MARTIN KEOWN’S SCOUTING REPORT
DANIJEL SUBASIC (GOALKEEPER) AGE 33 CAPS 42 GOALS 0 ENGLAND don’t want this to go to penalties. He’s made four saves in their two shootout wins, putting off players with a shimmy on the line. DOMAGOJ VIDA (RIGHT BACK) AGE 29 CAPS 63 GOALS 3 BESIKTAS centre back will fill in if Vrsaljko is not fit. Struggles with pace and was sent off on 16 minutes against Bayern last season. DEJAN LOVREN (CENTRE BACK) AGE 29 CAPS 44 GOALS 2 KANE is his worst nightmare. Both centre backs fear pace and drop deep at goal-kicks, making it hard for Croatia to build attacks. VEDRAN CORLUKA (CENTRE BACK) AGE 32 CAPS 102 GOALS 4 FORMER Spurs man will not enjoy Kane’s movement. Croatia mark zonally and may leave space for England to exploit at set-pieces. IVAN STRINIC (LEFT BACK) AGE 30 CAPS 47 GOALS 0 SOLID, aggressive and loves to bomb forwards. Strinic, who has just joined AC Milan, will whizz in crosses at any opportunity. MARCELO BROZOVIC (DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD) AGE 25 CAPS 39 GOALS 6 KEEPS things neat and tidy but the Inter Milan midfielder’s range of passing is restricted to short balls feeding Modric and Rakitic. ANTE REBIC (RIGHT WING) AGE 24 CAPS 20 GOALS 2 WILL test Ashley Young. Loves to take on his opponent and get crosses in — and is not averse to moving into the middle, either. LUKA MODRIC (CENTRAL MIDFIELD) AGE 32 CAPS 111 GOALS 14 LIKE Kevin De Bruyne for Belgium, not at his best when he is forced to play deeper. If he gets up the pitch, he can hurt England. IVAN RAKITIC (CENTRAL MIDFIELD) AGE 30 CAPS 97 GOALS 15 ONE of the sweetest strikers of a football. Barcelona star can pick any pass, will get forward and shoots from distance with venom. IVAN PERISIC (LEFT WING) AGE 29 CAPS 71 GOALS 19 VERY intelligent. The fluid movement of Croatia’s front five will test England and Perisic often drifts into the centre forward position. MARIO MANDZUKIC (STRIKER) AGE 32 CAPS 87 GOALS 31 LIKELY to be up against John Stones, who he will lean all over. England can cope with him... but they must be up for the fight.