Croatia

Group C was expected by many to be a stroll to the quarter-finals for Spain and Italy, but Croatia have made people sit up and take notice, with four points from their opening two games.

A 3-1 win over the Republic of Ireland was impressive but equally so was the way they battled back from a goal down to Italy, to claim what looks like a valuable point. Bilic is one of the few coaches to play with two main strikers and that has paid dividends to date for Croatia (9/2 Group C Winner).

Mario Mandzukic is the joint top scorer in tournament, with three goals, and although he picked up a knock in the draw with the Azzurri, he is expected to start the final group game. Alongside Everton’s Nikica Jelavic, the Wolfsburg frontman (10/1 Euro 2012 Top Goalscorer) has been part of arguably the most threatening strike force in the tournament.

Luka Modric’s play-making performances in midfield have also been lorded, while Ivan Rakitic looks a real threat breaking from the middle of the park.

Those two will have to be at the top of their game though if they are to out perform the best midfield in the tournament. Spain’s Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Andreas Iniesta and David Silva are still the benchmark for opponents and they will again try to pull the strings in the middle of the park.

Despite firing in four goals in a comfortable win over the Irish, they still don’t convince everyone that they have the cutting edge to make history and collect a third major championship in a row.

It’s far too early to say Fernando Torres (11/8 To Score At Anytime) is back to his best and Vicente Del Bosque’s decision to play without a striker against Italy indicates he is not confident that he has a major weapon up front.

A big question from their second match remains – were Spain that good or were Ireland that bad? One plus for the world champions was that some of their squad players were given some experience of championship football and didn’t look out of place.

Croatia’s ability to keep possession, as well as pressurising the ball, will test Spain (Match Betting – Croatia 7/1, Draw 15/8, Spain 8/11) and give us a better idea of where both teams are and whether Croatia are a threat when making a shortlist of potential winners in what looks like a wide-open competition.

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The Catalan giants were this week forced to take out a massive 155m euros loan to cover their costs even though they have cashed in on the likes of Yaya Toure and Dmitri Chigrinski this summer.

Barca have also signed Spain World Cup winner David Villa to raise big question marks over the future of Ibrahimovic in their first-choice XI.

But the former Inter Milan hitman says he is staying at the Nou Camp despite a slow start to life in Catalonia following his move from Italy 12 months ago.

Ibrahimovic told a press conference in his homeland: “I was a Barca player when I left (to go on holiday) and I’ll be a Barca player when I go back.

“I have four years left on my contract.

“I want to congratulate everybody that has used my name, because it’s fun to have been at Chelsea, at Manchester City, without having been there.”

Ibrahimovic has also decided to make an international comeback after stepping away from the biggest stage after Sweden failed to make the 2010 World Cup (Sweden 33/1 – Euro 2012 Outright).

The 28-year-old has been handed co-captaincy duties, along with midfielder Anders Svensson, by new coach Erik Hamren.

Ibrahimovic claims he has now recharged his batteries after the disappointment of missing out on South Africa 2010.

He added: “What I have always said is that I am proud to play for the national team.

“You can count on me to be there at the national team’s next game.

“After the last game (against Denmark), when we didn’t get into the World Cup, I felt my motivation disappear.

“So I decided to give up. I had no desire to play. I’m a competitor, I play to win. After your career, you want to be remembered as someone who won.

“If I’m chosen for the next game, I’ll be there.”

Sweden have been drawn in Group E for the Euro 2012 qualifiers (Sweden 11/4 – Group Winner) where they will meet Holland (1/3), Finland (16/1), Moldova (250/1), Hungary (20/1) and San Marino (2500/1).

Totesport.com has installed world champions Spain as 7/2 pre-tournament favourites ahead of Germany (5/1) and Holland (15/2).

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