Starting Eleven Confirmed, Preview

So it’s pretty much the same team that clashed with Hungary last Saturday. Only slightly more motivated of course. Let’s see what difference a proper motivation can make. I hijacked a little picture that shows the Austrian starting eleven as well. So here’s how it looks on paper (right click + view image for a better view):

Austria (3-5-2)
Macho (GK)
Pogatetz (CB)
Stranzl (CB)
Proedl (CB)
Fuchs (LWB)
Saemuel (CMF)
??? (CMF)
Ivanschitz (AMF)
Aufhauser (RWB)
Linz (CF)
Hoffer (CF)

Croatia (4-4-2)
Pletikosa (GK)
Pranjic (LB)
Simunic (CB)
Kovac R. (CB)
Corluka (RB)
Kranjcar (LM)
Modric (CM)
Kovac N. (CM)
Srna (RM)
Olic (CF)
Petric (CF)

Clash of formations;
I don’t know how official this Austrian eleven is, but I’ll give our “resources” enough credit in trusting they’ve at least got the opposition’s formation correct. And if that’s true, it’ll be interesting to see how well our 4-4-2 works against Austria’s 3-5-2. However, we should be well aware of all the pros and cons of the latter formation, as Bilic is the only coach that actually embraced a 4 man defense rather than going for (our traditional) 3-5-2 or a variation of the same. On paper, Austrians should have a little tighter packed midfield and a slightly less options when attacking / defending wide. A lot depends on wingbacks in 3-5-2, and I have to admit I don’t know enough on Fuchs (LWB) and Aufhauser (RWB) to comment on whether they can pull it off. So let’s focus on our boys.

New look on defense:
Bilic opted for a more “offensive” solution by bringing Pranjic in, and I have to say I’m personally delighted with this. While Simunic was usually our left back choice, meaning Simic and Kovac formed the CB pairing, introducing Pranjic to our left and pushing Simunic back to CB will give us so much more options when going forward. With Srna and Corluka already providing the necessary stuff (both offensively and defensively) on our right, looks like we’ve finally found a quality pairing (Kranjcar + Pranjic) to do the same on our left side. Kovac + Simunic is our usual CB choice, with unfit Simic and reliable Knezevic both seated on the bench.

Midfield “stuff”:
Same as ever, the trio of Kranjcar & Modric & Srna are to do all the “pretty stuff”, while our captain Niko Kovac is in charge of the “ugly stuff”. What’s key here is our CM’s dictating (Modric of course in particular) and our side midfielders linking up well with their respective fullbacks. Keeping the ball on the ground is something we’re good at and I hope we’ll see plenty of this today. If not one of the best, then we certainly have one of the most creative midfields in this tournament. Might as well make use of it.

No Brazilian flavor this time around:
Unfortunately, with Eduardo out, we’ll have to “settle” for the likes of Olic and Petric. Though again, Petric was/is the first team choice, usually playing alongside Eduardo. Bringing Olic in will bring us some pace upfront and a potential to chase some long balls and pressure the Austrian back line. This is what Olic excels at. Both him and Petric have been in fine form throughout this season and let’s hope they can provide the necessary finishing this time around as well. Though it’ll be hard, if not impossible to fill in Eduardo’s shoes. We have Budan and Kalinic on bench, with latter labeled by some as perhaps a “secret weapon” Bilic might unveil sometime throughout this tournament.

More stuff to follow.