Croatian pride

Croatia are in Euro 2004 Group B with England, France and Switzerland. Their manager Otto Baric will leave at the end of Euro 2004. They have one Premiership player, Ivica Mornar of Portsmouth, and new Glasgow Rangers signing Dado Prso

The Facts

Croatia are the smallest country at Euro 2004 in population terms. Their population is around 4.6million – only Latvia is less than that

Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Five years later they played in their first major tournament at Euro 96

Davor Suker won the Golden Boot at the 1998 World Cup where Croatia reached the semi-finals

England will only play Croatia for the third time on 21 June. The first meeting was a 0-0 draw in 1996. And last season, England won 3-1 at Portman Road with David Bekcham (pen), Michael Owen and Frank Lampard scoring

Coach Otto Baric was the Rapid Vienna manager when they lost to Everton in the 1985 European Cup-Winners Cup Final

Croatia qualifed for Euro 2004 via the play-offs, defeating Slovenia 2-1 on aggregate

The Opinion

Many of the greats who took Croatia to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals have gone from the international scene, stars like Davor Suker, Alen Boksic, Robert Prosinecki and Zvonimir Boban.

But coach Otto Baric is nearly a lone voice in believing the current generation can match the country’s past achievements, starting at Euro 2004.

"This team is capable of becoming as good as the 1998 side. It is a close-knit side with lots of courage, spirit and nerve. Most of the squad play in top European leagues and there is a lot of technical ability as well."

Most of the side are relatively unknown compared to the stars of yesteryear. But Baric is no doubt they will become household names.

"We have some great young players like Ivic Olic from CSKA Moscow and Darijo Srna of Shakhter Donetsk. They could become household names.

"There are also more experienced players including Igor Tudor who plays at Juventus and Dado Prso who went to the Champions League final this season. It is a good framework."

Croatia are glad they face the Swiss first. Three points they believe will set them up for France and then England.

"The French have exceptional players in all areas of the pitch and we cannot expect them to under-achieve like they did at the 2002 World Cup. Eriksson knows exactly what he is doing with England."

Whatever happens, Baric will quit the Croatian job at the end of Euro 2004. At least he thinks it will be a happy swansong.

The Colour

Former West Ham and Everton defender Slaven Bilic grew up in the same small apartment block in Split as Toni Kukoc, who went onto have a great NBA career with the Chicago Bulls

Defender Boris Zivkovic knows what Zidane can do. He was in the Bayer Leverkusen side in the 2002 Champions League final, when Zidane scored Real Madrid’s winner with a stunning volley

There are 1,155 islands off Croatia, of which 66 are inhabited

Croatia became a member of the United Nations in 1992

The country’s most popular sportsman is tennis star Goran Ivanisevic who held the Croatian flag at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona

Actor John Malkovich comes from a Croatian family, though he was born in America

The Matches