5 tolle Jahre und für den Anfang meiner Auslandsreise. Ihr Fans, der Verein und meine Mitspieler haben dazu beigetragen, dass ich der Fußballer und Mensch bin, den ich heute bin. Ihr werdet für immer in meinem Herzen bleiben.
Euer Thomas pic.twitter.com/7d1BisEjd5
