Croatia will aim to improve on their horrid Euro 2012 campaign, where they failed to progress past the group stage of the tournament.
A round-of-16 berth will be the initial goal for the squad whom feature in Group D, which also boasts the likes of Turkey, the Czech Republic as well as current title holders Spain.
In what is one of the more difficult groups of the competition, Croatia’s first encounter will be against Turkey, which is likely to set the tone for the rest of their campaign.
Qualifying form
Croatia had anything but a smooth qualifying campaign, which ultimately resulted in a second placed finish behind coach Antonio Conte’s Italy.
Drama was around every corner including crowd violence, a swastika burnt into their home pitch, and the sacking of their former coach Niko Kovac.
Despite the off-pitch happenings, the Croatians managed to win seven out of 10 qualifying matches, with the other three contests resulting in a scoreless draw and two 1-1 stalemates, against Azerbaijan and Italy respectively.
Since assuming the role of coach in September 2015, Ante Cacic has remained undefeated, although not without various errors in play as he is still looking for the perfect formation for his squad.
READ MORE: Euro 2016 – Croatia coach spotlight – Ante Cacic
Strengths
It goes without question that the strengths of the Croatian side is their attacking presence and at times prowess.
They are indeed a front-heavy squad, with Real Madrid star Luka Modric pulling the strings and controlling the pace in the centre of the park, while players such as Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic are eagerly taking chances on goal.
Internazionale players Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic are both dynamic midfielders, whom have the abilities to burst forward with pace.
Perisic in particular is in career best form of late, scoring six goals in the qualifying stage as well as a goal against Israel and an assist against Hungary.
The real question for the Croatian attack is which position will be best suited for Brozovic, whom is a versatile player but needs to be placed correctly in order to show his best football.
Weaknesses
The opposite end of the pitch is where the weaknesses lie, with the Croatian defence often struggling against the mounting pressure placed on them by opponents.
Domagoj Vida is currently playing as a left-back for his country, yet it is not his natural position and could work for or against Cacic in France.
While the 62-year-old coach is still experimenting with structural elements, his latest 3-5-2 formation did not bode well defensively.
Croatian veteran Dario Srna will undoubtedly be the anchor of the back line, but did pick up an injury in the friendly against Israel.
A strong back line is all that is needed for Cacic’s squad, whom will have more goal scoring opportunities and a heightened level of creativity once the defence is properly organised.
While Croatia has been placed in a tough group, the right tactical moves by Cacic will set the precedent for their tournament.
Predicted Finish – Quarter-final
The squad has all the elements to have a successful campaign in France.
Coach Cacic has selected a good crop as well as an excellent mix of youth and experience will not only compliment the side’s play but work to their advantage.
In terms of attack, the Croatians are a threat to every opponent they will face, however, their defensive issues – if left unresolved – could pose a significant problem if the team is to continue to progress.
The side will surely look to the likes of experienced players such as Srna and Modric, among others, to guide the younger charges towards success.
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