CROATIA X AUSTRALIA (Group Stage WC2006 - June 22, 2006)
Croatia follows mostly the same strategy throughout the match:
1) MAIN STRATEGY
4-4-2 Formation ("Diamond-shaped midfield")
Pletikosa - GK
Šimunić - CB
Tomas - CB
Šimić - RB
Babić - LB
Tudor - DMF
N. Kovač - CMF (CAPITAIN) (Performs attacking runs by both sides)
Srna - RMF (Moves up the right wing)
Kranjčar - AMF
Olić - SS (Changes sides with Pršo)
Pršo - CF (Changes sides with Olić)
2) After Jerko Leko comes in for Kranjčar ('65)
4-4-2 Formation ("Diamond-shaped midfield")
Pletikosa - GK
Šimunić - CB
Tomas - CB
Šimić - RB
Babić - LB
Tudor - DMF
N. Kovač - CMF (CAPITAIN) (Performs attacking runs by both sides)
Srna - RMF (Moves up the right wing)
J. Leko - AMF
Olić - SS (Changes sides with Pršo)
Pršo - CF (Changes sides with Olić)
3) After Modrić comes in for Olić ('74)
4-5-1 Formation
Pletikosa - GK
Šimunić - CB
Tomas - CB
Šimić - RB
Babić - LB
Tudor - DMF
N. Kovač - CMF (CAPITAIN)
Modrić - CMF
Srna - RMF (Moves up the right wing)
J. Leko - AMF
Pršo - CF
4) After Klasnić comes in for Tomas ('84), until Simić is sent off ('85)
4-4-2 Formation
Pletikosa - GK
Šimunić - CB
Šimić - CB (Slots in for Tomas)
Srna - RB (Slots in for Šimić)
Babić - LB
Tudor - DMF
N. Kovač - CMF/DMF (CAPITAIN)
Modrić - CMF
J. Leko - AMF
Klasnić - SS (Changes sides with Pršo)
Pršo - CF (Changes sides with Olić)
5) After Simić is sent off ('85), until the game ends (JOSIP ŠIMUNIĆ is sent off at the final whistle)
3-4-2 Formation
Pletikosa - GK
Šimunić - CB
Srna - CB/RB (Still attacks, leaving the D-line)
Babić - CB/LB (Still attacks, leaving the D-line)
Tudor - DMF
N. Kovač - CMF/DMF (CAPITAIN)
Modrić - CMF
J. Leko - AMF
Klasnić - SS (Changes sides with Pršo)
Pršo - CF (Changes sides with Olić)
NOTES:
'56 - Jerko Leko in, Kranjčar Out
'79 - Modrić in, Olić Out
'90 - Klasnić in, Tomas Out
Dario Šimić - Yellow Card '33 (Throwing the ball away from Kewell, who was trying to take a free kick)
Igor Tudor - Yellow Card '38 (Protesting the ref's decision of Stjepan Tomas' handball penalty)
Josip Šimunić - Yellow Card '61 (Blocks and brings down Kewell near the edge of the box)
Stipe Pletikosa - Yellow Card '70 (Wastes time, takes too long to deliver a free kick)
Dario Šimić - 2nd Yellow Card - Red Card '85 (Trips Kewell from behind)
Josip Šimunić - 2nd Yellow Card '90 (Tackles Kennedy) - Red Card is not given by referee Graham Poll, thus Šimunić does not get sent off.
Josip Šimunić - 3rd Yellow Card - Red Card '90+'3 (Protests against confusion in Croatian box - Disallowed aussie goal).
Short Free Kick: Darijo Srna
2nd Free Kick: Marko Babić | Niko Kovač
Long Free Kick: Igor Tudor | Josip Šimunić | Niko Kovač | Marko Babić
Left Corner: Niko Kranjčar | Luka Modrić
Right Corner: Darijo Srna
Penalty: -
Capitain: Niko Kovač
Up on Corners: Josip Šimunić and Dario Šimić
SHIRT NAMES: TOMAS ŠIMUNIĆ N.KOVAČ BABIĆ KRANJČAR SRNA TUDOR ŠIMIĆ PLETIKOSA PRŠO OLIĆ J.LEKO MODRIĆ KLASNIĆ + R.KOVAČ (as seen vs. Brazil) + I.LEKO (I suppose, judging by the KOVAČs and by the fact that Ivan Leko does not play any games in WC2006)
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