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Croatia, in top form, will be favorites against Denmark, who appeared dull in the group stages, as the two sides face Sunday in the round of 16 of the World Cup.
Matches including a 3-0 hammering of Argentina's Lionel Messi. Led by Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, Croatia also beat Nigeria and Iceland tops Group D.
Croatia has an experienced squad that could at least match its best third place in 1998 World Cup. 19659004] Christian Eriksen of Denmark and Luka Modric of Croatia. Croatia will play against Denmark in their round of 16 match. AFP "width =" 381 "height =" 285 "/>
Christian Eriksen of Denmark and Luka Modric of Croatia Croatia will play Denmark in the round of 16 AFP
" J & # I was nine, I remember my mother screaming in the house when we scored, "said center-back Dejan Lovren in Croatia's 2-1 win against the Netherlands in 1998. [19659002] But we need luck, we have a good opponent in the next round, it will be difficult, "said Lovren, who should return to the start. It is expected that his defenders will be Domagoj Vida, Sime Vrsaljko, Ivan Strinic – all were rested during the match against Iceland.
Croatia will still depend on Modric, who has been in outstanding form, and his midfielder Ivan Rakitic
Modric scored a goal from far against Argentina and, with Rakitic of FC Barcelona, he brilliantly pulled the strings for his national team.
Young Croatian players like Ante Rebic, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic also took advantage by threatening them
Rebic, Andrej Kramaric and Ivan Perisic, ahead of Modric and Rakitic's duo. Mario Mandzukic will lead the attack on Croatia
Denmark, meanwhile, is happy to continue flying under the radar, backed by a run of 17 games without defeat. They scored just two goals in three Group C games, finishing in second place, but will face their biggest test on Sunday.
They are also looking to match their 1998 performance when they reached the quarter-finals before being beaten. The Denmark coach, Age Hareide, wants his team to play more against Croatia and the team will rely on key player Christian Eriksen for that.
Thomas Delaney said, "We will not lose 0-5 when trying to play tiki-taka football, but people should not lose 0-5." Accustomed to see us play as we do. We did against France, "added the Werder Bremen player.
"It is rare that we play like this, and the match against Croatia will be a very different show." Strong defense with a central double captain Simon Kjaer, Andreas Cristensen and Mathias Jorgensen. In goal is Kasper Schmeichel, star of Leicester City
The expected attack options are Nicolai Jorgensen, Yussuf Polusen, Pione Sisto of Celta Vigo and Eriksen, with the latter loaded with creativity.
With agency contributions
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