Azerbaijan- Croatia 0:0
Before the game in Baku started, the only question on everyone’s lips was how many goals will the Croatian team score since the result of the first game in Zagreb was impressive – 6:0. And after 90 minutes (plus extra time) of an almost unwatchable and sterile game, we don’t know who is more confused. Players or Croatian fans. Oh, in case you didn’t watch the game, Azerbaijan – Croatia 0:0.
Even though Croatia’s head coach stated that he is very happy with the game presented by his players, when we think back and remember that only few months ago, after a convincing 5-1 win against Norway, Kovač more or less dismantled his team commenting on their disastrous game, one really has to ask if we were watching the same game last night!
Line up was impressive (on paper): Modrić and Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid), Rakitić (Barcelona), Mandžukić (Juventus), Perišić (Inter Milan) to name just a few against players playing mostly for domestic teams. But this is not the first time we were forced to watch our “superstars” in a very confusing and not very well rehearsed formation. Azerbaijan’s coach Robert Prosinečki was very well aware of Niko Kovač and his constant need for experimentation and took advantage of it. Result, we spilled two points we were sure were already secured, and all we can hope now is that the same thing won’t happen again in two days against Norway. Italy has now taken the lead in our group, Norway is only trailing by one point, and the prospect of going to Euro 2016 directly from qualifications is not looking so bright anymore.
In the end we leave you with a comment from Niko Kovač “In Norway we will try and fix this mishap even though we are aware we’re in for a very tough game. I believe we can be a lot better”.
