2016 UEFA Euro in France June 10 - July 10,2016 - Group D Czech Republic Vs Croatia Friday June 17,2016

Group D  Czech Republic Vs Croatia  Match Preview 

Croatia appear to enjoy playing tournament football on French soil. They won five of seven games at the 1998 World Cup - en route to finishing third - and got their Euro 2016 campaign off to a flyer after seeing off Turkey, courtesy of some Luka Modric magic.

The tournament is yet to see the best of the Czechs. They need to rediscover their impressive qualifying form if they are to kick-start their campaign, and Rosicky will be key to that.

Match Facts

Head-to-head

• This will be the first competitive meeting between the countries.
• The Czech Republic have never beaten Croatia in two previous meetings (D1, L1).
• Nikola Kalinic's brace helped Croatia secure a 4-2 win over Czech Republic when these teams last met in 2011.

Czech Republic

• The Czech Republic have lost six of their last nine games at the Euros, winning the other three.
• They have not been involved in a draw at a major tournament for 19 games (W9, L10).
• Their last draw was 0-0 against France in the semi-finals of Euro 1996. They won 6-5 on penalties that day.
• The Czechs have never failed to score in two consecutive games at the European Championship.
• Striker Tomas Necid has scored more goals as a substitute (seven) than as a starter (four) for his country.
• Tomas Rosicky has only scored two goals at a major tournament - both coming in the Czechs' 3-0 win against the USA in the World Cup in 2006.

Croatia

• Croatia have won five of their last eight group games in the European Championship (D2, L1).
• They have only failed to score once in their last 10 games at the European Championship - against Spain in 2012 (who they play in their final group match).
• They have never conceded more than once in their last eight games in the competition.
• Croatia recorded 19 shots against Turkey, equalling their record for most attempts in a 90-minute game at the European Championship

Group D  Czech Republic Vs Croatia - The Match ended in a 2-2 draw 

Crowd trouble and flares on the pitch marred the Euro 2016 Group D draw between Croatia and the Czech Republic.

The match was halted in the 86th minute when flares from the Croatia end rained down on the Saint-Etienne pitch.

A steward appeared to be hurt by a firework during a five-minute stoppage.

Ivan Perisic(37th minute) and Ivan Rakitic (59th minute)had given Croatia a 2-0 lead, but the Czechs hit back through Milan Skoda's header in the 75th minute before Tomas Necid smashed in a penalty for handball in the 93rd minute

A point from their final Group D game against Spain will see Croatia book their place in the last 16, and the Czech Republic will most likely advance with a victory over Turkey.


Match Statistics

• Darijo Srna made his 16th major tournament appearance for Croatia, the joint-record for the country along with Dario Simic.
• The Czech Republic faced 10 shots in the first half against Croatia, the joint-most they've ever faced in the first half of a Euros game.
• This meeting produced more goals than any other game in the tournament so far (four).
• Croatia conceded more than once in a Euros game for the first time since 2004, when they lost 4-2 to England.
• The Czech Republic registered their first shot on target in the 52nd minute.
• Tomas Necid scored the Czech Republic's first penalty at the Euros since Karel Poborsky scored one against France at Euro 2000.