GROUP G / CROATIA

*--* World Cup record: Played seven (5-2-0); goals for: 11; goals against: five Best finish: Third in 1998 1998 showing: Third Coach: Mirko Jozic. Replaced Miroslav Blazevic, the architect of Croatia’s third-place finish in 1998, in January 2001 after Croatia opened World Cup qualification with draws against Belgium and Scotland. Conservative and defense-minded, Jozic guided Croatia to a 5-0-1 record during its last six qualifiers Players to watch: Alen Boksic, Robert Prosinecki, Davor Suker, Robert Jarni, Robert Kovac In brief: Croatia was the surprise team of the 1998 World Cup in France, reaching the semifinals in its first attempt. Many of the key components of that squad--Suker, Jarni, Prosinecki among them--are now in their 30s, weighting down hopes for a repeat run this year Quick quote: “I wish we had five players who are younger, faster and better than Prosinecki. But we don’t.”--Jozic Forecast: Second in the group, quarterfinals a possibility

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