dot   Home     World     Euro 2008     Euro 2008  
Flag Euro 2008

Euro 2008

Euro 2008 Group B Preview: Croatia vs. Germany

   

Croatia

Flag Croatia vs Flag Germany

Germany

Thursday, June 12, Kickoff 1800 CET
Klagenfurt (Austria) – Travel to Klagenfurt (Austria)

THE BIG PICTURE

It’s the battle of the winners. Both teams are coming in feeling confident after taking three points in their first games. (Although we think that Germany’s performance merits just a little more confidence than Croatia’s.) The winner is looking at an excellent chance of going through. The loser will still need to sweat.


CROATIA

Flag Xxx

Three Key Players:

  • Luka Modric scored the goal for Croatia against Austria that gave them the three points in game 1. Okay, granted, it was a penalty in the fourth minute against the 92nd-ranked team in the world, and that was the team’s only score. But hey. Three points is three points. And the kid has the talent to spare — assuming he’s recovered from a mild ankle (or hamstring, or Achilles tendon) injury.
  • Mladen Petric is the guy who’s taking the place of the injured Eduardo. Big boots to fill, but important ones.
  • Niko Kranjcar has been tipped by his Portsmouth teammate David James as the player who will make a difference in Euro 2008. And if you can’t trust David James, well…

Croatia squad
Croatia Team Profile

Team News:
The big question: Will key player Luka Modric have fully recovered from a mild ankle/Achilles tendon/hamstring injury? (I’ve read all three, and all from legit news sources. So your guess is as good as mine.)

Visit Mario at the Croatia Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.

Buy Croatia team gear here.


GERMANY

Flag Germany

Three Key Players:

  • Lukas Podolski has to go on my “key players” lis. And he has to go first, because he scored that brace on Sunday. If I didn’t list him first, I think they’d revoke my membership in the Soccer Blogger Society. And none of us wants that.
  • Michael Ballack, even at thirty-one, still marshals the midfield with aplomb.
  • Mario Gomez has the ability to be a goal-scoring machine. He’s shown it before, both for Germany and for his club, but he wasn’t all that impressive on Sunday. I’m expecting great things today, if only because I picked him to win the Golden Boot. Don’t let me down, Mario!

German squad
Germany Team Profile

Team News:
It looks like everybody’s healthy and ready to play. Coach Joachim Loew’s biggest dilemma will be deciding which of his talented players he should start.

Visit Jan and Angela at the Germany Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.


BIG BATTLES

Mladen Petric vs The Ghost of Eduardo Would you like to be the person taking over for a goal-machine like Eduardo?

Torsten Frings and Michael Ballack vs Luca Modric He who wins the midfield wins the game?

Vedran Corluka vs Lucas Podolski Croatia’s right vs. Germany’s left. Can Croatia shut down the brace-scoring, Polish-born German, who will be far less conflicted about scoring goals today? (Of course, if Podolski starts somewhere other than on the left, he’ll be somebody else’s problem, so never mind.)


Bet on Euro 2008


LIVEBLOG

Follow the Xxx1 vs Xxx2 LiveBlog here.


Subscribe

 

rss icon UEFA Euro 2008 Championships RSS Feed

Print

Share

Comments
By Frank | June 12th, 2008 at 4:12 am
Top

Yes the german (our) performance was better than the performance of croatia in the first match but croatia is not easy to play and normaly a tough chalange. I am confident but croatia really got my respect and i would be really suprised if we see a easy game with a easy win but i would take it

By Soccer Delirium | June 12th, 2008 at 4:16 am
Top

Germany is going to win this game easily. Croatia did not impress me in their game against Austria. Look for them to lose today and in 4 days against Poland. Germany 1st and Poland 2nd in Group B.

By Milan | June 12th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Top

Croatia always steps up against the big teams. Germany is going to have a fight on there hands….

By cliff | June 12th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Top

What??!! no mention of Klose but mention of Gomez for a key player? Klose is the one who set up podolski for one of his goals. Also forgot to mention a key factor is that germany’s D doesnt make too many mistakes especially with this team. i believe its going to be a good game, go germany!

Posted from United States United States

By gooner | June 12th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Top

Germany’s Achilles heel is Lehmann – Go Croatia!

Posted from United States United States

By Rob | June 12th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Top

Here’s hoping that the Croat’s can upset the Germans here. I fear that really depends on Modric making it really.

Posted from United Kingdom United Kingdom

By Laurie | June 12th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Top

Cliff, Shhh! Klose is on my fantasy squad. I didn’t want to jinxy him!

Posted from United States United States

By arlind | June 12th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Top

CROOOOTATIA IS WINING

Posted from Serbia And Montenegro Serbia And Montenegro

By vatreni | June 12th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Top

Croatia WON!!! Every single of us Croatians knew that that will happen. Croatia is going to get the gold medal!

Croatia4ever

Posted from Croatia Croatia

By vatreni | June 12th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Top

Samo je jedno
U mom životu vrijedno
Da pustim suzu s oka
Jer tebe volim ja
Život mi dala
Baš kao da je znala
Da nikad neće nestat
Sa mojih usana
HRVATSKA!

Croatia4ever

Posted from Croatia Croatia

By rolicape | June 12th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Top

kolko nas ima jebote kolkoi nas ima!!!!!!!!!!!!dario srrnnnnaaaaaaaa

By riper | June 12th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Top

svima koji su rekli da ce Hrvatska izgubit prvo skocite pa onda recite hop!!
MESS WITH THE BEST,DIE LIKE THE REST!!!!
GOOO CROATIA

By Franz | June 13th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Top

Well played to Croatia. Their team looekd very good and focussed. Deserved to win they did.

Comments are closed

 

MORE EURO 2008 BLOGS

austria
Austria World Cup Blog
111 articles | 118 comments
 
croatia
Croatia World Cup Blog
201 articles | 1,850 comments
 
czechrepublic
Czech Republic World Cup Blog
196 articles | 322 comments
 
france
France World Cup Blog
993 articles | 12,643 comments
 
germany
Germany World Cup Blog
687 articles | 5,278 comments
 
greece
Greece World Cup Blog
205 articles | 217 comments
 
italy
Italy World Cup Blog
1,029 articles | 32,761 comments
 
netherlands
Netherlands World Cup Blog
2,516 articles | 63,523 comments
 
poland
Poland World Cup Blog
489 articles | 7,787 comments
 
portugal
Portugal World Cup Blog
547 articles | 9,427 comments
 
romania
Romania World Cup Blog
78 articles | 281 comments
 
russia
Russia World Cup Blog
111 articles | 366 comments
 
spain
Spain World Cup Blog
347 articles | 3,327 comments
 
sweden
Sweden World Cup Blog
226 articles | 385 comments
 
switzerland
Switzerland World Cup Blog
270 articles | 452 comments
 
turkey
Turkey World Cup Blog
49 articles | 314 comments
 
euro2008
UEFA Euro 2008 Championships
546 articles | 76,525 comments
 

CATEGORIES & ARCHIVES

 

 
Closer

International Football Jerseys
Bet on International Football
Football Tickets
Noticias de Futbol
Tournaments
Euro 2012 Qualifying
Africa Cup of Nations 2012
UEFA Champions League
Europa League

Follow WorldCupBlog on Facebook   Follow WorldCupBlog on Twitter  
World Cup Resources
World Cup History
World Cup Legends
World Cup Memorable Moments
World Cup Photos
World Cup Videos