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Who will win this EURO Qualifier match?

  • Scoreless Draw

    Votes: 0 0%
  • Norway - by 1 goal

    Votes: 0 0%
  • Norway - by 2+ goals

    Votes: 0 0%

EURO 2016 Qualifier: HRVATSKA vs Norway - March 28th, 2015

22K views 301 replies 46 participants last post by  SPURS_LUKA_FAN  
#1 · (Edited)
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vs.
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March 28th, 2015 - 18:00 CET / Local Time (12:00 EDT)

Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb (Capacity 38,923)

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Squad to be announced in < 2 weeks


Match background from UEFA.com

Previous meetings
• The sides are meeting for the first time in a competitive international game, though they have met in three friendlies – two 2-1 home wins for Croatia and (most recently) a 1-1 draw in Oslo on 2 June 2012.

• The nations have crossed paths four times in UEFA age-group competitions, Croatia recording three wins to Norway's one.

Form guide
• Croatia are unbeaten in four Group H fixtures (W3 D1), during which they have conceded only once.

• Croatia have yet to lose a home game in UEFA European Championship qualifying (W21 D7).

• Croatia have won their last three competitive home fixtures without conceding.

• Since losing 2-0 at home to Italy in their opening match, Norway have won all three of their Group H contests, winning both of their away games in the section without conceding.

Trivia and links
• The Norwegian side has won five of the last six meetings between the nations' clubs in UEFA competition. The overall record of Norwegian teams against their Croatian counterparts is W5 D0 L4.



Here are some pre-match stats from Nepoznat:

Hrvatska (DWWWWW) is 5-0-1 in it's last 6 games, and will look to continue their fine form since EURO 2016 Qualifying have begun, with the only hiccup being the draw in Milano to Italia. The stands in Maksimir will be partially closed as part of the penalty for away fan behavior in the Italia match. The Vatreni have scored 10 goals in Qualifying, while only letting in 1 goal (from the Italians and it was against the run of play).

Norway (WLWWLL) is 3-3-0 in it's last 6 games, and is currently third in Group H Qualifying matches after wins over Malta, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan following their qualifying opening match loss to Italia in Norway. The other 2 losses were in Friendlies, one @ England and the other a home defeat to Estonia. Norway has scored 6 goals so far in Qualifying, while letting in only 3 goals.

Will the fans attempt to interrupt the match and try to get Hrvatska to have to forfeit the match? More importantly, will they succeed??





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from WhoScored.com




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from Soccerway.com​


Betting odds from OddsChecker.com:

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FYI the game will be broadcast in the USA on ESPN Deportes (Spanish ESPN) or in English on www.ESPN3.com


Elsewhere, here is a live video stream of HRT2:

http://sportska-tv.in/hrt2.html
 
#5 ·
changed the OP to different stock photos of Maksimir & Zagreb rather than using the same images from the Malta game; I think this is a nicer approach if we stick with this format for game threads going forward as we will have different pics each time.

If you have any personal pics of the cities/stadiums the NT plays at please post them so we can use them in future threads


As always please give your thoughts on how to improve the formatting!!

For example it would be nice if someone, maybe Maradona or Hajduk Split, etc, would watch Norway's qualifier vs Italia, if not all of their games, and would file a scouting report to this thread, etc
 
#6 ·
This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 4049x3201

woa! Nepoznat nice thread, but that image :eek:
 
#18 ·
it very well can be 3-0, but it can also be a one goal battle or a tie. we've all seen the underdog prepare very well for the so-called, better team and as of right now I believe Croatia is the better team so with that said, will Norway play to frustrate Croatia and hold them? tactics make a world of difference....in cases like this, I don't think Norway will be concerned with playing attractive soccer, they want a result...0-0 or 1-1 is a great result for them and my hunch is they'll do everything possible to achieve that.

the difference will be how we play and setup. if we press like we did against Italy, it could be a long day for Norway, but that isn't a guarantee, we still need to create and capitalize on our chances...that's a whole nother thing!

I think we'll win, but the outcome will be determined if we impose ourselves on them, take control and not give them too much respect...we have to play our game and press...maintain possession, use both wings and break them down!
 
#14 ·
A win is the most important thing to get but it would be great to see us continue our great form. Every game we are playing better and better, so I'd like to see that carry on. I don't expect Norway to be no pushovers but lets get a comfortable win here.

I was gonna put the 1-0 but like SPL said "nije Norveska Italija" :D
 
#15 ·
I never like to predict the score in advance, I just hope for the best :D

I would like to see some good football, some agressive football and some overlapping on the flanks leading to crosses. I would like to see us control the middle of the park and have more posession than Norway (which we will) and I would like to see the trio of Broz, Modra and Raketa function both in attack and defence.

And win jebi ga, just win :D
 
#26 ·
I have faith in Srna, when he steps it up he's an asset. Wiley old fox :D

Just needs to get pumped up.
 
#27 ·
Without a healthy Modric or Perisic this is going to be s difficult game. Both Luka and Ivan have been our best players in qualifiers so far. They might play but both won't be match fit or in good form. The way Badelj is playing lately I might start him for this game as luka won't be able to go 90. Perisic has been like our di Maria for Real Madrid last season. Running all over the field and scoring goals.
 
#30 ·
Hope to see the same strategy as we did against Italy. Press up front, control possession, and push forward with good spacing and through lines. But then again I don't see Norway closing up the space like Italy did... so we should have our chances... just gotta do a better job at finishing.

Norway is always a tough beat... but regardless, our depth of talent is too strong.
 
#32 ·
Modric and Perisic unfit, players coming toward the end of their domestic seasons, a bit of a break since our last game, a half full Maksimir lacking atmosphere, an opponent that has traditionally relied on the physical elements of the game...this game is going to be a real test of Kovac's ability to get the team focused.

Would have been a perfect game for Osijek.
 
#35 ·
What's Suker's reasoning for the game to be in Zagreb? Everyone knows the situation there. Why was it a problem for him to make the game in Osijek?!.....which has great fan support.

Edit: Since sections of the stadium are being closed off and if the game was actually in Osijek...the attendance would be really low.

Sort of just thinking out loud. Thoughts?
 
#36 ·
Osijek can fit like 20000 people or something like that right? So that leaves 12000 which wouldn't be much I guess. But I guess many people have doubts if 12000 will show up at Maksimir so I dont know.
 
#43 ·
Any updates on the squad list? :)

HS?!

Modric and Perisic will be out or not for this game? Sorry, i'm lost in all these recent news!
 
#47 ·
Of course there is only the one and only Luka Modric :thumbsup:, however, as we've all seen at the game vs Italy at the San Siro, Kovacic, Rakitic and Brozovic did a damn fine job of controlling the majority of that match vs Italy away, Mateo always had it in him to play comfortably from a deeper role passing and dribbling his way out of trouble so we are damn lucky to have such talent on our side. I think Kovacic & Badelj also showed they could handle Argentina's first squad in the friendly in London recently! :musik::musik::musik: