Manager: Otto Baric
Star Players: Dado Pršo, Igor Tudor, Jerko Leko
Honours: None
Qualification: 2nd Group 8, Play-off v. Slovenia (2-1 agg)

Croatia were embroiled in a three way battle for Euro 2004 and only forced their way into the playoffs after a crucial last-game win over section winners Bulgaria.

Drawn against play-off specialists Slovenia, Ermin Šiljak cancelled out Dado Pršo’s early goal as the two sides drew the first leg in Zagreb 1-1 - Baric’s men had an uphill task facing them.

But in a strong team performance, Pršo was the hero again as the Monaco forward pounced to score the only goal of the game, enabling Croatia to qualify for the European Championships for only the second time.

European Championship Record

Year

Year

1996: Quarter-Finals

2004: Qualified

2000: Did not qualify

 

The Matches

Date

Opponents

Venue

Comp

KO

13 Jun 04

Switzerland

Leiria

ECF

0-0

17 Jun 04

France

Leiria

ECF

2-2

21 Jun 04

England

Lisbon (Luz)

ECF

2-4

The Squad

1 Vladimir VASILJ
2 Mario TOKIC
3 Josip ŠIMUNIC
4 Stjepan TOMAS
5 Igor TUDOR
6 Boris ŽIVKOVIC
7 Milan RAPAIC
8 Darijo SRNA
9 Dado PRŠO
10 Niko KOVAC
11 Tomislav ŠOKOTA
12 Tomislav BUTINA
13 Dario ŠIMIC
14 Mato NERETLJAK
15 Jerko LEKO
16 Marko BABIC
17 Ivan KLASNIC
18 Ivica OLIC
19 Ivica MORNAR
20 Giovani ROSSO
21 Robert KOVAC
22 Nenad BJELICA
23 Joseph DIDULICA