Andrej Kramaric (R) of Croatia vies with Ramil Sheydaev (C) of Azerbaijan during the UEFA Euro 2020 group E qualifying match between Croatia and Azerbaijan in Zagreb, Croatia, on March 21, 2019. Croatia won 2-1. (Xinhua/Marko Prpic)
ZAGREB, March 21 (Xinhua) -- With only four starters from last year's World Cup final, Croatia started the new qualifying campaign with the 2-1 coming from behind win against Azerbaijan on Thursday night at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb.
Team captain Luka Modric, Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic, Internazionale Milan winger Ivan Perisic and Besiktas central defender Domagoj Vida were the only players that have been selected in the starting 11 against France at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow nine months ago and got to start the match versus Azerbaijan.
Two starters from Moscow, forward Mario Mandzukic and goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, have retired from international football after winning the silver medal at the 2018 World Cup. Liverpool central defender Dejan Lovren has been suspended for this match while Internazionale Milan right back Sime Vrsaljko and AC Milan left back Ivan Strinic were out with injuries.
Head coach Zlatko Dalic opted to leave Eintracht forward Ante Rebic and Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic on the bench but stayed true to his words spoken ahead of the clash with Azerbaijan led by Nikola Jurcevic, the asisstant of the former Croatian national head coach Slaven Bilic, by naming newcomers, Wolfsburg winger Josip Brekalo and Dinamo Zagreb forward Bruno Petkovic in his attack-oriented starting line-up.
"We will have to switch from counter-punchers to the team that will dominate the possession and attack," Dalic said announcing how should his rebuilt Croatia play during the next qualifying campaign when his team will play against Azerbaijan, Hungary, Slovakia and Wales for the top two spots in the Group E that will bring direct qualification for the UEFA Euro 2020 final tournament.
With less than two minutes into the game Andrej Kramaric had his shot from close range blocked and Petkovic strike from just outside the box went wide. Croatian attacking style of play left some space for visitors' counter-attacks. Azerbaijan lone striker Ramil Sheydaev outsprinted Domagoj Vida on the left wing in the 13th minute but couldn't get the ball pass the Croatian goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic.
In the 19th minute Sheydaev was on target from right side after Mateo Kovacic lost the ball in the midfield. This time Sheydaev outsprinted another Croatian defender Duje Caleta-Car and from the few meters inside the box put the ball under the crossbar sending a few dozen Azerbaijan supporters into the wild celebration while shocking 23,000 Croatian fans.
Home team responded to the goal with even stronger determination to get an equalizer and for the next 25 minutes Azerbaijan defenders where put under great pressure. Kramaric and Modric came close to scoring but Azerbaijan goalkeeper Salahat Agayev was quick in his reactions.
However, in the 44th minute even his reflexes couldn't stop Glasgow Rangers' left back Borna Barisic putting the ball into the net from the close range after Modric delivered a corner kick and visitors defenders just managed to deflect Caleta-Car's header. It was Barisic's first goal in his fifth appearance for Croatia.
Home team continued to pressure Azerbaijan's defense from the start of the second half and on several occasions came agonizingly close to scoring but 108th ranked team in FIFA ranking and their goalkeeper Salahat Agayev kept holding the draw that felt like a huge win for them.
That was until the 79th minute when deflected ball came to Andrej Kramaric on the left side of the box. Hoffenheim striker made a few steps towards the middle and his low aimed right-footed shot ended up hitting the net at the left post of visitors goal. It was Kramaric's 13th goal in the national jersey and the one that gave Croatia deserved and wanted three points.
Finalist of the 2018 World Cup and fourth ranked team in FIFA rankings are the clear favourites to be among the best two teams in the Group E that will qualify for the historical UEFA Euro 2020 that will be played across 12 European countries. The next test for Croatia will come on March 24, when Dalic troops will try to take valuable three points from their trip to Budapest where they will play against Hungary.
