Modrić equals Srna's record

Croatia left empty-handed in Slovenia

24.03.2021.

Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS

In its opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Croatia lost to its neighbouring hosts 1:0.

SLOVENIA - CROATIA 0:0 (0:0)
2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group H.
Stožice, Ljubljana.

Referee: A. Mateu Lahoz (Spain)

Goals: 1:0 - Lovrić (15')

Cautions: Barišić (24'), Brozović (35'), Kurtić (61'), Vrsaljko (65'), Vida (67'), Budimir (76'), Mevlja (77')

Slovenia: Oblak, Balkovec, Mevlja, Blažič, Stojanović, Kurtić, Lovrić (87' Bajrić), Bijol (69' Vetrih), Iličić (87' Skubic), Bohar (64' Črnigoj), Šporar (69' Kramer). Head coach: M. Kek.

Croatia: Livaković, Barišić (46' Oršić), Vida, Lovren, Vrsaljko, Brozović, Modrić, Kovačić (82' Pašalić), Perišić, Vlašić (69' Budimir), Kramarić (64' Brekalo). Head coach: Z. Dalić.

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

At the beginning of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Croatia national football team visited Slovenia, an opponent with a W6 D3 head-to-head record.

And it was Croatia that created the first opportunities - ten minutes gone, and Vlašić struck the post - but it was Slovenia that took the lead. On 15 minutes, Lovrić's effort from the edge of the box was deflected past Livaković into the net.

Searching for an equalizer, defenders Vida and Lovren failed to convert chances, Kramarić couldn't find the target, yet the hosts managed to be dangerous on couple of more occasions.

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

LUKA MODRIĆ EQUALS DARIJO SRNA'S RECORD

Team captain Luka Modrić now has 134 international caps and joins former captain Darijo Srna at the top of Croatia's all-time appearances list.

In the second half, Slovenia held on to this advantage, with Croatia coming close through Oršić, Budimir, and Perišić.

Tonight, in other Group H matches, Russia won away at Malta 3:1, while Slovakia drew at Cyprus (0:0). On Saturday, Croatia hosts Cyprus in Rijeka.

2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group H:
1. Russia 3
2. Slovenia 3
3. Cyprus 1
4. Slovakia 1
5. Croatia 0
6. Malta 0

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

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