National Team ( Football )
The Croatia men's national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country. A FIFA-recognised national side had previously represented the short-lived Banovina of Croatia and Independent State of Croatia in nineteen friendly matches between 1940 and 1944. This team was dissolved in 1945 as Croatia became a constituent federal republic of SFR Yugoslavia. In the period between 1945 and 1990, Croatia did not field a separate team for competitive matches and Croatian players played for the Yugoslavia national football team.The modern Croatian team was formed in 1991, shortly before Croatia's independence from Yugoslavia, and by 1993 had gained membership in FIFA and UEFA. The team played their first competitive matches in the successful qualifying campaign for UEFA Euro 1996, leading to their first appearance at a major tournament.In Croatia's FIFA World Cup debut in 1998 the team finished third and provided the tournament's top scorer, Davor Šuker. Since becoming eligible to compete in international tournaments, Croatia have missed only one World Cup and one European Championship. Most home matches are played at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, with some fixtures also taking place at the Poljud Stadium in Split or at other, smaller venues, such as Stadion Kantrida in Rijeka or Stadion Gradski vrt in Osijek, depending on the nature of the match. The team was undefeated in its first 36 home competitive matches at Maksimir, the run ending with a 2008 defeat to England. The team was named FIFA's "Best Mover of the Year" in 1994 and 1998, the only team along with Colombia to win the award more than once. On admission to FIFA, Croatia was ranked 125th in the world; following the 1998 World Cup campaign, the side ranked third, making it the most volatile team in FIFA Rankings history.
Croatian team kit: ( click on me ...)
Croatian team kit: ( click on me ...)
Croatia stadium:
Main info. :
History:
On 26 May 1941, a representative of the fascist government of the Independent State of Croatia addressed young Zagreb students at their meeting at the Maksimir Stadium, and at one point ordered the Serbian and Jewish students to be segregated, but the children disobeyed. Soon afterwards, in June 1941, rebel youths burned the stadium down. In 1977, a movie Operation Stadium was made to commemorate the segregation incident.
When the UEFA Euro 1976 final tournament was held in SFR Yugoslavia, Maksimir hosted the Netherlands v. Czechoslovakia semi-final match and the Netherlands v. Yugoslavia third place match.
Maksimir was the central venue for the 1987 Summer Universiade hosted by the city of Zagreb.
In 1990, several events happened at Maksimir. On 13 May, the Dinamo Zagreb–Red Star Belgrade riot took place, an infamous riot involving Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star Belgrade supporters. The last match of the Yugoslavia national football team was hosted at Maksimir on 3 June. On 17 October of the same year, Croatia played the United States in what was Croatia's first match in the modern era.
In 1998, plans were made for a massive renovation process, and the first phase started the same year, when the old northern stand was demolished and a new one arisen within a year. This renovation increased Maksimir's seating capacity to 38,079.
After 1992, for 16 years the Croatian football team had a proud unbeaten record at this stadium in any competitive match, however on 10 September 2008 (two years after suffering a 2-0 defeat at the same venue) England became the first team to beat Croatia in Zagreb, winning 4-1, ending a thirty match undefeated streak.
In the summer of 2011, a little, but much needed "facelifting" was made on the stadium. All seats were replaced, a new drainage system, under-soil heating and automatic watering were installed along with a new turf, the athletic track was covered with blue artificial grass and all brick surfaces were covered in blue cloth.
- Address: Maksimirska cesta 128, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
- Capacity: 38,923
- Opened: May 5, 1912
- Phone: +385 1 2386 111
- Expanded: 1997
- Full name: Stadion Maksimir
- Owner: City of Zagreb
- Operator: GNK Dinamo Zagreb NK Lokomotiva
- Surface: Grass
- Record attendance: 64,138 (NK Zagreb-NK Osijek, 19 July 1973)
- Field size: 105 x 68 m
- Maksimir Stadium is a stadium in the croatian capital of Zagreb. It takes its name from the neighbourhood of Maksimir. It is primarily the home of Dinamo the top football team in the country. It is also home to Dinamo Zagreb's farm team NK. First opened in 1912, it has undergone many facelifts, and its current layo Lokomotiva ut dates from a 1997 rebuilding. Many of the Croatian national football team's games are played at Maksimir, which competes with Poljud stadium for the biggest matches. The stadium also sometimes hosts rock concerts.
History:
On 26 May 1941, a representative of the fascist government of the Independent State of Croatia addressed young Zagreb students at their meeting at the Maksimir Stadium, and at one point ordered the Serbian and Jewish students to be segregated, but the children disobeyed. Soon afterwards, in June 1941, rebel youths burned the stadium down. In 1977, a movie Operation Stadium was made to commemorate the segregation incident.
When the UEFA Euro 1976 final tournament was held in SFR Yugoslavia, Maksimir hosted the Netherlands v. Czechoslovakia semi-final match and the Netherlands v. Yugoslavia third place match.
Maksimir was the central venue for the 1987 Summer Universiade hosted by the city of Zagreb.
In 1990, several events happened at Maksimir. On 13 May, the Dinamo Zagreb–Red Star Belgrade riot took place, an infamous riot involving Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star Belgrade supporters. The last match of the Yugoslavia national football team was hosted at Maksimir on 3 June. On 17 October of the same year, Croatia played the United States in what was Croatia's first match in the modern era.
In 1998, plans were made for a massive renovation process, and the first phase started the same year, when the old northern stand was demolished and a new one arisen within a year. This renovation increased Maksimir's seating capacity to 38,079.
After 1992, for 16 years the Croatian football team had a proud unbeaten record at this stadium in any competitive match, however on 10 September 2008 (two years after suffering a 2-0 defeat at the same venue) England became the first team to beat Croatia in Zagreb, winning 4-1, ending a thirty match undefeated streak.
In the summer of 2011, a little, but much needed "facelifting" was made on the stadium. All seats were replaced, a new drainage system, under-soil heating and automatic watering were installed along with a new turf, the athletic track was covered with blue artificial grass and all brick surfaces were covered in blue cloth.
The Coaches
Igor Štimac (old Coach) - now fired !!
- D.O.B.:1967-09-06
- Place of birth: Metković
- Height: 1.88m
The Captain - ( Darijo Srna )
Darijo Srna
Information text:
Darijo Srna born in May 1, 1982. Darijo Srna is a Croatian footballer who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk as a captain and is also the captain of the Croatian national team. He can play as a right back and at right midfield and is known for his crossing and freekick ability. He began his career at Hajduk Split, before moving to Shakhtar in 2003. He has won numerous trophies during his time at Shakhtar, including a UEFA Cup title in 2009, 7 Ukrainian Premier League titles, 5 Ukrainian Cup titles and 5 Ukrainian Super Cup titles. Srna made his international debut for Croatia in November 2002. In 2009, manager Slaven Bilić made him the captain of the national team. He is the most capped player in the history of Croatian national team, and has represented the country on 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2004, UEFA Euro 2008 and UEFA Euro 2012. He is considered to be one of the most legendary players in the history of Shakhtar Donetsk. While in Shakhtar, Srna had offers from clubs like Chelsea F.C. and Bayern Munich, which he declined due to his loyalty to Shakhtar.
- Squad No. : 2
- Position: Midfielder
- Age: 32
- Birth Date: May 1, 1982
- Birth Place: Croatia
- Height: 1.78 m
- Weight: 159 kg
Information text:
Darijo Srna born in May 1, 1982. Darijo Srna is a Croatian footballer who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk as a captain and is also the captain of the Croatian national team. He can play as a right back and at right midfield and is known for his crossing and freekick ability. He began his career at Hajduk Split, before moving to Shakhtar in 2003. He has won numerous trophies during his time at Shakhtar, including a UEFA Cup title in 2009, 7 Ukrainian Premier League titles, 5 Ukrainian Cup titles and 5 Ukrainian Super Cup titles. Srna made his international debut for Croatia in November 2002. In 2009, manager Slaven Bilić made him the captain of the national team. He is the most capped player in the history of Croatian national team, and has represented the country on 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2004, UEFA Euro 2008 and UEFA Euro 2012. He is considered to be one of the most legendary players in the history of Shakhtar Donetsk. While in Shakhtar, Srna had offers from clubs like Chelsea F.C. and Bayern Munich, which he declined due to his loyalty to Shakhtar.
The Players
( the players ) ...
| Player No. | Position | Player Name | Club |
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01 GK Stipe Pletikosa