ITALY VS CROATIA PREDICTIONS

Date:June 14, 2012 5:00 PM BST
Venue:Stadion Miejski — Poznań
Referee:‬ H. Webb‎

Croatia who won last group stage match are facing 1968 winners in their next group stage who finished with draw in last  match against defending European champions. It will be important to both sides to win to secure their place in European dream cup.

See all Preview Team News Lineups and Predictions

This is Group stage 2nd match for both teams. Italy said to played well with world champions in their last match while Croatia won Ireland in their last match. It will be crucial match both sides and it will be chance of increasing their chance to qualify the group stage. They haven’t meet each other since 2006 friendly match.

Team Lineups

Italy:Buffon, Bonucci, De Rossi, Chiellini, Maggio, T. Motta, Pirlo, Marchisio, G’rini, Balotelli, Cassano
Croatia:Pletikosa, Srna, Corluka, Schildenfeld, Strinic, Rakitic, Vukojevic, Modric, Perisic , Jelavic, Mandzukic

Team News

Italy
-There will be same 3-5-2 formation but starting with different players
-34 year old Di Natale might not get 90 minutes because of his age
Croatia:
-Luka Modric will be key role of scoring goals in the match
-Dejan Lovren and striker Ivica Olic are still injured and will not be appeared in the match.

Player To Watch

Italy: Italian goalkeeper Buffon will be player to watch from Italian side who was highlighted in last match against Spain.
Croatia:Tottenham Star Luka Modric is key player for Croatia which is also player to watch from Croatian side.

Previous Meeting

International Friendlies‎       Aug 18, 2006      Italy 0 – Croatia 2

Last 5 matches

Italy:(D, L, L, L, W) 2006 world champions are having struggling form in present winning only one match. They haven’t won their match in their last 4 match. In their last 5 match they won one, draw one and defeated in three match.
Jun 10, 2012           Spain 1 – Italy 1
Jun 1, 2012             Italy 0 – Russia 3
Feb 29, 2012          Italy 0 – United States 1
Nov 15, 2011          Italy 0 – Uruguay 1
Nov 11, 2011           Poland 0 – Italy 2
Croatia: (W, D, W, L, D)Croatian team are having European dream cup with average form winning two matches with two draw and and one defeat in their last 5 matches. They won their last Euro cup group stage match played against Ireland.
Jun 10, 2012        Ireland 1 – Croatia 3
Jun 2, 2012           Norway 1 – Croatia 1
May 25, 2012       Croatia 3 – Estonia 1
Feb 29, 2012        Croatia 1 – Sweden 3
Nov 15, 2011         Croatia 0 – Turkey 0

Prediction

Italian players are quality players with good skill and Croatia are not less to Italian side. Although we predict in favor of Italian side win in the match.
Italy 2- Croatia 1