Croatia to Face Greece in 2018 World Cup Playoff

by croatiaweek
October 17, 2017
in Sport

(Photo: HNS)

Croatia will have to get past Greece if they are to earn a spot at next summer’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Croatia drew Greece out of the pot at today’s 2018 World Cup playoff draw at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.

The first leg will take place in Zagreb with the return leg in Greece.

The first leg will take place on Thursday 9th of November in Zagreb at 8:45 pm local time, with the second leg being played on Sunday 12th of November 2017 in Greece also at 8:45 pm.

🎙️Zlatko Dalić: “Full respect to @EthnikiOmada in @FIFAWorldCup play-offs. It will be tough”#BeProud #Croatia #Vatreni #WCQ @EuroQualifiers pic.twitter.com/a8W2kL4u39

— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) October 17, 2017

Andrej Kramaric bagged a double to help Croatia get through to the playoffs (HNS)

2018 World Cup Playoffs

Croatia v Greece
Sweden v Italy
Switzerland v Northern Ireland
Denmark v Republic of Ireland

Croatia has played Greece in six matches previously with Croatia winning one of them, Greece twice and three draws. The last time the two teams met was in 2011 in a Euro qualifier.

10 Nov 1996 – Croatia v Greece – 1-1 – FIFA World Cup Qualifier
30 Apr 1997 – Greece v Croatia – 0-1 – FIFA World Cup Qualifier
10 Mar 1999 – Greece v Croatia – 3-2 – International Friendly
25 Apr 2001 – Croatia v Greece – 2-2 – International Friendly
07 Sep 2010 – Croatia v Greece – 0-0 – UEFA Euro Qualifier
07 Oct 2011 Greece v Croatia – 2-0 – UEFA Euro Qualifier

Croatia is currently ranked 18th in the world, 29 places above Greece who are ranked 47th in the world in the latest FIFA rankings.

#Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić meets Zvonimir Boban in Zürich as the nation awaits @FIFAWorldCup play-off draw.#BeProud @EuroQualifiers pic.twitter.com/QoiQQY2Dsr

— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) October 17, 2017