Croatia and Italy will lock horns behind closed doors in a Euro 2016 qualifier yesterday after the Balkan nation were given a crowd ban following repeated offences by their fans.
In what would have attracted a full house in Croatia’s Adriatic resort of Split, the top-of-the-table Group H fixture comes as an anti-climax much to the dismay of the home team’s coach Niko Kovac.
“It is tragic for our soccer and the people that no fans will be allowed into the ground,” Kovac said.
“Hence it won’t be an enjoyable event but there will be no excuses if we don’t get a result.
“Under the circumstances, I’d be happy with a draw, especially in view of the fact that we will miss injured (midfielder) Luka Modric and (defender) Vedran Corluka through suspension.”
The Croatians were handed a one-match crowd ban after racist chants by their fans during a 5-1 home win over Norway in March.
The match in the San Siro stadium was twice halted after visiting Croatia fans hurled flares on to the pitch.
Kovac could be tempted to field an adventurous 4-4-2 formation by partnering Leicester City striker Andrej Kramaric to Mario Mandzukic up front, while Modric’s absence could unleash Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic into a free role in midfield.
Italy coach Antonio Conte faces a selection headache.
A calf injury has ruled Italy midfielder Marco Verratti out of the match.
“Verratti left the Coverciano training camp (on Thursday) morning as he returned back to his team Paris Saint Germain to undergo medical checks,” FIGC said.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is also doubtful with an elbow injury he sustained playing for Juventus in their 3-1 Champions League final defeat against Barcelona.
“Croatia are a very good team and they proved it at the San Siro but we have to qualify,” Conte said.
“We’re working on a different formation (to our preferred 3-5-2), we need to play a system that fits the personnel.”
Fatigue after a long club season could also be a factor at both ends but Croatia’s Dynamo Kiev defender Domagoj Vida is confident the home side can take a big step towards next year’s finals in France.
“Exhaustion goes out the window for a big game like this, it’s the group’s derby and we are confident as we’ve had a very good campaign so far,” said Vida.
Group A
Playing today
Kazakhstan vs Turkey (18.00)
Iceland vs Czech Republic (20.45)
Latvia vs Netherlands (20.45)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Czech Rep. | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 13 |
| Iceland | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 12 |
| Netherlands | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 7 |
| Turkey | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
| Latvia | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 3 |
| Kazakhstan | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 1 |
Group B
Playing today
Andorra vs Cyprus (20.45)
Bosnia vs Israel (20.45)
Wales vs Belgium (20.45)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Belgium | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 11 |
| Wales | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 11 |
| Israel | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 9 |
| Cyprus | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 6 |
| Bosnia | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Andorra | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 0 |
Group C
Playing Sunday
Ukraine vs Luxembourg (18.00)
Belarus vs Spain (20.45)
Slovakia vs Macedonia (20.45)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Slovakia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 15 |
| Spain | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 12 |
| Ukraine | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| Belarus | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 4 |
| Macedonia | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 3 |
| Luxembourg | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 1 |
Group D
Playing tomorrow
Poland vs Georgia (18.00)
Ireland vs Scotland (18.00)
Gibraltar vs Germany (20.45)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Poland | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 11 |
| Germany | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 10 |
| Scotland | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 10 |
| Ireland | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 8 |
| Georgia | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 3 |
| Gibraltar | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 0 |
Group E
Playing Sunday
Estonia vs San Marino (18.00)
Slovenia vs England (18.00)
Lithuania vs Switzerland (20.45)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| England | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Slovenia | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 9 |
| Switzerland | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 9 |
| Lithuania | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 6 |
| Estonia | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| San Marino | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
Group F
Playing tomorrow
Finland vs Hungary (18.00)
Faroe Islands vs Greece (20.45)
N. Ireland vs Romania (20.45)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Romania | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 13 |
| N. Ireland | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| Hungary | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| Finland | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Faroe Isl. | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
| Greece | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
Group G
Playing Sunday
Liechtenstein vs Moldova (18.00)
Russia vs Austria (18.00)
Sweden vs Montenegro (20.45)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Austria | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 13 |
| Sweden | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 9 |
| Russia | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 8 |
| Montenegro | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Liechtenstein | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 4 |
| Moldova | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
Group H
Playing today
Croatia vs Italy (20.45)
Malta vs Bulgaria (20.45)
Norway vs Azerbaijan (20.45)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Croatia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 13 |
| Italy | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 11 |
| Norway | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Bulgaria | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| Azerbaijan | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 3 |
| Malta | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
Group I
Playing tomorrow
Armenia vs Portugal (18.00)
Denmark vs Serbia (20.45)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Portugal | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| Denmark | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
| Albania | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| Serbia (-3) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| Armenia | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
Friendly
Albania vs France (18.00)