EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS - 2014/16 SEASON MATCH PRESS KITS 8 KM Stadionu - Thursday 3 September 2015 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Group H - Matchday -6 Last updated 12/07/2021 15:44CET

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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 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku

Previous meetings Head to Head 2016 UEFA European Championship Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Kramarić 11, Perišić 34, 45, Brozović 13/10/2014 QR (GS) Croatia - Azerbaijan 6-0 Osijek 45+1, Modrić 57 (P), Sadygov 61 (og)

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 Azerbaijan - - - - 1 0 0 1 - - - - 1 0 0 1 0 6 Croatia 1 1 0 0 ------1 1 0 0 6 0 FIFA* Azerbaijan ------Croatia ------Friendlies Azerbaijan ------Croatia ------Total Azerbaijan - - - - 1 0 0 1 - - - - 1 0 0 1 0 6 Croatia 1 1 0 0 ------1 1 0 0 6 0 * FIFA World Cup/FIFA Confederations Cup

2 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku Match background

Azerbaijan will look for a significant improvement on their last UEFA EURO 2016 Group H meeting with Croatia as Robert Prosinečki takes on his home side.

Previous meetings • In the nations' first competitive meeting, Croatia beat Azerbaijan 6-0 in Osijek on 13 October 2014, Andrej Kramarić (11), Ivan Perišić (34 45), Marcelo Brozović (45+1) and Luka Modrić (57p) scoring before a Rashad F Sadygov own goal completed the visitors' misery. • The margin of victory was one goal shy of Croatia's biggest win of all time – 7-0 against Andorra in 2006; their 4-0 lead at the break is the most substantial half-time lead in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying to date. • Victory made it three from three in Group H without conceding for Croatia: their best ever start to a UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign. Disciplinary • Azerbaijan midfielder Dmitri Nazarov is a yellow card away from a one-game ban. • Mateo Kovačić, Mario Mandžukić and Ivica Olić are all a booking away from a suspension. Form guide • Azerbaijan are unbeaten in two Group H games under new coach Prosinečki, in which they have not conceded: a 2- 0 win against Malta and an impressive 0-0 draw in Norway. • Croatia are unbeaten in eight qualifying competition games (W5 D3) since a 2-0 loss in Scotland in FIFA World Cup qualifying in October 2013.

Trivia and links • Croatia's Ivan Rakitić is one of four players topping the rankings with four UEFA EURO 2016 assists after six games along with, Poland's Arkadiusz Milik, 's Senad Lulić and Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri. • Azerbaijan forward Ruslan Qurbanov played club football in Croatia with HNK Hajduk Split in 2015, on loan from Neftçi PFK; Croatia reserve goalkeeper Lovre Kalinić was among his team-mates. • Azerbaijan coach Prosinečki made 49 appearances for Croatia, scoring ten times. He and current Croatia boss Niko Kovač featured together for the national team from 1996-2002 – notably at the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals. Both coaches were born in .

3 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku Squad list

Azerbaijan Current season Overall Qual. FT Team No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - Kamran Agayev 09/02/1986 29 Karşıyaka - 5 0 0 0 53 - - Agil Mammadov 01/05/1989 26 Neftçi - 0 0 0 0 - - - Salahat Agayev 04/01/1991 24 İnter Bakı - 1 0 0 0 6 - Defenders - Rashad F. Sadygov 16/06/1982 33 Qarabağ - 6 0 0 0 94 4 - Arif Dashdemirov 10/02/1987 28 Qäbälä - 2 0 0 0 4 - Metalurh - Pavlo Pashayev 04/01/1988 27 - 0 0 0 0 2 - Zaporizhya Xäzär - Ruslan Abışov 10/10/1987 27 - 2 0 0 0 45 4 Länkäran - Gara Garayev 12/10/1992 22 Qarabağ - 6 0 0 0 16 - - Tarlan Guliyev 19/04/1992 23 Käpäz - 2 0 0 0 2 - - Badavi Hüseynov 11/07/1991 24 Qarabağ - 5 0 0 0 17 - - Magomed Mirzabekov 16/11/1990 24 Qäbälä - 0 0 0 0 1 - Midfielders - Rashad A. Sadygov 08/10/1983 31 Qäbälä - 0 0 0 0 21 - Xäzär - Rahid Amirguliyev 01/09/1989 26 - 5 0 0 0 43 1 Länkäran - Araz Abdullayev 18/04/1992 23 Neftçi - 4 0 0 0 15 - - Afran Ismayilov 08/10/1988 26 Qarabağ - 2 0 0 0 21 1 - Javid Taghiyev 22/07/1992 23 Qarabağ - 0 0 0 0 - - - Dmitri Nazarov 04/04/1990 25 Karlsruhe * 6 2 0 0 10 3 - Eddy 02/08/1992 23 Eibar - 1 0 0 0 1 - Forwards - Magomed Kurbanov 11/04/1992 23 Neftçi - 1 0 0 0 2 - Xäzär - Vüqar Nadirov 15/06/1987 28 - 4 0 0 0 57 4 Länkäran - Ruslan Gurbanov 12/09/1991 23 Neftçi - 2 0 0 0 3 - - Rauf Aliyev 12/02/1989 26 İnter Bakı - 4 0 0 0 41 7 Xäzär - Elnur Jafarov 28/03/1997 18 - 0 0 0 0 - - Länkäran Coach - Robert Prosinečki 12/01/1969 46 - 3 0 0 0 4 -

4 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku

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 30 Monaco - 6 0 0 0 14 - - Lovre Kalinić 03/04/1990 25 Hajduk Split - 0 0 0 0 1 - - Ivan Vargić 15/03/1987 28 - 0 0 0 0 1 - Defenders Lokomotiv - Vedran Ćorluka 05/02/1986 29 - 5 0 0 0 80 4 Moskva - 05/07/1989 26 Liverpool - 1 0 0 0 29 2 - Domagoj Vida 29/04/1989 26 Dynamo Kyiv - 5 0 0 0 29 1 - Marin Leovac 07/08/1988 27 PAOK - 1 0 0 0 3 - - Šime Vrsaljko 10/01/1992 23 Sassuolo - 1 0 0 0 12 - - Marko Lešković 27/04/1991 24 Rijeka - 0 0 0 0 2 - Midfielders - Danijel Pranjić 02/12/1981 33 Panathinaikos - 5 1 0 0 56 1 - Luka Modrić 09/09/1985 29 Real Madrid - 5 2 0 0 83 10 - Milan Badelj 25/02/1989 26 Fiorentina - 2 0 0 0 13 1 - Ivan Rakitić 10/03/1988 27 Barcelona - 6 0 0 0 70 9 - Ivan Perišić 02/02/1989 26 Internazionale - 5 4 0 0 38 9 - Mateo Kovačić 06/05/1994 21 Real Madrid * 5 0 0 0 21 1 - Marcelo Brozović 16/11/1992 22 Internazionale - 6 2 0 0 10 2 - Mijo Caktaš 08/05/1992 23 Hajduk Split - 0 0 0 0 - - Forwards - Ivica Olić 14/09/1979 35 Hamburg * 6 1 0 0 101 20 - Nikola Kalinić 05/01/1988 27 Fiorentina - 0 0 0 0 21 6 - Mario Mandžukić 21/05/1986 29 Juventus * 6 1 0 0 59 19 - Andrej Kramarić 19/06/1991 24 Leicester - 4 2 0 0 6 3 - Ante Rebić 21/09/1993 21 Fiorentina - 1 0 0 0 7 1 Dinamo - Marko Pjaca 06/05/1995 20 - 0 0 0 0 2 - Zagreb Coach - Niko Kovač 15/10/1971 43 - 7 0 0 0 18 -

5 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku Head coach Robert Prosinečki Date of birth: 12 January 1969 Nationality: Croatian Playing career: GNK Dinamo Zagreb (twice), FK Crvena zvezda, Real Madrid CF, Real Oviedo, FC Barcelona, Sevilla FC, NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac, R. Standard de Liège, Portsmouth FC, NK Olimpija Ljubljana, NK Zagreb Coaching career: Croatia (assistant), FK Crvena zvezda, • Born in Germany, Prosinečki moved back to Croatia with his family in 1979, and developed as a midfielder with stunning technique at Dinamo Zagreb. • He moved on to Crvena zvezda and helped the Belgrade side to win the 1990/91 European Champion Clubs' Cup, scoring the opening penalty in their shoot-out success against . • After a high-profile transfer, injuries hampered his time at Real Madrid, though he was to stay in Spain for some time, representing Oviedo, Barcelona and Sevilla before further adventures in Belgium, England and Slovenia. • Capped 15 times for and 49 times for Croatia, his goals in the 1990 and 1998 tournaments made him the only player to score in FIFA World Cup finals competitons for two different nations. • Having assisted former Croatia team-mate Slaven Bilić with the national team, Prosinečki coached Crvena zvezda to Serbian Cup success in 2011/12 and led Turkish side Kayserispor from 2012–13. Hired as Azerbaijan coach in December 2014. 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 midfielder, he then joined Leverkusen, playing alongside younger brother Robert for the first time. • Signed for Hamburg 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.

6 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku Match officials

Referee Ruddy Buquet (FRA) Assistant referees Guillaume Debart (FRA) , Cyril Gringore (FRA) Additional assistant referees Fredy Fautrel (FRA) , Amaury Delerue (FRA) Fourth official Philippe Jeanne (FRA) UEFA Delegate Jean-François Crucke (BEL) UEFA Referee observer Vítor Melo Pereira (POR)

Referee UEFA EURO Name Date of birth UEFA matches matches Ruddy Buquet 29/01/1977 2 28

Ruddy Buquet Referee since: 2001 First division: 2008 FIFA badge: 2011

Tournaments: N/A

Finals N/A

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 No such matches refereed

7 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku Competition facts

8 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku Match-by-match lineups Azerbaijan

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (09/09/2014) Azerbaijan 1-2 Bulgaria Goals: 0-1 Mitsanski 14, 1-1 Nazarov 54, 1-2 V. Hristov 87 Azerbaijan: K. Agayev, Garayev, Shukurov, Hüseynov, Javadov (46 А. Abdullayev), Dadaşov, R. Aliyev, Nazarov, Sadygov, Abışov (74 Guliyev), Ufuk Budak (90 Nadirov) Matchday 2 (10/10/2014) Italy 2-1 Azerbaijan Goals: 1-0 Chiellini 44, 1-1 Chiellini 76 (og) , 2-1 Chiellini 82 Azerbaijan: K. Agayev, Garayev, Allahverdiyev, Hüseynov, А. Abdullayev, Qırtımov (46 Ramaldanov), Dadaşov (59 J. Hüseynov), R. Aliyev, Nazarov, Sadygov, Amirguliyev (86 Nadirov) Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Croatia 6-0 Azerbaijan Goals: 1-0 Kramarić 11, 2-0 Perišić 34, 3-0 Perišić 45, 4-0 Brozović 45+1, 5-0 Modrić 57 (P) , 6-0 Sadygov 61 (og) Azerbaijan: K. Agayev, Garayev (30 Ramazanov (41 J. Hüseynov)), Ramaldanov, Allahverdiyev (66 Guliyev), Hüseynov, А. Abdullayev, R. Aliyev, Nazarov, Sadygov, Medvedev, Amirguliyev Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Azerbaijan 0-1 Norway Goals: 0-1 Nordtveit 25 Azerbaijan: S. Agayev, Shukurov, Medvedev, Javadov, А. Abdullayev, R. Aliyev, Sadygov, Abışov (65 Garayev), Amirguliyev, Imamverdiyev (69 Nazarov), Yunuszadä Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Azerbaijan 2-0 Malta Goals: 1-0 J. Hüseynov 4, 2-0 Nazarov 90+2 Azerbaijan: K. Agayev, Garayev, Medvedev, Hüseynov, Sadygov, J. Hüseynov, Nadirov (81 Eddy), Amirguliyev, Alaskarov (22 R. Gurbanov), Dashdemirov, Ismayilov (70 Nazarov) Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Norway 0-0 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan: K. Agayev, Garayev, Medvedev, Hüseynov, R. Gurbanov (81 Nadirov), Nazarov (93 Kurbanov), Sadygov, J. Hüseynov, Amirguliyev, Dashdemirov, Ismayilov Matchday 7 (03/09/2015) Azerbaijan-Croatia Matchday 8 (06/09/2015) Malta-Azerbaijan Matchday 9 (10/10/2015) Azerbaijan-Italy Matchday 10 (13/10/2015) Bulgaria-Azerbaijan Croatia

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (09/09/2014) Croatia 2-0 Malta Goals: 1-0 Modrić 46, 2-0 Kramarić 81 Croatia: Subašić, Milić, Ćorluka, Lovren, Rakitić, Halilović (67 Kramarić), Modrić, Srna, Brozović, Mandžukić (79 Olić), Kovačić (46 Jelavić) Matchday 2 (10/10/2014) Bulgaria 0-1 Croatia

9 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku Goals: 0-1 Bodurov 36 (og) Croatia: Subašić, Pranjić, Perišić, Ćorluka, Rakitić (80 Kovačić), Modrić, Srna, Brozović, Mandžukić, Olić, Vida Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Croatia 6-0 Azerbaijan Goals: 1-0 Kramarić 11, 2-0 Perišić 34, 3-0 Perišić 45, 4-0 Brozović 45+1, 5-0 Modrić 57 (P) , 6-0 Sadygov 61 (og) Croatia: Subašić, Pranjić, Ćorluka, Rakitić, Modrić (60 Halilović), Srna, Brozović, Mandžukić, Kovačić (24 Perišić), Vida, Kramarić (76 Olić) Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Italy 1-1 Croatia Goals: 1-0 Candreva 11, 1-1 Perišić 15 Croatia: Subašić, Pranjić, Perišić, Ćorluka, Rakitić, Modrić (28 Kovačić), Srna, Brozović (83 Badelj), Mandžukić, Olić (68 Kramarić), Vida Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Croatia 5-1 Norway Goals: 1-0 Brozović 30, 2-0 Perišić 53, 3-0 Olić 65, 3-1 Tettey 80, 4-1 Schildenfeld 87, 5-1 Pranjić 90+4 Croatia: Subašić, Pranjić, Perišić, Ćorluka, Rakitić (75 Schildenfeld), Modrić, Srna, Brozović, Mandžukić (87 Badelj), Olić (70 Kramarić), Vida Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Croatia 1-1 Italy Goals: 1-0 Mandžukić 11, 1-1 Candreva 36 (P) Croatia: Subašić, Pranjić (72 Vrsaljko), Perišić, Rakitić, Srna, Schildenfeld, Brozović, Mandžukić, Olić (46 Rebić), Kovačić (92 Leovac), Vida 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

10 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku Team facts

UEFA European Championship records: Azerbaijan History 2012 – did not qualify 2008 – did not qualify 2004 – did not qualify 2000 – did not qualify 1996 – did not qualify Qualifying win 4-0: Azerbaijan v Liechtenstein, 05/06/99 Qualifying defeat 10-0: France v Azerbaijan, 06/09/95 Overall appearances 26: Rashad Sadygov 22: Emin Agaev 22: Aslan Kerimov 21: Tarlan Akhmedov 19: Makhmud Gurbanov Overall goals 5: Gurban Gurbanov 3: Vüqar Nadirov 2: Rauf Aliyev 2: Farrukh Ismaylov 2: Vagif Javadov 2: Dmitri Nazarov 2: Nazim Suleymanov 2: Zaur Tagizade

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: 7: Vedran Ćorluka 6: Niko Kovač 6: Robert Kovač 6: Josip Šimunić 6: Ivica Olić 6: Niko Kranjčar 6: Stipe Pletikosa 6: Danijel Pranjić 6: Ivan Rakitić

11 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku 6: Luka Modrić Final tournament goals 3: Mario Mandžukić 3: Davor Šuker 2: Ivan Klasnić Overall appearances 40: Darijo Srna 36: Vedran Ćorluka 34: Luka Modrić 32: Stipe Pletikosa 32: Ivica Olić 31: Josip Šimunić 30: Dario Šimić Overall goals 20: Davor Šuker 13: Eduardo 8: Mladen Petrić 7: Mario Mandžukić 6: 6: Niko Kranjčar 6: Darijo Srna 6: Ivica Olić

12 Azerbaijan - Croatia Thursday 3 September 2015 - 18.00CET (21.00 local time) Match press kit 8 KM Stadionu, Baku 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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