NEWS

Offside Trap: World Cup preview - Croatia

Randy Capps

In this Nov. 19, 2013 file photo, Croatia soccer team poses prior to the start the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Croatia and Iceland in Zagreb, Croatia. Background from left: Josip Simunic, Mario Mandzukic, Vedran Corluka, Ivan Rakitic, Stipe Pletikosa and Ivan Perisic. Foreground from left: Darijo Srna, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric, Danijel Pranjic and Ivica Olic.

Country: Croatia

Nickname: Vatreni (The Blazers)

Confederation: UEFA (Europe)

FIFA rank: 20

World Cup appearances: 4 (1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010) However, Yugoslavia appeared in eight World Cups (1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1974, 1982 and 1990).

Best World Cup finish: Thirs place, 1998. Yugoslavia was a semifinalist in 1930 and 1962

Players to watch: FWD Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), MID Luka Modric (Real Madrid) and DEF Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk)

Roster (provisional)

GK: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Oliver Zelenika (Dinamo Zagreb).

DEF: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gordon Schildenfeld (Panathinaikos), Danijel Pranjic (Panathinaikos), Ivan Strinic (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa), Igor Bubnjic (Udinese).

MID: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Niko Kranjcar (Queens Park Rangers), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg), Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan), Milan Badelj (Hamburg), Ivo Ilicevic (Hamburg), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Mocinic (Rijeka), Mario Pasalic (Hajduk Split), Sammir (Getafe).

FWD: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo da Silva (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina), Duje Cop (Dinamo Zagreb).

Group prospects: Brazil highlights Group A, leaving the Croatians to battle with Cameroon and Mexico for the other transfer spot.

Best-case scenario: Croatia isn't overwhelmed by Brazil on the tournament's opening day, and Modric and company keep the scoreline within reason. Duly motivated, the Croats smack Cameroon in the second match before drawing with Mexico in the finale and advancing to the knockout round. Spain sends them packing soon after.

Worst-case scenario: Croatia is run off the park by Brazil in the opener, and fail to get over it, losing to both Cameroon and Mexico as both sides isolate the usually fabulous Mandzukic.

Prediction: I can't see them winning the group, but I do see them as clearly better than Cameroon. So, it comes down to their match with Mexico. I think the two are pretty even, but I'll give a slight edge to Mexico - just for the climate. Croatia goes three-and-out.