Croatia prevails over Cyprus 3-0

NICOSíA. Croatia was ultimately too good for Cyprus.

Croatia prevails over Cyprus 3-0

NICOSíA. Croatia was in the end too strong for Cyprus. I. Perisic (45′), J. Gvardiol (80′) and M. Livaja (90′). Its vastly superior ball possession (74%) was among the key factors of its victory.​

L. Modric missed a penalty (54′) for Croatia.​

L. Modric missed 1 penalty (54′) for ​Croatia.

The match was played at the Neo GSP stadium in Nicosía on Friday and it started at 6:45 pm local time. The referee was Michael Oliver who was helped by Stuart Burt and Simon Bennett. The 4th official was Darren England. The weather was clear. The temperature was pleasant at 21 degrees Celsius or 69.8 Fahrenheit. The humidity was 64%.​

Match Statistics​

  • ! 26 Ball Possession 74
Shots
  • 9 Total 29
  • 2 On Target 11
  • 7 Off Target 18
  • 2 Shots blocked 8
  • 42 Attack 154
  • 32 Dangerous attack 77
  • 83 Ball safe 79
  • 0 Penalties 1
  • 2 Corners 7
  • 6 Off Sides 4
Fouls
  • 10 Total 7
  • 2 Yellow Cards 2
  • 0 Double Yellow 0
  • 0 Red Card 0
Other
  • 5 Substitutions 5

Croatia was in firm control of the ball 74% while Cyprus was struggling with a 26% ball possession.

Croatia was more aggressive with 77 dangerous attacks and 29 shots of which 11 were on target. This is one of the reasons why Croatia won the match.​

Cyprus shot 9 times, 2 on target, 7 off target. On the other side, Croatia shot 29 times, 11 on target, 18 off target.

Cards

Cyprus received 2 yellow cards (A. Avraam and K. Artymatas). On the opposite side, Croatia received 2 yellow cards (M. Kovacic and J. Stanisic).

Match Timeline

23'
33'
33'
Andreas Avraam- Yellow
44'
45'
46'
54'
61'
61'
63'
68'
68'
69'
69'
80'
84'
84'
85'
90'

Standings

Standings

Group A

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
20
8

Group B

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
19
8
15
8
10
8

Group C

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
16
8

Group D

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
18
8
12
8
11
8

Group E

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
20
8
15
8

Group F

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
27
10
23
10
16
10
16
10
1
10

Group G

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
21
10
18
10
9
10

Group H

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
23
10
22
10
14
10
14
10
5
10
5
10

Group I

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
26
10
20
10
18
10
17
10
6
10

Group J

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
27
10
17
10
12
10
9
10

After this contest, Cyprus will stay with 4 points like Malta to stay in the 6th place. On the opposite side, Croatia will have 16 points like Russia to stay in the 1st place.

Next matches

In the next match in the WC Qualification Europe, Cyprus will host Malta on the 11th of October with a 1-0 head to head in favor of Malta (0 draws).

Croatia will host Slovakia on the 11th of October with a 4-0 head to head in favor of Croatia (1 draw).

Cyprus – Formation

Cyprus
G
Neofytos Michael 22.Cyprus
8.4
D
6.5
D
Nikolas Ioannou 4.Cyprus
7.2
D
Paris Psaltis 5.Cyprus
6.4
D
Stelios Andreou 14.Cyprus
6.4
D
Andreas Avraam 11.Cyprus
6.6
61' 44'
M
Kostakis Artymatas 18.Cyprus
6.7
69' 33'
M
Grigoris Kastanos 20.Cyprus
6.5
M
Fotis Papoulis 15.Cyprus
6.4
69'
M
Ioannis Pittas 23.Cyprus
6.1
46'
F
Pieros Sotiriou 10.Cyprus
6.5
85'
Substitutes
G
Andreas Keravnos 1.Cyprus
G
Dimitris Dimitriou 12.Cyprus
D
6.6
61'
D
Marios Dimitriou 7.Cyprus
M
Marinos Tzionis 21.Cyprus
6.4
46'
M
Rafail Mamas 2.Cyprus
M
6.4
69'
M
Alex Gogic 6.Cyprus
M
Nikolas Panagiotou 13.Cyprus
F
Loizos Loizou 17.Cyprus
6.4
69'
F
Marios Ilia 19.Cyprus
F
6.5
85'

Cyprus started with a 5-4-1 line-up (5-4-1).

The manager Nikolaos ‘Nikos’ Kostenoglou decided to play with the following team: Neofytos Michael (8.4), Paris Psaltis (6.4), Stelios Andreou (6.4), Costas Soteriou (6.5), Nicholas Ioannou (7.2), Andreas Avraam (6.6), Ioannis Pittas (6.1), Kostakis Artymatas (6.7), Grigoris Kastanos (6.5), Fotis Papoulis (6.4) and Pieros Sotiriou (6.5).

The home team had on the bench: Marios Antoniadis (6.6), Marinos Tzionis (6.4), Rafail Mamas, Loizos Loizou (6.4), Marios Ilia, Andronikos Kakoullis (6.5), Chambos Kyriakou (6.4), Antreas Kraynos, Alexander Gogić, Nikolas Panagiotou, Marios Dimitriou and Dimitris Dimitriou.

Substitutions

Cyprus made 5 changes: I. Pittas for M. Tzionis (46′), A. Avraam for M. Antoniadis (61′), K. Artymatas for C. Kyriakou (69′), F. Papoulis for L. Loizou (69′) and P. Sotiriou for A. Kakoulis (85′).

Best player: Neofytos Michael​

The player that probably impressed the most for Cyprus was the goalkeeper: Neofytos Michael. His rating is 8.41. He saved 1 penalty. He performed 8 saves.

Croatia – Formation

Croatia
G
D. Livaković 1.Croatia
7.1
D
Duje Caleta-Car 5.Croatia
7.3
D
Borna Sosa 19.Croatia
8.1
D
Josip Stanisic 6.Croatia
7.8
61'
D
Josko Gvardiol 20.Croatia
8.4
Goals80'
M
Luka Modric  10.Croatia
7.6
84'
M
Marcelo Brozovic 11.Croatia
7.2
84'
M
Mateo Kovacic 8.Croatia
6.2
63' 33'
F
Ivan Perisic  4.Croatia
8.1
Goals45'
F
Nikola Vlasic 13.Croatia
7.0
68'
F
Andrej Kramaric 9.Croatia
7.0
68'
Substitutes
G
Simon Sluga 23.Croatia
G
Ivo Grbić 12.Croatia
D
Domagoj Vida 21.Croatia
D
Marin Pongracic 22.Croatia
D
Borna Barišić 3.Croatia
D
Mile Škorić 16.Croatia
D
Filip Uremović 2.Croatia
M
Kristijan Jakic 18.Croatia
6.8
84'
M
Mario Pasalic 15.Croatia
7.0
63'
M
Luka Ivanusec 17.Croatia
6.1
84'
F
Josip Brekalo 7.Croatia
7.3
68'
F
Marko Livaja 14.Croatia
7.4
68' Goals90'

Croatia started with a aggressive line-up (4-3-3).

On the other side, Zlatko Dalić played with: Dominik Livaković (7.1), Josip Stanišić (7.8), Duje Ćaleta-Car (7.3), Joško Gvardiol (8.4), Borna Sosa (8.1), Luka Modrić (7.6), Marcelo Brozović (7.2), Mateo Kovačić (6.2), Nikola Vlašić (7.0), Andrej Kramarić (7.0) and Ivan Perišić (8.1).

They had on the bench: Domagoj Vida, Kristijan Jakić (6.8), Josip Brekalo (7.3), Mario Pašalić (7.0), Simon Sluga, Luka Ivanušec (6.1), Marin Pongračić, Borna Barišić, Marko Livaja (7.4), Ivo Grbić, Mile Škorić and Filip Uremović.

Substitutions

Croatia made 5 changes: M. Kovacic for M. Pasalic (63′), A. Kramaric for M. Livaja (68′), N. Vlasic for J. Brekalo (68′), L. Modric for L. Ivanusec (84′) and M. Brozovic for K. Jakic (84′).

Best player: Joško Gvardiol​

The player that probably impressed the most for Croatia was Joško Gvardiol.

His rating is (8.4) with 1 goal, 96 passes (91% accurate) and 1 key pass. He was won 6 duels out of 9.

Results of the day

These are the results of the day in the WC Qualification Europe.​