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Home , 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup, Igor Tudor, Zvonimir Soldo

EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS - 2014/16 SEASON MATCH PRESS KITS - Tuesday 9 September 2014 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Croatia Group H - Matchday -12 Malta Last updated 12/07/2021 16:45CET

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Previous meetings 2 Match background 3 Squad list 4 Head coach 6 Match officials 7 Competition facts 8 Match-by-match lineups 9 Team facts 11 Legend 13

1 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb

Previous meetings Head to Head UEFA EURO 2012 Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached M. Mifsud 38; 02/09/2011 QR (GS) Malta - Croatia 1-3 Ta' Qali Vukojević 11, Badelj 32, Lovren 68 Kranjčar 18, 42, 17/11/2010 QR (GS) Croatia - Malta 3-0 Zagreb Kalinić 81

FIFA World Cup Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Wellmen 74; Kranjčar 07/09/2005 QR (GS) Malta - Croatia 1-1 Ta' Qali 19 30/03/2005 QR (GS) Croatia - Malta 3-0 Zagreb Pršo 24, 35, Tudor 80

UEFA EURO 2000 Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Stanić 34, Soldo 55; 21/08/1999 PR (GS) Croatia - Malta 2-1 Zagreb Carabott 60 Suda 29; Šimić 54, 10/10/1998 PR (GS) Malta - Croatia 1-4 Ta' Qali Vugrinec 68, 74, Šuker 81

Final Qualifying Total tournament

Home Away Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L GF GA EURO Croatia 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 - - - - 4 4 0 0 12 3 Malta 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 - - - - 4 0 0 4 3 12 FIFA* Croatia 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 - - - - 2 1 1 0 4 1 Malta 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 - - - - 2 0 1 1 1 4 Friendlies Croatia ------Malta ------Total Croatia 3 3 0 0 3 2 1 0 - - - - 6 5 1 0 16 4 Malta 3 0 1 2 3 0 0 3 - - - - 6 0 1 5 4 16 * FIFA World Cup/FIFA Confederations Cup

2 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Match background

Croatia should be on steady ground as they welcome Malta for a fourth time in their opening UEFA EURO 2016 Group H qualifier. Match background • Croatia's record in six senior internationals against Malta is W5 D1 L0 (W3 D0 L0 in Croatia – W2 D1 L0 in Malta). They have scored three goals in their last two games against Malta, both wins. • The sides first met in UEFA EURO 2000 qualifying, Miroslav Blažević's Croatia beating Josif Ilić's Malta 4-1 in Ta'Qali on 10 October 1998. Hubert Suda (29) gave Malta a half-time lead but goals from Dario Šimić (54), (68, 74) and Davor Šuker (81) ensured there would be no surprise. The return fixture in Zagreb on 21 August 1999 ended 2-1, Mario Stanić (34) and (55) on target before David Carabott (60) pulled one back. • Zlatko Kranjčar's Croatia then beat Malta 3-0 at home in FIFA World Cup qualifying on 30 March 2005, Dado Pršo (19, 34) and (80) with the goals. Horst Heese's Malta sprung a surprise in the return fixture on 7 September that year; after Niko Kranjčar's 19th-minute opener, Stephen Wellman equalised with a second-half free-kick, Mario Tokić's late dismissal further sullying Croatia's evening. • The sides' most recent encounters came in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying; Slaven Bilić's Croatia beat John Buttigieg's Malta 3-0 in Zagreb on 17 November 2010 (Kranjčar 18, 42, Nikola Kalinić 81). They won 3-1 in Ta'Qali on 2 September 2011, Ognjen Vukojević (11), Milan Badelj (32) and Dejan Lovren (68) on target either side of Michael Mifsud's 38th-minute strike for the home side. • In addition, Croatia have taken on Malta in eight youth and age-group games at international level in UEFA competition: all eight ended in Croatian victories, with no goals conceded. • Sides from these nations have met in 16 UEFA competition games, with the Croatian clubs' record reading W13 D2 L1 (W7 D1 L0 at home – W6 D1 L1 in Malta). That lone defeat was NK Slaven Koprivnica's 2-1 loss at Hibernians FC in a 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup first round game; Slaven won the return fixture 3-0.

3 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Squad list

Croatia Current season Overall Qual. FT Team No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - Danijel Subašić 27/10/1984 29 Monaco - 0 0 0 0 7 - - Lovre Kalinić 03/04/1990 24 Hajduk Split - 0 0 0 0 - - - Ivan Vargić 15/03/1987 27 Rijeka - 0 0 0 0 - - Defenders Shakhtar - 01/05/1982 32 - 0 0 0 0 116 21 Donetsk Lokomotiv - Vedran Ćorluka 05/02/1986 28 - 0 0 0 0 75 4 Moskva - Ivan Strinić 17/07/1987 27 Dnipro - 0 0 0 0 33 - - Dejan Lovren 05/07/1989 25 Liverpool - 0 0 0 0 28 2 - Domagoj Vida 29/04/1989 25 Dynamo Kyiv - 0 0 0 0 24 1 - Šime Vrsaljko 10/01/1992 22 Sassuolo - 0 0 0 0 9 - - Hrvoje Milić 10/05/1989 25 Rostov - 0 0 0 0 4 - - Danijel Pranjić 02/12/1981 32 Panathinaikos - 0 0 0 0 51 - - Luka Modrić 09/09/1985 28 Real - 0 0 0 0 78 8 - Ivan Rakitić 10/03/1988 26 Barcelona - 0 0 0 0 64 9 - Mateo Kovačić 06/05/1994 20 Internazionale - 0 0 0 0 14 - Dinamo - Marcelo Brozović 16/11/1992 21 - 0 0 0 0 3 - Zagreb - Mario Pašalić 09/02/1995 19 Elche - 0 0 0 0 1 - - Alen Halilović 18/06/1996 18 Barcelona - 0 0 0 0 4 - Forwards - Ivica Olić 14/09/1979 34 Wolfsburg - 0 0 0 0 95 19 - Nikica Jelavić 27/08/1985 29 Hull - 0 0 0 0 35 6 - Mario Mandžukić 21/05/1986 28 Atlético - 0 0 0 0 52 17 - Andrej Kramarić 19/06/1991 23 Rijeka - 0 0 0 0 1 - Dinamo - Duje Čop 01/02/1990 24 - 0 0 0 0 1 - Zagreb Dinamo - Marko Pjaca 06/05/1995 19 - 0 0 0 0 1 - Zagreb Coach - Niko Kovač 15/10/1971 42 - 0 0 0 0 9 -

4 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb

Malta Current season Overall Qual. FT Team No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - Justin Haber 09/06/1981 33 Birkirkara - 0 0 0 0 51 - - Andrew Hogg 02/03/1985 29 Kalloni - 0 0 0 0 35 - - Nicky Vella 27/08/1989 25 Valletta - 0 0 0 0 - - Defenders - Jonathan Caruana 24/07/1986 28 Valletta - 0 0 0 0 32 2 - Steve Bezzina 05/01/1987 27 Balzan - 0 0 0 0 4 - - Ryan Camilleri 22/05/1988 26 Valletta - 0 0 0 0 14 - - André Agius 12/08/1986 28 Hibernians - 0 0 0 0 43 1 - Steve Borg 15/05/1988 26 Valletta - 0 0 0 0 10 - - Ryan Scicluna 30/07/1993 21 Birkirkara - 0 0 0 0 1 - Midfielders - Paul Fenech 20/12/1986 27 Birkirkara - 0 0 0 0 21 - - Clayton Failla 08/01/1986 28 Hibernians - 0 0 0 0 35 1 - Ryan Fenech 20/04/1986 28 Valletta - 0 0 0 0 39 1 - Rowen Muscat 05/06/1991 23 Dunaújváros - 0 0 0 0 10 - - Bjorn Kristensen 05/04/1993 21 Hibernians - 0 0 0 0 3 - - Zach Muscat 22/08/1993 21 Birkirkara - 0 0 0 0 1 - Forwards - Michael Mifsud 17/04/1981 33 Sliema - 0 0 0 0 105 39 - Andrew Cohen 13/05/1981 33 Hibernians - 0 0 0 0 59 1 FSV - André Schembri 27/05/1986 28 - 0 0 0 0 58 3 Frankfurt - Edward Herrera 14/11/1986 27 Birkirkara - 0 0 0 0 17 1 Spartak - Jean Paul Farrugia 21/03/1992 22 - 0 0 0 0 - - Trnava - Stephen Pisani 07/08/1992 22 Floriana - 0 0 0 0 - - Coach - Pietro Ghedin 21/11/1952 61 - 0 0 0 0 42 -

5 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Head coach Niko Kovač Date of birth: 15 October 1971 Nationality: Croatian Playing career: FC Hertha 03 Berlin-Zehlendorf, Hertha BSC Berlin, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Hamburger SV, FC Bayern München, FC Salzburg Coaching career: Croatia Under-21, Croatia • Born in Berlin to parents hailing from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kovač began his career at local side Hertha Zehlendorf before earning a move to second-tier Hertha Berlin in 1991. A defensive , he then joined Leverkusen, playing alongside younger brother Robert for the first time. • Signed for in 1999 but was reunited with Robert when the pair were snapped up by Bayern two years later. Won a league and cup double in 2002/03 yet struggled to tie down a starting spot and returned to Hertha in 2003, subsequently ending his playing days with Salzburg. • Collected his first Croatia cap in 1996 and featured in 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying, only for injury to rule him out of the finals. He was ever-present, though, at the 2002 World Cup and UEFA EURO 2004. He was also a fixture at the 2006 global showpiece and impressed at UEFA EURO 2008, finishing up – in 2009 – with 83 caps and 14 international goals under his belt. • Quickly turned to coaching, first overseeing Salzburg's youth side and then working as a first-team assistant. Left Salzburg in 2012 and took charge, along with brother Robert, of Croatia's U21 squad in January 2013. • Named caretaker coach of Croatia's senior team on 16 October 2013 following Igor Štimac's resignation, he penned a two-year deal the next day and oversaw a 2-0 aggregate victory over Iceland in the 2014 World Cup play-offs, Croatia bowing out in the group stage in Brazil. Pietro Ghedin Date of birth: 21 November 1952 Nationality: Italian Playing career: ACF Fiorentina, SS Lazio, AC Venezia, Calcio Catania, Pescara Calcio, AC Pistoiese, AC Siena Coaching career: Italy Under-18, Malta U21, Malta (twice), Italy (assistant), Italy women • Defender Ghedin played in with Fiorentina and Lazio, joining the latter immediately after the capital side had won their first-ever Scudetto in 1974 and remaining at the Stadio Olimpico until 1981. He played out his career in the lower divisions. • Ghedin became an Italian Football Federation (FIGC) coach in 1987, leading the country's U18s and becoming senior national team scout ahead of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. • He served as the Azzurri goalkeeping coach for the Olympic Games of 1992 and 1996. Additionally, while still under contract with the FIGC, he also coached the Malta national side at both U21 and senior level between 1992 and 1995. • Appointed assistant to Italy coach Cesare Maldini during the 1998 World Cup, Ghedin remained in that role under Dino Zoff at UEFA EURO 2000 and Giovanni Trapattoni at the 2002 World Cup. • Ghedin became Italy's senior women's coach in 2005, guiding them to the UEFA Women's EURO 2009 quarter- finals, before leaving in 2012 to return to the Malta helm.

6 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Match officials

Referee Vladislav Bezborodov (RUS) Assistant referees Nikolai Golubev (RUS) , Maksim Gavrilin (RUS) Additional assistant referees Sergei Ivanov (RUS) , Mikhail Vilkov (RUS) Fourth official Valeri Danchenko (RUS) UEFA Delegate Steve Stride (ENG) UEFA Referee observer Georgios Bikas (GRE)

Referee UEFA EURO Name Date of birth UEFA matches matches Vladislav Bezborodov 15/01/1973 2 36

Vladislav Bezborodov Referee since: 2001 First division: 2007 FIFA badge: 2009

Tournaments: 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Championship

Finals 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Championship

UEFA European Championship matches featuring the two countries involved in this match No such matches refereed Other matches involving teams from either of the two countries involved in this match Stage Date Competition Home Away Result Venue reached 27/07/2010 U19 SF France Croatia 2-1 Caen 12/12/2013 UEL GS GNK Dinamo Zagreb PFC Ludogorets Razgrad 1-2 Zagreb

7 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Competition facts

8 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Match-by-match lineups Croatia

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (09/09/2014) Croatia-Malta Matchday 2 (10/10/2014) Bulgaria-Croatia Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Croatia-Azerbaijan Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Italy-Croatia Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Croatia-Norway Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Croatia-Italy Matchday 7 (03/09/2015) Azerbaijan-Croatia Matchday 8 (06/09/2015) Norway-Croatia Matchday 9 (10/10/2015) Croatia-Bulgaria Matchday 10 (13/10/2015) Malta-Croatia Malta

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (09/09/2014) Croatia-Malta Matchday 2 (10/10/2014) Malta-Norway Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Malta-Italy Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Bulgaria-Malta Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Azerbaijan-Malta Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Malta-Bulgaria Matchday 7 (03/09/2015) Italy-Malta Matchday 8 (06/09/2015) Malta-Azerbaijan Matchday 9 (10/10/2015) Norway-Malta Matchday 10 (13/10/2015)

9 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb

Malta-Croatia

10 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Team facts

UEFA European Championship records: Croatia History 2012 – group stage 2008 – quarter-finals 2004 – group stage 2000 – did not qualify 1996 – quarter-finals Final tournament win 3-0: Croatia v Denmark, 16/06/96 Final tournament defeat 0-3: Croatia v Portugal, 19/06/96 Qualifying win 7-0: Croatia v Andorra, 07/10/06 Qualifying defeat 0-2: four times, most recently Greece v Croatia, 07/10/11 Final tournament appearances 8: Darijo Srna 7: Vedran Ćorluka 6: Niko Kovač 6: Robert Kovač 6: Josip Šimunić 6: Ivica Olić 6: Niko Kranjčar 6: 6: Danijel Pranjić 6: Ivan Rakitić 6: Luka Modrić Final tournament goals 3: Mario Mandžukić 3: Davor Šuker 2: Ivan Klasnić Overall appearances 36: Darijo Srna 32: Stipe Pletikosa 32: Vedran Ćorluka 31: Josip Šimunić 30: Dario Šimić 30: Luka Modrić 28: Ivica Olić Overall goals 20: Davor Šuker 13: Eduardo 8: Mladen Petrić 6: 6: Niko Kranjčar 6: Darijo Srna 6: Mario Mandžukić

UEFA European Championship records: Malta History 2012 – did not qualify 2008 – did not qualify 2004 – did not qualify 2000 – did not qualify

11 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb

1996 – did not qualify 1992 – did not qualify 1988 – did not qualify 1984 – did not qualify 1980 – did not qualify 1972 – did not qualify 1968 – did not qualify 1964 – did not qualify 1960 – did not participate Qualifying win 2-0: Malta v Greece, 23/02/75 Qualifying defeat 12-1: Spain v Malta, 21/12/83 Overall appearances 32: Carmel Busuttil 31: Michael Mifsud 29: David Carabott 26: Kristian Laferla 26: Gilbert Agius 25: John Buttigieg Overall goals 9: Michael Mifsud 5: Carmel Busuttil 4: David Carabott

12 Croatia - Malta Tuesday 9 September 2014 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Legend

:: Previous meetings

Goals for/against: Goal totals include the outcome of disciplinary decisions (e.g. match forfeits when a 3-0 result is determined). Goals totals do not include goals scored during a penalty shoot-out after a tie ended in a draw

:: Squad list

Qual.: Total European Qualifiers appearances/goals for UEFA EURO 2020 only. FT: Total UEFA EURO 2020 appearances/goals in final tournament only. Overall: Total international appearances/goals. DoB: Date of birth Age: Based on the date press kit was last updated D: Disciplinary (*: misses next match if booked, S: suspended)

:: Team facts

EURO finals: The UEFA European Championship was a four-team event in 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 (when the preliminary round and quarter-finals were considered part of qualifying).

From 1980 it was expanded to an eight-team finals and remained in that format in 1984, 1988 and 1992 until 1996, when the 16-team format was adopted. UEFA EURO 2016 was the first tournament to be played as a 24-team finals.

Records of inactive countries A number of UEFA associations have been affected by dissolution or splits of member associations. For statistical purposes, the records of these inactive countries have been allocated elsewhere: therefore, all Soviet Union matches are awarded to Russia; all West Germany – but not East Germany – matches are awarded to Germany; all Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro matches are awarded to Serbia; all Czechoslovakia matches are allocated to both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Abandoned/forfeited matches For statisical purposes, when a match has been started and then abandoned but later forfeited, the result on the pitch at the time of abandonment is counted. Matches that never started and were either cancelled or forfeited are not included in the overall statistics. Competitions Other abbreviations (aet): After extra time pens: Penalties No.: Number og: Own goal ag: Match decided on away goals P: Penalty agg: Aggregate Pld: Matches played AP: Appearances Pos.: Position Comp.: Competition Pts: Points D: Drawn R: Sent off (straight red card) DoB: Date of birth Res.: Result ET: Extra Time sg: Match decided by silver goal GA: Goals against t: Match decided by toss of a coin GF: Goals for W: Won gg: Match decided by golden goal Y: Booked L: Lost Y/R: Sent off (two yellow cards) Nat.: Nationality N/A: Not applicable Disclaimer: Although UEFA has taken all reasonable care that the information contained within this document is accurate at the time of publication, no representation or guarantee (including liability towards third parties), expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, reliability or completeness. Therefore, UEFA assumes no liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein. More information can be found in the competition regulations available on UEFA.com.

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